A brand new 25,000 sqft creative co-working space and creative ecosystem has been co-founded by father and son architects Winston (Principal of Integrated Design Associates) and Alex Shu with the aim of providing an environment and culture that will support and nurture young designers. Their mission is to increase opportunities for their members through project collaboration; guidance and practical experience through open forums; access to the community talent pool; and, the sharing of knowledge through practical workshops focused on the business of design. Located at the geographic centre of Hong Kong, T.H.E Design is set in a prime location for the design industry with convenient access to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon for any local needs, and Shenzhen for manufacturing or prototyping. Prior to opening, T.H.E Design has already won an award for corporate and commercial interior design from the Hong Kong Design Awards.

T.H.E Design has a mix of hot desks, dedicated desks, semi-enclosed and enclosed offices to meet the needs for up and coming designers. Nested in a unique industrial building with 4.5m high ceilings, large windows, surrounded by lush greenery, close proximity to the MTR and unrestricted access to light, T.H.E Design has an almost European feel with a riverside cycle path to nearby malls, eateries and neighbourhoods.

T.H.E Design’s recent award for interior design is proof that the co-founders have taken the design of the space seriously. They have implemented many industry aspects and furniture throughout including much needed larger desks for design work; up-lighting to avoid shadows when drawing; review spaces for creatives to display their work; a state-of-the-art projector; A0 size printers and high-resolution scanner, and depending on the needs of members, 3D and photo quality printers may be added in the future. Adding to this is a flexible workspace and events space, raised floor system, environmentally-friendly aircon integrated into the floor; comfortable colourful furniture, reindeer moss wall and an abundance of plants; access to organic lunch service, organic coffee and local craft beer; recycling facilities; and, showers, a nursing room and high-tech bathrooms.

Weekly martial arts and yoga classes for stress-relief and focus are also being offered together with weekly design talks about how to run a successful design business, which will be featured on a members’ app. Future plans include developing an urban farm on the rooftop, composting facilities and solar panels.

T.H.E Design stands for Technology – Humanity – Environment, which is embraced throughout the space from the design-specific elements, the thoughtful interior design to the nurturing creative culture. Co-founder Alex Shu, said: “As designers ourselves, we have an understanding of the challenges young designers face; the lack of opportunity, access to space, talent and support to be successful… Ultimately, we want the community to flourish by providing a supportive, inclusive and holistic environment for young creatives to lead with curiosity, collaborate, inspire and be inspired.”