Larry Koo, (Lawrence Chuen Tak Koo), founder of KOODESIGN Studio, Black on White Ltd, has over 20 years of experience as an industrial designer, but his passion for design has only sharpened with time. We sit down to talk with one of Hong Kong’s leading design authorities on what shaped his journey…
You were drawn to design even as a child, we hear…
Yes, from very early on, my interests tended towards the creative side of things. In Hong Kong, though, it can be quite difficult to carve out a niche for yourself in the artistic sector. The schools here try to send you along a certain tried and tested path and don’t really allow children to explore their own creativity – at least, that’s how it was when I was growing up and I am sceptical as to whether it has really changed.
I still remember one time when I was a child and I was asked to draw a flower, so I used a black pencil on a white paper. Though the sketch was accurate in terms of likeness and proportions, I still didn’t get a good grade as I had used black pen to draw a flower and it was thought to be a poor drawing because flowers are not black in real life. In fact, it was that experience that led me to name my company Black on White Ltd.
You chose to complete your education in the US…
Fortunately, yes, I went to a boarding school in the US for several years and that really changed my life. I was allowed to express myself as an artist and designer and that gave me the courage to explore, develop and refine my own style and technique. It’s safe to say that my stint in the US made me who I am today.
You’ve worked both as a fine artist and an industrial designer, surely that required two very different skill sets?
Fine art and design are actually two sides of the same coin. While art can exist for its own sake, however, in product design, everything is commercialised, with a huge number of business considerations that have to be factored in. In industrial design, it’s always important to try to strike the right balance between aesthetically pleasing and commercially viable. My initial education as an artist and my later experience as a designer allowed me to strike that balance.
You’ve also shifted from making gaming accessories and sporting goods to designing a wider range of consumer items…
That was quite a significant change. At first, it was a tad difficult to adjust, as the work culture was totally different. Also, as I loved sporting goods myself, designing them had been quite an exhilarating experience for me. Then, when I started designing speakers – an important part of the interior decor of many stylish homes – it was initially difficult to switch gears. I still remember struggling to design my first speaker system, thinking it’s enough to just to dress up a simple box somehow. Over time, I have come to understand the consumer requirements and expectations when it comes to speaker systems, a development that has really helped me hone my skills.
How has your design philosophy changed as your career has progressed?
While I really believe my approach to design has evolved over the years, at its core it has always been about refinement. It is vital to understand the value of a proposition and to be able to execute it properly.
How do balance the aesthetics with the more functional requirements of your design briefs?
“Form follows function”, that’s the first thing I learnt in design school. For many contemporary consumer products, however, the form itself has become a function. When you first look at a beautiful product in a display window, its proportions, sleek design, colours, etc. may very well be the key factors in your ultimate decision to buy that product.
How difficult is it to come up with innovative designs in an industry that’s so competitive and always on the lookout for the Next Big Thing?
Every consumer product has a limited shelf life, with companies now launching new gadgets not just every year, but every season. It is, indeed, a challenge for the entire consumer products market. As a designer, it’s most important to me to define the purpose of each product – why it needs to exist in the first place. It is in identifying and defining that core essence that we can come up with innovations that justify its purpose and refine its offer.
What keeps you going amid such a heavy workload?
That’d be my son, who’s five-years-old now. He’s the first person I think of every day. He’s a bit naughty, but he’s the one who keeps me going. As I mentioned earlier, I am quite disillusioned with the local school system. It may be great for some people, but it’s not for everyone. As a result, I try not to put the kind of pressure on him that I felt while I was growing up.
Thank you.
Interview by: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Video: Kingsley Lau
Photos: Jack Law
Art direction: San Wong
Venue: Iron Fairies Hong Kong