Hong Kong has to be one of the most fashionable cities in the world. There were many well-known fashion designers back in the 80s and 90s, such as Vivienne Tam and Henry Lau. But the golden time may have passed, and it is hard to name someone sparkling in the international world within these 20 years. The reality makes us wonder if there is still space for us to develop a design career in Hong Kong — a commercial and realistic place. Many of my university classmates did not choose to become a designer, or some of them changed their career path a few years after their graduation. But I believe there is still hope. I studied Fashion & Textile Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and now work as a lingerie designer. I have never expected to be a lingerie designer and what life brings us — surprises and new opportunities. They are also what I am seeking in the Master of Design (Design Strategies). I always believe that being a designer has to be open-minded and absorb ideas from everywhere. I believe this programme would bring me new excitement on design and brand development.

I am enthusiastic about design, not only fashion and lingerie design but also product and brand design. One of the reasons to explain why Hong Kong lacks well-known designers/ fashion brands is that people don’t know how to develop a product strategically. A designer probably knows how to create an aesthetically pleasing product, but that doesn’t mean the product can impress people and sell well. This is what I want to be equipped with from this programme.

I would like to develop my career further in branding and brand renewal. I am working on improving the brand image and creating aligning products. This is my short-term aim in these few years. In the future, I don’t want to limit my design to certain types of products. I would like to explore other areas like different products. With my experience and knowledge of fashion and lingerie products, I believe I can come up with some interesting ideas. I would like to create my own brand eventually, to impress the world with my idea in a creative yet effective and efficient way. It would be a great milestone for Hong Kong creative industry if there are Hong Kong brands shining on the international platform again. I wish I could be one of the creators, and I will do everything I can to achieve this aim.

I am not trying to become the next Vivienne Tam because I believe people always need to aim higher than what existed already. I would like to become one of the new forces in Hong Kong design development and one of the people to push this industry. More importantly, I hope to achieve my aim in order to bring hope and passion to the next generation. The next generation has passion and talent, and I would like to be one of the people who develop a better prospect for them.