The titan of design and supporter of the arts shares with Tatler the importance of education in the field for the next generation of Hongkongers
Victor Lo was honoured at the 2023 Design Trust Gala in March for his contribution to the design field in Hong Kong. The chairman and CEO of his family business Gold Peak Technology Group, which has investments in the battery and electronics industries, is the director of the Hong Kong Design Centre and an adviser to the Design Council of Hong Kong. He has seen the evolution of Hong Kong’s design industry since the early 1970s, after graduating with a degree in product design from the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). He shares the wisdom he’s learnt during his 50-year career.
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I’ve successfully married my passion for design and manufacturing over the course of my career because of my inquisitive mind and relentless pursuit of designing new possibilities. I’ve worked with bright, creative minds across disciplines and cultures, which has enabled me to pivot my business with vision, humility and uniqueness.
Good design needs creativity and business rigour to be relevant and meaningful. The design programme at IIT taught me about critical thinking and problem-solving, beyond designing products. When a system-thinking approach is married with human-centred design, the process of designing and the designer’s skills can become powerful transformational tools for businesses to innovate and create meaningful solutions.
I have an eye for detail and know what makes design tick. I don’t have a fixed design style, as good design is not just about the style and aesthetic appeal, but the journey of delivering the functions and intended experiences in a balanced and distinctive way. I try to be forward thinking—and I am always on the lookout for new ways that designs can be applied to create refreshing experiences.
