Tony Chi

Tony Chi, who founded tonychi studio in 1984, built his career following the principle of quality over quantity. A principle that has informed his approach to designing some of the world's most coveted hotels including Rosewood Hong Kong, Park Hyatt Kyoto, The Carlyle in New York, and Rosewood London to name a few.

Born in Taipei and raised in New York, Chi studied at the High School of Art and Design and spent the 60s and 70s hanging out what he calls the “black sheep” of the art world, including Keith Haring and Peter Max. His artist’s sensibility shaped his “invisible design” philosophy. He says, “Most people think design is based on what you see but I believe it’s about how you feel in a space.”

As the hotel industry has become increasingly driven by scale and rapid expansion, Chi made the choice to step down from running his eponymous studio in 2019—a “conscious uncoupling”, if you will, from where he felt the industry was headed. Today, he has shifted his focus from commercial to residential projects for private clients.

“I enjoy the creative process a lot more than the result. Earlier in my career, operators had more patience. They’d react to ideas and were enthusiastic about being involved. It’s different today. Most are looking for immediate or short-term results. I keep telling them, ‘slow down, man’,” he says. “Greatness takes time.”