Marisa Yiu describes herself as a “perpetual optimist”. “No matter how challenging or potentially difficult something could be, I always see the brighter side of that particular moment,” she says. She’s made the most of the pandemic era and appreciated its unexpected benefits: “I actually really like the clarity and efficiency of the virtual environment,” she says. “People are more focused.”

An architect and designer by profession, Yiu runs architectural design and research studio Eskyiu with husband and fellow architect Eric Schuldenfrei. She is also the co-founder and executive director of non-profit grant-funding platform Design Trust. In April 2021, Futures Studio, a think tank led by Design Trust, unveiled the redesigned Yi Pei Square in Tsuen Wan, which is comprised of a brightly coloured playground that acts as much as a “communal living room” for nearby residents as it does an area for children to run around in. Then in September came a fuchsia “micropark” at Portland Street Rest Garden in Mong Kok. It transformed the previously unassuming spot into a brightly coloured, inviting space. The project is part of a series that reimagines the use of four government-run public spaces across Hong Kong. The remaining two microparks are expected to be unveiled towards the end of 2022.

This year, under the Design Trust banner, Yiu also organised exhibitions and dialogues at M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum to further the understanding between the discipline of design and the environments in which we inhabit.

Because Yiu has often been inspired by mentors and former professors, she hopes to continue to nurture young talent herself and participate in a “cultural, educational and experimental dialogue”, saying, “I think that’s always been my spirit.”