AllRightsReserved: From Hong Kong To The World

SK Lam has jetted around the world so much, constantly expanding his designer and artist network, that probably some of you must have bumped into him at local events or exhibitions… Since nearly four years the ex-art director of Hong Kong-based design magazine IdN is running his own creative studio AllRightsReserved (ARR). Time for PingMag to ask SK Lam about ARR’s international collaborations and the Hong Kong art and design scene.

Written by Chiemi

You were the art director of one of the most successful design magazines in Asia, IdN, till 2003. What made you decide to leave there and start ARR?

I think life is about exploring ourselves and the world. After working in the same environment and work-model for eight years, I decided I would like to explore other possibilities and that’s why I started ARR.

I guess “other possibilities” means what you are doing now at ARR. So, what do you do exactly?

We love to create. There are three main areas in which we are actively involved - commercials such as branding, advertising, TV commercials, movie main visuals, events, and publishing.

ARR served as creative director for PlayStation’s 10-year anniversary campaign in Hong Kong.

The idea of the big cross in the centre derives from a Chinese character meaning “Ten.”

A beautiful souvenir! Polka dot patterned umbrella with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s signature, produced for Harbour City shopping center in Hong Kong.

This is yellow version, equally appealing. Produced and art directed by ARR.

The Hello Kitty Secret House exhibition, organised last year by Sanrio and ARR, attracted over 55,000 people!

Many international artists, including our most favourite Dainippon Type Organization, participated in the exhibition.

You expanded your network with lots of international designers and artists when you were IdN’s art director. Now you collaborate with them for various projects. I think that is still quite a rare style of work for creative companies in Hong Kong. What are its advantages?

Collaboration is a synergy, and working with creators around the world with different ideologies and working styles is another way to see the world.

When producing something for Asia or Hong Kong only, how do you make it more exciting for the audience in this region?

We generally don’t pinpoint any particular region when we make books or start projects. The core idea is important. When the idea is well-developed, we can fine-tune it for different localizations. That is, optimum results are based on good research and the understanding of different situations. So I guess it is not adequate to pick just one case from “the East” and another from “the West,” for example. Every case is unique.

ARR also produces many interesting books as “ARR Publishing.” Give me a reason why you stick to publishing books in the digital age?

Reading is a very sensorial experience that mixes physical and mental processes. And even though there are blogs, blogs, and more blogs – they can never sweep away the charm of books. The editorial content, the paper, the structure, the reading rhythm, the look: The book itself has uncountable possibilities to explore. If there are books for children that are specially designed as fun for kids, why not books specially for designers? As designers are, or at least supposed to be, open-minded, we try to explore and make books with exciting contents in a interesting structure. That’s what ARR publishing are doing.

Sticker book Vol.1 witha long title: “All You Need is Sticker Graphics with Colette and AAAA special edition.”

Elaborate details! From “All You Need is Sticker Graphics with Colette and AAAA special edition.”

Sticker book Vol.2 “Sticker Graphic 2 - Do you love stickers?”

“The Age of Feminine Drawing,” published this year, is about, you guessed it, feminine-themed illustrations.

With all this amazing works: What is your secret to maintain the quality of your publications?

Do it. If it is not good enough, observe more and think. And then do it again.

“Limited Edition?” introduces a whole range of great packaging design from all round the world.

The catalogue of “Hong Kong Designers Association Award 05″ with an overview of Asian design.

What do you think about design and art scene in Hong Kong? What is happening there right now?

To be honest, the design scene here is a bit boring. We see that there are interesting works from London, Amsterdam, Japan, Thailand and Mainland China by 20-something designers, but relatively little from Hong Kong. It may be that more encouragement, more education and more courage from the designers themselves are needed to make the scene better.

Can you name some upcoming designers and artists in the city for us?

db-db a.k.a Francis Lam for interactive design, Les Suen, Shellmoonsite, (Raymond Lee of RMM), and Rex Koo of Rex-Air for graphic design.

Also a painter, Chow Chun-fai’s Hong Kong movie series is quite impressive. Another great painter would be Lam Tung-pang.

SK Lam from AllRightsReserved

What are your future plans for ARR?

To be strong.

SK, thank you so much today. We are looking forward to seeing more exciting stuff produced from collaborations of international artists!

47 Comments

1. wow, inspirational design, really great work! would love to see more of this :)

   Posted by: yopo on July 25th, 2007 at 7:21 pm

2. Great work! I need to check out their books…

   Posted by: Yael on July 25th, 2007 at 10:47 pm

3. I wonder where I can order their books online via paypal.

   Posted by: aaron on July 25th, 2007 at 11:30 pm

4. I want those t-shirts!!

   Posted by: nana on July 26th, 2007 at 12:08 am

5. Sweet.

   Posted by: MediaMisfit on July 26th, 2007 at 4:09 am

6. what a talented man

   Posted by: vania on July 26th, 2007 at 5:28 am

7. What so special?
   Just like any design out there

   Posted by: Hercu on July 26th, 2007 at 10:59 am

8. if you have broad designer network and good collaboration skill like him, you can be great like him too!

   Posted by: keanu on July 26th, 2007 at 12:39 pm

9. Really enjoyed watching Lam Tung-pang’s works on his website!

   Posted by: Mindaugas on July 26th, 2007 at 2:55 pm

10. i am a collector of ARR’s “I love Sticker” series boxes. discovered some artists or designers through these boxes … and even met some, recognize them, then got more stickers from them… so, tks SK!

    Posted by: magnovich on July 27th, 2007 at 12:36 pm

11. I love him!!

    Posted by: kaka on July 30th, 2007 at 4:23 am

12. Does anyone in Hong Kong know if the Yayoi Kusama umbrellas were on sale, or just used for promotion? I would love to get one for a gift.

    Posted by: tokyostreet on July 30th, 2007 at 5:36 pm

13. good stuff! We hope graphic design scene will also flourish here in Manila… wed love to have international colabs with you guys…

    cheers!

    Posted by: Teammanila on September 28th, 2007 at 4:09 pm

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