Photo credits: BENTU

We are happy to share our conversation with Sing Chan designer based in China, and one of the winners of Maison&Objet Rising Talent Award 2019.

Can you please tell us about your background?
I graduated from a comprehensive university in Guangzhou, Guangzhou University. I studied Industrial Design there. We started our design brand in 2011. We focus on recycled material.

What are you exhibiting here?
We are exhibiting Terrazzo Collection. But this terrazzo is a bit different. A city named Yunfu in China has one of the largest marble industry. When manufacturers cut the marble there are some leftover pieces. We collect these pieces and use them. We combine it with concrete and make it into terrazzo. Then we create different products such as lightings and tables with it. Even the barstool, the top part of it is terrazzo.

And the reason you are using it is because it’s sustainable.
Yes.

What do you think is the Chinese touch in the design scene?
Actually we don’t focus on our look much. So yo can’t recognize where we are from in first glance. Because we want to focus on the problems of our society. We hope to use our products to respond to the problems of our society. Like the environmental problems. We want to tell this to other countries as well.

What do you follow in the design discussion? There are topics such as sustainability, technology and product development. There are many different directions. What does your studio focus on?
We focus on sustainability and also on energy. For example we did a lamp that works with solar power. We want to create these kind of products not just for outdoors but also indoors. We want to bring furniture that works with solar power indoors. At the beginning we focused on sustainability. And now with the fast developing technology, we hope to combine it with our products.

What do you follow? Do you follow any magazines? Where do you collect inspiration?
The Apple Headquarters in California is a big inspiration. The whole building uses solar power. We take it as a role model.

How do you want to continue your career? Do you want to do only your own products or collaborate with companies from other countries? What is the future plan?
We don’t have a certain plan. But we are interested in doing collaborations with other brands. We had many opportunities to meet with other brands here in Maison&Objet that are interested to work with us.

What do you think about Maison&Objet? How was your experience? Did you go to other international fairs? What makes it special here?
We think Maison&Objet is more about the fashion. It’s very different from the North European countries. It has more artistry. I think the design from Scandinavian countries is focused more on the daily life. Here is more artistic. The products are more trendy.

Do you consider this as something better or worse?
It’s better. It has more personality and characteristic.