Humans are easily influenced by the external environment, which is no longer a secret. Over the past century, experts have been continuously exploring and utilizing different contexts to create various mediums in order to transmit information to as many people as possible, thus generating a series of subsequent actions.
Amelia Lau
Communication Design - Hong Kong PolyU
Product Design - Birmingham City University
I reached out to Amelia Lau because I was captivated by her artwork on the Majestic Vega website. Intuitively, I felt that this designer would have some special insights to share. As a designer with two professions, I am curious to learn about her journey in design and how her perspective might differ from others.
In our conversation, Amelia expressed a lack of self-confidence during her academic years but also revealed her sense of justice towards unfairness. Her past experiences are filled with the purity and determination of youth. With a balance of gentle and strong qualities, she approaches her work with caution and resilience, taking one step at a time. Today, through her growth and experiences, she has finally discovered her passion, stepping towards an unknown future.
Designer Talk
Danny: Thank you for accepting my interview. I want to start with the first question. I'm curious if there was a specific reason for you to study design.
Amelia: During my secondary school years, I already had a passion for visual arts. However, my family expressed concerns that pursuing art wouldn't be financially stable or sustainable. Despite their influence, I still wanted to choose a path related to art, so I decided to study design.
Through my studies in design, I realized that methods can be beneficial in many aspects. For example, when I was studying product design, I participated in a program called IDO Workshop that focused on elderly users. We conducted research to understand their needs and designed inclusive solutions for them. Seeing international students pursuing their master's degrees and their emphasis on research and psychology sparked my interest. I realized that design is about understanding the needs of others and it differs from art in that sense.
Danny: Many students choose to study product\/fashion design, so communication design is quite unique. Is there a specific reason behind your choice?
Amelia: I actually studied product design at the Hong Kong Design Institute before deciding to pursue communication design. It was through my experience in the IDO workshop program during my product design studies that I saw how international students pursuing their master's degrees conducted detailed research, which greatly benefited me. Additionally, I was once inspired by a boyfriend who had excellent graphic design skills, which influenced my decision to study communication design, which was formerly known as visual communication.
As time went on, my motivation shifted towards wanting to use design to help individuals dealing with emotional and psychological issues. My family members have struggled with such problems, so in my first year at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2015), I started part-time studies in psychology and soul-ology abroad. Through these studies, I gained self-understanding and a deeper understanding of human thinking. This learning process has shaped me as a person and helps me consider the most appropriate approach to present my ideas and make decisions when it comes to creativity.
Choosing to go against the grain and challenging the status quo stems from the issue of "unfairness".
I consider myself a student who questions things that seem unfair or don't make sense. For example, during my second year of studies, I noticed that the school had cut the typography course. However, Chinese typography was already popular and widely used at that time. I felt it was unfair to our cohort of students, so I tried reaching out to a font designer to see if they would be willing to come and teach typography at the school. Surprisingly, they agreed and began teaching the first class. The following year, PolyU started hiring "Co Chikan" as a typography instructor.
In my third year, I observed that HKPolyU didn't prioritize the development of the photography studio. Insufficient staff members made it difficult to maintain the operation of the studio, and there were plans to close one of the facilities. I believed this was unfair to the students, so I emailed the dean directly to address the issue.
In my final year, I faced intense pressure and my emotional well-being suffered. The negative emotions affected my ability to concentrate on projects, and my grades were so low that I was almost expelled from university, risking the loss of the degree I had worked hard for over the past four years. Fortunately, with the help of my tutors at the time, such as Amy Chow, Anneke, Brian, and Cedric, I was able to graduate. I am truly grateful for their assistance.
In addition, I chose to study Communication design because I felt it gave me the freedom to express my opinions. And indeed, during my four years in university, I learned from the studious attitudes of my classmates and teachers. In addition to studying Archetype of Soul outside of school, I also developed the habit of reading, which exposed me to various other fields. Even today, three years after graduation, I still feel like I am constantly learning, and it goes beyond just the university experience.
Danny: Self-assessment - you have a rebellious personality, and you care deeply about unfairness. After reading about your case descriptions, I immediately think of the phrase "boldly advocating". However, now that you have entered the working world, have you gained a deeper understanding of what it truly means to "boldly advocate"?
Amelia: In the past, I felt oppressed by the school, but now in my job, I actually find it more relaxed. In most cases, my boss organizes things well and allows me to ask questions. More often than not, my needs are met. I understand that it is a matter of communication channels and resources.
論, Communication design
Danny: Communication design may be unfamiliar to some. Is it a subject that falls under the field of design for communication purposes? Could you share your understanding and perspectives on this?
Amelia: For me, Communication Design is about conveying messages through visuals and text. Along with the required research courses, there is also a wide range of elective subjects available, including video production, photography, illustration, publication design, motion graphics, and typography. The subjects I was most interested in at that time were image (photography), illustration, experience design (curation), branding identity, and image and illustration. Apart from branding, the other three subjects provided me with more space to express my viewpoints and perspectives. In essence, Communication design requires the use of various media to convey information.
Danny: After graduating from Communication Design, what career paths do most graduates typically pursue?
Amelia: After graduation, I observed that most of my classmates would enter design agencies to work as designers. If you are interested in knowing more about working in a design agency, I suggest reaching out to them through LinkedIn or watching TED talks to gain insights. They often work on branding identity design or UX\/UI design. However, after graduating, I chose to work in-house for a company, where my responsibilities included in-house branding design, packaging design, photo retouching, and curating art shows. Working in-house allows me to focus on designing specifically for the company's style, which I find more manageable. It also provides me with personal time for creative pursuits and reading. Personally, I feel that design agencies sometimes experience multiple design revisions to meet client demands, which can compromise the inherent aesthetics of the design. Additionally, working in agencies often involves overtime work
談, 設計師應該有的基因 ...
Danny: Being curious, bold and innovative, I believe designers must possess these traits. Amelia, you have two professional backgrounds, so how do you think they differ and how do they affect your future development?
Amelia: Well, I think the biggest difference is the "freedom of design". Product design, if done abroad, may have more design freedom, while in Hong Kong, it focuses more on practicality. Every aspect of the work requires high precision, and any slight error in the design process can affect the overall effect. On the other hand, communication design allows for more expression of personal ideas, and the design process can be broader, even "out of the box". For me personally, I enjoy having creative freedom in my work. For example, I can use a series of photos to reflect on a certain subject. As for now, it may not be the time to blend both fields together. I still greatly enjoy sketching. I was fortunate to know a famous artist in the past, whose artwork is worth six figures, and the rest of the work involved teaching art. The value of artwork varies for each individual, but it is one of my goals. However, I can also share that I had the opportunity to interview at a hotel before and was asked if I was interested in doing product design for hotels. But at that time, I wanted to focus on branding, so product design may still have a market.
Danny: Having been in the design field for over a decade, you must have encountered many designers. In your opinion, what are the essential qualities a designer should possess?
Amelia: Optimism, curiosity, and a willingness to constantly try new things. I believe people are easily influenced, and when expressing ideas, having an optimistic attitude makes it easier for the other party to accept and be willing to listen.
Danny: Having been in the design field for over a decade, you must have encountered many designers. In your opinion, what are the essential qualities a designer should possess?
Amelia: Optimism, curiosity, and a willingness to constantly try new things. I believe people are easily influenced, and when expressing ideas, having an optimistic attitude makes it easier for the other party to accept and be willing to listen.
分享喜愛與難忘 Project
Danny: After more than a decade in the field, do you have any memorable and favourite projects to share with us?
Amelia: If I were to choose a favourite and memorable project, I would go with "Sense of Touch". The theme was Hong Kong streets. I loved this project because my tutor, Amy Chow, selected and assigned me as the curator. It sparked my interest in event planning. Through this project, I learned how to engage visitors and create elements for an exhibition. One of the elements of "Sense of Touch" was to allow visitors to not only appreciate the exhibits but also touch them. The exhibition showcased different streets and alleys of Hong Kong, as we walk past these streets every day, but over time, they may become unfamiliar or even forgotten.
The exhibition aimed to convey a message: "Do we have awareness of these streets and alleys? And when did we become so indifferent to them?"
Sense of touch - Curator 'Amelia Lau'
Source: https://amelial0927.wixsite.com/website/work?pgid=ji4049iv-feaa9d98-5916-4035-9d34-c1b54cf315d1
Danny: What do you think is the difference between design and art?
Amelia: To me, there seems to be little difference, because fundamentally, whether a work belongs to commerce or art, its design is based on one's own ideas.
Danny: Do you think it's better to study design first or study art first?
Amelia: I think studying art first is better because art is an act of self-expression. When you have the skills in this area, you can then learn design and use those skills to help others express their messages. This seems more logical.
I can feel that she is the most grateful and favourite person...
Danny: I believe that doing design in Hong Kong can be quite challenging. From your initial studies until now, you must have received a lot of help along the way. Who is the person that you felt the most from and would like to thank the most?
Amelia: This is a really difficult question because there are truly so many people, but the person that I felt the most from and would like to thank the most is my tutor in HKPolyU Year 4, Amy Chow. I really admire her, she has broad knowledge, and when she was the lead, I felt very at ease.
Amy Chow
Image source: https://2018.bodw.com/en/speaker/amy-chow-yuen-mei/
評論, 香港和別國設計
Danny: What do you think about the future of design in Hong Kong? Why?
Amelia: Although Hong Kong is part of China, its culture is heavily influenced by Western culture. If one wants to develop in China, they may have to relearn the mainland culture, which can be complicated. Currently, Hong Kong clients are still focused on popular culture, meaning design projects are driven by current market needs. In contrast, other countries tend to focus more on future-oriented design. So it depends on what kind of clients you want to work with. Personally, I prefer forward-looking design.
Danny: Which country do you think is most successful in design? Why?
Amelia: Scandinavia, Finland, and Switzerland come to mind because their designs are mostly focused on serving humanity and having a sense of sustainability. This is what attracts and impresses me about these places.
她, 最欣賞的設計師
Danny: Do you have any designers that you admire the most?
Amelia: My favourite designer is Yasuhira Sugiura.
Danny: What attracts you to him and what inspiration does he bring to you?
Amelia: He designs a lot in the realm of Buddhism, using many swirling patterns and combining a lot of Asian elements and knowledge. He uses Japanese graphic style to design various printed materials, and his typography is very bold and innovative.
Image 杉浦康平: https://mummumzine.com/2016/12/26/sugiura-kohei/
I can sense that she truly dedicates herself to creating art!
'Journey to Sacred Japan'... Please believe me! When something is repeated over and over again, both technical skills and spiritual understanding will inevitably improve with each repetition.
Danny: I have visited your website and seen many artworks. You must really enjoy painting. Can you share why you enjoy painting? Is there any emotional connection behind it?
Amelia: I have loved painting since I was young. But it was in my third year of Product Design that I began to realize that when you can draw something, you can create it. In my opinion, when you paint, your mind has a rough understanding of the basic structure of the object. For example, during a study trip to Japan, when faced with local architecture, through observation, I could grasp the structure of the buildings and start thinking about why certain windows, entrances, lighting, and layouts were designed that way.
Sketch collection 速描系列 - Tokyo St. Ignatius Church - (by Amelia Lau)
'Journey to the Sacred in Japan'
Believe it! When something is repeated over and over again, slowly improving both in skill and spiritual understanding, it is bound to elevate.
Danny: I visited your website and saw many artworks. You must really enjoy painting. Can you share why you love painting? Is there any special meaning behind it?
Amelia: I have loved painting since I was young. But it was in my Product Design Year 3 when I began to realize that if you can draw something, you can create it. In my personal opinion, while painting, your mind understands the basic structure of an object. For example, during the study trip to Japan, I had the opportunity to observe the architecture there. Through observation, I could comprehend the structure of the buildings and this led me to ponder why certain designs were chosen, such as windows, doorways, lighting, layout, etc. I wondered why architects designed the way they did.
Danny: During your study trip in Japan, I heard you recorded each building you visited through 'speed sketches' and that you spent around 30 minutes on each sketch!
Amelia: During my stay in Japan, which was approximately one month, I visited numerous temples and churches to do speed sketches. In Year 3, during the study trip, I was also studying the Archetype of Soul and Soul Studies. Thus, I decided to choose an appropriate topic to research Japanese theology. I chose to study the non-church movement advocated by a Japanese scholar named Uchimura Kanzo. He promoted Christian beliefs that one doesn't need institutions or rituals to believe in Christ - in other words, one doesn't need to participate in a church to practice their faith. At that time, I extensively painted the designs of Japanese churches and temples, in an attempt to explore whether Christians truly don't need a physical church or community to practice their faith. However, I eventually realized that my findings were actually opposite to what Uchimura Kanzo advocated. Through extensively sketching churches and temples, I discovered that their architectural designs effectively conveyed a sense of "sacred" spirituality to the audience.
Additionally, in my final year, Year 4, I was feeling emotionally down. Only painting could bring me a sense of peace and allow me to express my emotions. As I continued to paint, I realized that painting is a very original and liberating medium: I can directly create whatever I want on the canvas. I can even express abstract concepts through abstract art. Given my studies in psychology and soul studies, I wanted to express the insights I gained from these areas. Thus, painting became a direct way for me to express how I perceive the relationship between the individual, the soul, worldviews, and cosmology.
Soul Matrix Consultation Class
Soul Matrix Consultation Class originated from a book, Archetype of the Soul, written by a German psychologist, Dr. Varda Hasselmann and her partner Frank Schmolke; and taught by a soul matrix instructor, Yoroko Chan.
This class complements those flaws in existing educational teaching, especially on compassionate, kind-hearted virtue learning, and builds me up a sensation of society and human historical development. (From personal, family, surrounding colleges, different social groups and, original existences). Now, I am expanding my interest in theology, Roman Catholicism—and, if possible, Buddhism, and astronomy. (by Dr Varda Hasselmann)
*Chart source: https://thewisdomfactory.net/archetypes/
Danny: You mentioned that she has joined classes in psychology and soul studies. How do psychology and design relate to each other? Can it help you in your creative process or inspire your thinking? Can you share a little bit about it?
Amelia: Actually, it is quite common for foreign students to study psychology alongside design. If you have studied psychology, you may have heard of the Archetype of the Soul, which is sometimes referred to as a branch of psychology. The concept is that the soul is divided into seven types, categorized by different age groups. Each soul type should learn certain areas or, simply put, learn according to age groupings in order for the soul to grow.
I started studying psychology and soul studies part-time abroad to learn more about myself and understand how people think. Through this learning process, I also shaped myself as a person. I discovered that I became more humble and improved my mindset from being lucky or even arrogant in approaching things. In the past, I only focused on my own strengths and neglected others'. It also helped me consider different approaches to present my thoughts on various matters and make decisions. However, studying psychology also requires strict self-emotion management according to the teachers.
SENSE OF TOUCH | RODATE: Avenue ... 道上光軌繁華璀璨，同時事物來回穿梭，忽視與其擦身而過的無名氏。 冷漠悄然形成……從什麼時候開始，我們變得對身邊的事物無感了呢？ Light trails are moving in dazzle and resplendence. Everything flies and flashes. Since when have our vibes become so distant from the things around us?
El ojo : An eternal untiring soul
According to an analysis on the Archetype of the soul by psychologist Dr. Varda Hasselmann and Frank Schmolke, there are a series of collections for six types of souls. These souls are Baby soul, Young soul, Mature soul, Old soul, Transpersonal soul and Transliminal soul. These souls are accompanied by different levels of the embodiment of purity.
Paint collection of 'An eternal untiring soul - Old Soul' *譯: 老靈魂之窗 (Painted by Amelia Lau)
Creating art is undoubtedly an expression of self and self-confidence, as well as a process or historical imprint.
Danny: That's a beautiful choice, Amelia. Could you explain a little more about the painting "Mount Yari" and how it reflects the song's meaning?
Amelia: Of course! "Mount Yari" is an oil painting that I created during a period of emotional turmoil. I went to a temple in Aomori, Japan to seek solace and practice self-reflection. The painting is based on a photograph from a book titled "100 Famous Mountains in Japan."
During my time at the temple, there was a song called "As Solid as Mountain" being played. I wanted to express the meaning behind the song through my artwork. The idea is that no matter what challenges or circumstances we face, our emotions can remain as solid and steadfast as a mountain.
I chose to depict Mount Yari because it is a symbol of strength and resilience. The mountain stands tall and sturdy, unaffected by external forces. Through this painting, I wanted to convey the message that even during difficult times, we can find inner strength and stability to overcome and endure.
The colours I used in the painting are mostly dark and subdued, reflecting the melancholic emotions I was experiencing. But amidst the darkness, I added elements of beauty, such as flowers, to create a sense of hope and resilience. The contrast between the sombre tones and the delicate floral details represents the power of finding beauty and strength even in moments of darkness.
Overall, "Mount Yari" represents my journey of self-discovery and the belief that emotions, like mountains, can be steadfast and unwavering.
Painting collection - Mount Yari 槍ヶ岳 (Painted by Amelia Lau)
images source: https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Mount-Yari/1634677/9488257/view
Remark: Amelia Lau - Painting collection shop online
Mount Yari 槍ヶ岳
An eternal untiring soul - Old Soul
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