We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Alvan Suen ("AS").
Alvan Suen is the Managing Director and founder of Nameless Hong Kong Limited, graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a Bachelor of Art in Architectural Studies. Besides design and running projects, he had been doing research and teaching in the University of Hong Kong as well; his researches and works on the environmental design in the HKU explore the problem of microclimate in the dense cities, solutions for reducing energy consumption in summer through design forms by using air pressure and natural ventilation, reactivating the alleyways between buildings in HK and climate-responsive high-rise residential building design.
Alvan Suen Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Alvan Suen.
Alvan Suen Design - Monmono Blue Restaurant and Gallery
Alvan Suen Design - Monmono Yellow Restaurant and Gallery
Alvan Suen Design - Ricky's Kitchen Restaurant
Alvan Suen Design - Camellia Restaurant
Alvan Suen Design - Hiyama Restaurant
Designer Interview of Alvan Suen:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
AS : I graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a Bachelor of Art in Architectural Studies. I have always wanted to be a designer and I believe design can even change the world, at least how people see the world.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AS : The Food Story is an aspiring dining and lifestyle organization with an objective to curate and introduces new and trend-leading concepts to the Hong Kong and China markets.We believe every concept has its own history and story. And every story translates into different tastes and personal touches. The company also believes that project design has the biggest impact on the experience of dining and even the taste of food.
DI: What is "design" for you?
AS : To me, design in verb form is basically the act of making the world; design in noun is basically what makes the world.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AS : Design that can be inhabited by a person, such as interior space and architecture.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
AS : One of my favorite projects is called interlaced-void, an environmental architecture design project that I did for my final year at the university; the massing concept allows wind and natural light to get through almost every inch of the high-rise building in a dense city like Hong Kong. In terms of the experience of the design, the temperature and movement of nature become physically present.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
AS : The logo and the lightbox of a company.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
AS : It depends, mostly being alone at night.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AS : Function and concept
DI: What makes a design successful?
AS : It achieves the goal and which the concept can be further developed.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AS : Concept, the story behind and the relationship between elements to form that.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AS : A designer should make good concepts that can deliver positive messages and bring inspiration to the society and so to make our living environment different, colorful and rich.