A Work of Substance

scents of dao
scents of dao
scents of dao
over the last 5,000 years, the teachings of shen nong, the father of eastern restorative herbal medicine, have been crafted into a precise methodical philosophy centred around the body’s balance and free-flowing energy systems.
the rambler
the rambler
the rambler
named after goodman interlink’s unique and strategic location in the rambler channel, the rambler is a new take on café design, offering a refreshing space for customers, their workers and their guests to meet, socialise and recharge.
mother pearl
mother pearl
mother pearl
A pioneering advocate for healthy teahouses in Hong Kong, Mother Pearl encapsulates the deeply immersive bubble tea drinking experience through its magical concoctions.
- branding
- interior
the year of the ox
the year of the ox
the year of the ox
Admired for the Ox's indispensable role in China’s agricultural society, the Year of the Ox is a celebration of its diligence, integrity, and honesty. We designed five red packets to honour the Five Grains in ancient China - wheat, broomcorn, rice, foxtail millet, and soybean.
images
drawings
things of substance
things of substance
things of substance
the significance of light throughout time remains unaltered. illuminating our perception of the world, light carries remarkable gravity in the rituals of our day.
singapore penthouse
singapore penthouse
singapore penthouse
A house in the sky amongst concrete skyscrapers and lush greenery, this penthouse sits in harmony with its surroundings like a treehouse.
- interior
marketing suite
marketing suite
marketing suite
Containers are multifaceted; a strong symbol of a logistics company and a celebrator of sustainable architecture.
the year of the pig
the year of the pig
the year of the pig
the year of the pig carries a symbol of “abundance". This porky zodiac brings you prosperity, fertility and plenty of luck.
origin shangri la
origin shangri la
origin shangri la
a station is the crossroads of millions of lives that intersect and pass within seconds, a point of convergence harbouring exchanges and ruminations; beginnings and endings.
fukuro
fukuro
fukuro
after a long day of work, wearied salarymen of tokyo trail back to the comforting glow of izakayas, where they take refuge and unwind with food, drinks and uninhibited conversations.
ebisoba ichigen
ebisoba ichigen
ebisoba ichigen
ebisoba ichigen has achieved cult status amongst japan’s most discerning ramen aficionados.
- interior
the fleming
the fleming
the fleming
a work of substance was tasked to redesign and rebrand the fleming hotel, originally opened in 2006.
khromis
khromis
khromis
Like a prism dispersing monochromatic light into a spectrum of colours, KHROMIS is a catalyst for transformation.
osteria marzia
osteria marzia
osteria marzia
a place where the sun meets the sea, osteria marzia brings the cuisine and romance of the southern italian coast to the heart of wan chai.
plum
plum
plum
Like harvesting ripened and succulent fruit while filtering out the rest, Plum is a lifestyle curator that thoughtfully selects products based on quality, affordability, and distinctiveness.
hokkaidon
hokkaidon
hokkaidon
a unique take on a traditional motif, hokkaidon’s graphic expression is a disruption of the tranquil pattern of seigaiha.
- branding
mango tree cafe
mango tree cafe
mango tree cafe
On the walls of the mango tree cafe, a cultural snapshot of thailand’s street life.
- branding
sulwhasoo cny campaign
sulwhasoo cny campaign
sulwhasoo cny campaign
Behind the story of this cheeky well-travelled rat, is a collaboration that transcends cultural and creative borders.
paradis
paradis
paradis
inspired by haitian vodou, paradis takes its cues from the haitian goddess of the moon: mawu.
trudon
trudon
trudon
founded in 1643, Maison Trudon is the oldest candle manufactory in the world.
zoobeetle
zoobeetle
zoobeetle
in the up and coming district of poho, a charming new château has set down roots.
burger circus
burger circus
burger circus
the scene is set: circa 1940, somewhere along the mid-west, a group of circus performers are on their way to the next gig on their national grand tour and boy, do they have an appetite.
the mills
the mills
the mills
when nan fung textile company first started weaving in the 1950s, cloth was the most important raw material.
hotshot
hotshot
hotshot
the energy is electric, propelling a youth culture revolution. hotshot, the new all-day diner in Repulse Bay, is inspired by the restless attitude and exploits of surfers and skaters.
the ocean
the ocean
the ocean
the ocean, protean and primeval, has enchanted many who have come before.
hermès
hermès
hermès
We are Constantly Evolving | Hermès Metamorphosis
- installations
bibo
bibo
bibo
An elegant heritage building stands on Hollywood Road amongst antique shops and art galleries.
timothy oulton
timothy oulton
timothy oulton
the redesign of timothy oulton’s website captures the british brand furniture aesthetic and meticulous attention to detail.
- digital
financial times
financial times
financial times
"shape your knowledge" was a yearlong integrated campaign directed at educating key media buyers and media planners throughout asia pacific.
- advertising
- digital
the krug room
the krug room
the krug room
the krug room is one of the world's finest culinary experiences but also one of the hardest place to find…
- interior
- product design
a boy named sue
a boy named sue
a boy named sue
a boy named sue - a multi-brand ecommerce store, offering a collection of socially and eco conscious for one’s sartorial desires.
sal curioso
sal curioso
sal curioso
after the success of madam sixty ate, a european restaurant founded by a whimsical chef of great imagination
la vache!
la vache!
la vache!
paying homage to the classic parisian steak & frites la vache! brings forth the parisian bistro culinary staple to hong kong's restaurant scene.
madam sixty ate
madam sixty ate
madam sixty ate
we created the exploits of a mythical person that reflected the chef's vision and the surprise pairing of ingredients.
blacksheep
blacksheep
blacksheep
black sheep restaurants is a hong kong-based hospitality group committed to offering a smattering of dining gems in a neighborhood clutter of restaurants.
- branding
- digital
grass
grass
grass
a true botanist’s paradise, grass restaurant and lounge is a carbon-zero venture located in the hub of the miami design district.
cartier
cartier
cartier
for their 2012 winter jewelry collection cartier came with the challenge to write and create a "catalogue film" based on already existing footage of a baby panther. the film/campaign also had to be activated in social media.
chom chom
chom chom
chom chom
vietnamese street culture was the driving force for chom chom, a vietnamese restaurant nestled in hong kong's soho district.
philips
philips
philips
since the production of old school incandescent light bulbs have been banned and substituted by longer lasting light, such as led light, philips has been forced to reposition its business and brand to focus on interior and light design.
- advertising
- digital
jasmin noir
jasmin noir
jasmin noir
jasmin noir is a bespoke jewel brand made-to-order for none other than the affluent.
la madeleine de proust
la madeleine de proust
la madeleine de proust
a rich series of french confectionary imported from france, la madeleine de proust's identity is inspired by the unexpected cues encountered throughout everyday live, reigniting forgotten recollections of the past.
- branding
- packaging
a day with fé
a day with fé
a day with fé
yoga is about awareness and the journey to the final pose, rather than the pose itself. we had to make this tangible and to reflect that each piece was tailored for a specific journey. we arrived at fé: the mindful journey.
twangoo
twangoo
twangoo
within the notoriously competitive marketplace of e-commerce, substance created twangoo's wildly successful identity from the birth of the brand.
yonge piggies
yonge piggies
yonge piggies
yonge piggies brings authentic canadian street meat to hong kong.
gildemeister
gildemeister
gildemeister
glidemeister's product line was designed to shift the paradigms of an industrial machine to a commercial market.
- branding
- product design
taylor & jones
taylor & jones
taylor & jones
branding and brand strategy for the british deli store and sausage maker taylors & jones, located in stockholm, sweden.
- branding
- packaging
ddb
ddb
ddb
chaque mois, ddb présente une figure du design industriel lors d’un séminaire ”lunch & learn”.
gustave
gustave
gustave
in 1903, gustave eiffel set out to design one of the longest bridges in asia, and with the aid of 3000 workers achieved one of the world’s great civil-engineering master-pieces.
artemural
artemural
artemural
artemural produces custom made murals for interiors.
- digital
absolut machines
absolut machines
absolut machines
building on the heritage absolut vodka has within art, absolut machines explored what it would be like if machines were creative just like us.
- advertising
- installations
house of dancing water
house of dancing water
house of dancing water
former creative director of le cirque du soleil, franco dragone brings to asia the world’s grandest aqua-acrobatic stage show,
- advertising
- branding
shanghai tang
shanghai tang
shanghai tang
an ad campaign and catalogue for shanghai tang 2010/2011 collection, the fauna and flora of gift showcases the power and impact of rich imagery at its best.
- advertising
the king is dead
the king is dead
the king is dead
the king is dead, a metaphor expressed in the language of interior design.
- branding

Services

Strategy
investigating and analysing
markets to position
your brand.
Identity
innovating and crafting
your brand’s core
ethos.
Packaging
measured exact,
handled with care,
packaged just right.
Digital
interactive experiences,
as eloquent as
the eiffel tower.
Interiors
creating an ambience
ensuring you are the
last guest to leave.
Advertising
exuding style
and panache with
more efficiency.
Social
a modern day speakeasy,
facilitating buzz
around your brand.
Activation
turn the key and
watch your audience
interact & refine.

About

Human creations, anchored in culture

We are a collective of passionate explorers from 15 countries. We exercise the art of forgetting what we know and look to maps of the past, as we scavenge for vibrant stories about the people and cultures that our designs inhabit.

With the intention of respecting our intrinsic relationship with the environment, we are dedicated to nourishing and strengthening the communities that we touch, to conscientiously using our planet’s resources, and to actively upholding our integrity by telling stories through design.

We believe that design is a labour of love as much as it is a love for labour. In our quest to harness the power of sustainable design to improve lives, we revel in the intense ruminations of the future of our world, in the scrupulous refinement of details, and in the thoughtful exploration of the rituals that mold our ideas into shape.

Our team of strategists, editors, graphic designers, architects, interior designers, product designers allow us to shape every single touch point. Everything we design is an opportunity to entertain a conversation with your guests, which is essentially what creates a one of a kind experience.

Each design element is a tool to maintain that conversation. It is an invitation to interact and to contemplate, entertaining rituals and creating habits.

It is an opportunity to tell your story and to tell a story that no else is telling.