Design Trust

DESIGN TRUST GRANT SPOTLIGHT: #DesignTrustFeatureGrant research exhibition “Journeys of Delta Objects” by Mary Ann O‘Donnell is currently on display at Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning (MOCAUP), until May 31st. The exhibition invites visitors to rethink the relationship between logistics and daily life in the context of the Greater Bay Area. The exhibition and archive, presents the five logistics stories, including beverage distribution, tools of hairdressers, market trolley distribution, digital delivery platform and logistics of local agricultural products. The text, images, and video documentation present the research processes involved. Other Design Trust Grant recipients: Sun Yanyu and Nicolás Penna’s ongoing research on trolley logistics, at the Shenzhen Huangqiangbei Electronic Market, is also presented at the exhibition. [1,4,5] Photos courtesy of Mary Ann O’Donnell and MOCAUP [2,3] Photo courtesy of Nicolas Penna and Sun Yanyu    @marisayiu @designtrust @szmocaup 由 Mary Ann O‘Donnell 帶領的信言設計大使專題資助研究展覽「Journeys of Delta Objects」現正於深圳市當代藝術與城市規劃館 (MOCAUP) 展出，展期至 5 月 31 日。展覽邀請觀眾重新審視大灣區背景下物流與日常生活之間的關係，探討深圳如何由流動與地理環境所塑造，以及大眾如何透過物流認識城市與世界。展覽與檔案庫透過文字、影像及錄像呈現了五個物流故事，包括飲品配送、理髮師工具、市場手推車、數碼外送平台及本地農產品物流，記錄了研究過程與發現。信言設計大使種籽資助得主孫衍喻與 Nicolás Penna 就深圳華強北電子市場手推車物流的持續研究亦於展覽中展出。

DESIGN TRUST PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS: We are pleased to share an exciting line-up of upcoming and ongoing grantee exhibitions and programmes from Design Trust community from May to July 2026 from Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Taipei, Madrid to Barcelona. Topics include architectural heritage, well-being, cross-cultural exchange and material crafts. Mark your calendars and support Design Trust! Please check the link in bio for latest updates. Hong Kong May 21st – 25th,2026 Following the publication and research showcase in Sheungwan in November 2025, Design Trust Feature Grant research final exhibition “Recollection: Tao Ho” by Charles Lai will take place at Hong Kong Arts Centre.  Shenzhen  Ongoing until May 31st , 2026   Design Trust Feature Grant research exhibition “Journeys of Delta Objects” led by Mary Ann O'Donnell at Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning.  Taipei  June 2026 Following the recent showcase at the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Frances Loeb Library, Design Trust Seed Grant design research “Public Parasols: Stories of Shade in Subtropical Hong Kong” will be displayed at Taiwan Design Research Institute in June, and travel to Seoul and the Greater Bay Area to engage local communities.  Madrid Ongoing until  September 20th, 2026  “Well-being in the City” Exhibition curated by Izaskun Chinchilla, featuring Design Trust Futures Studio and Design Trust grantee research projects at the Casa de la Arquitectura in Madrid.  Barcelona June 28th – July 2nd, 2026   Design Trust Seed Grant research “Scaffold and Memory: Bamboo and the Disappearing City” by Raffaella Endrizzi presented at the UIA World Congress of Architects in Barcelona, as part of the “Local Learning Studio” programme. [2] Hong Kong Arts Centre designed by Tao Ho, photo courtesy of Charles Lai [4] “Journeys of Delta Objects” at Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning, photo courtesy of Mary Ann O'Donnell [5] Documentation of Bamboo Scaffolding workshop, photo courtesy of Raffaella Endrizzi @marisayiu @designtrust @suchang.design   @hkarchitecturalnotes @casadelaarquitectura @izaskunchinchillaarchitects @raffaellae

DESIGN TRUST GRANT SPOTLIGHT: #DesignTrustSeedGrant exhibition “just-a-furniture” by Charis Mok was recently held at Habyt Bridges Community Living Room, Central. The term “furniture” derives from the Latin word mobilia, meaning “movable”, capturing its essence: portable, adaptable, ready for any need or space. Through everyday use, furniture accumulates the marks of changing bodies, lifestyles, and surroundings telling stories of its users, their contexts, and the passage of time. While it often reinforces social norms and shapes behavior in shared spaces, furniture has always been creatively reimagined to address the evolving demands of urban life and its inhabitants. The project researched adaptive urban furniture across Hong Kong, looking at broader human context, and place-making on a human scale. The exhibition featured nine prototypes of adaptive furniture, revealing how ordinary pieces, design intervention, and interactive experience shape spatial environment and public realm. [1-5] Photos and poster courtesy of Charis Mok @marisayiu @designtrust @just.a.furniture_archive @zou.mat 由莫書尉帶領的信言設計大使種籽資助計劃項目「just-a-furniture」展覽，近期於中環 Habyt Bridges 展出。「家具」一詞源自拉丁語 mobilia，意為「可移動的」，精準地概括了家具的本質：便攜、靈活，能夠滿足任何需求和空間。在日常使用中，家具會隨著使用者、生活方式和環境的變化而累積痕跡，講述著使用者的故事、他們的背景及時間的流逝。家具強化社會規範與塑造著人們在共享空間行為的同時，它也始終不斷地被創意地重新構想，以滿足城市生活及居民不斷變化的需求。該項目研究了香港各處的適應性城市家具，探討更廣泛的人文脈絡及以人為本的空間營造。展覽展示九件適應性家具原型，揭示了普通的家具、設計介入和互動體驗如何塑造空間環境和公共領域。

DESIGN TRUST GRANT SPOTLIGHT: #DesignTrustSeedGrant design research “Public Parasols: Stories of Shade in Subtropical Hong Kong” by Chang Su, is currently on display at the Frances Loeb Library - Harvard Graduate School of Design until May 17th 2026, as part of the exhibition “A Temporary Exhibition of Temporal Public Spaces” curated by Yun Fu and Yona Chung. The exhibition brings together temporary public space-making projects in Asia from emerging architects in their first decade of practice. Chang’s ongoing design research on the temporary shading installation, adopts the material strategies found in fishing villages for the creation of temporary public spaces between houses and landscapes, featuring umbrella-like structures that provide shade, facilitate airflow, and respond to the subtropical climates of Hong Kong. This project expands upon Chang‘s Design Trust Seed Grant Project "Liquid Homes" in 2022, and his subsequent practice, demonstrating how ethnographic research on Hong Kong fishing villages’ building cultures provides design insights for high-density subtropical Asian communities. The design prototype will travel to Taipei in June, and showcase at Taiwan Design Research Institute to further engage the local community. More on the current exhibition at Harvard GSD at /articles/yun-fu-yona-chung-temporal-exhibition-of-temporary-public-spaces/ @marisayiu @designtrust @suchang.design @harvardgsd Photos courtesy of Chang Su.

DESIGN TRUST GRANT SPOTLIGHT: #DesignTrustSeedGrant publication ”Interior Sketch Series: Cha Chaan Teng in Hong Kong and Macau“ led by James Chong and Rolling Books recently launched, featuring spatial, cultural and operational analysis of Cha Chaan Tengs (Hong Kong-style local cafe) in Hong Kong and Macau with perspective illustration drawings, diagrams, historical photos to reveal how the interior design of Cha Chaan Teng changes to fulfil its communal purpose. Through spatial analysis, interview and document research, the publication explores the Cha Chaan Teng‘s vital connection to local culture, collective memory, and identity, while discovering the design and local tradition that has shaped our everyday lives. The project invited illustrator Ikey Poon, Kelsey Chan and ah Tsui, writer Lui Ka-chun, together with reporter Lau Ming-wai to contribute to the documentation of the history and evolution of these case studies of Cha Chaan Tengs. The publication and the research were also featured in the exhibition “The Cha Chaan Teng Codex”, curated by Design Trust grantee and mentee alumni Kay Chan and Charles Lai at AIRSIDE in Kai Tak, Hong Kong.   @marisayiu @designtrust @rollingbooks_hk @lui_ka_chun @ahtsui_art @kelseychan852 @ikeyreadanddraw Photos courtesy of Rolling Books.  由莊國棟和Rolling Books帶領的的信言設計大使種籽資助計劃項目《茶餐廳似顏繪》於近期正式出版。該書以香港及澳門茶餐廳為案例，透過空間、文化及營運分析，並輔以透視插圖、圖表及歷史照片，揭示茶餐廳的空間設計如何演變以滿足其公共功能。透過分析空間、訪談和文獻研究，深入探討茶餐廳與本土文化、集體記憶和身份認同的緊密聯繫，並揭示塑造我們日常生活的設計和傳統。項目邀請插畫師潘德恩、Kelsey Chan和阿徐、主編呂嘉俊及記者劉明慧共同參與，記錄這些茶餐廳案例的歷史和演變。項目出版的內容和研究，現時亦於由信言設計大使資助計劃歷屆成功申請人黎雋維及「未•共研社」設計師學員陳韻淇策劃，位於啟德AIRSIDE的展覧「茶記百科 - 看不到的設計學」展出。

DESIGN TRUST GRANT SPOTLIGHT:  #DesignTrustSeedGrant research exhibition and programmes “Beyond Rainbows: The Architecture of Choi Hung Estate” led by Don Hong, Martin Lau, Christine Lee and Sarah Chan was presented from March 7th to 29th, exploring the discursive and architectural significance of Choi Hung Estate in terms of its unique position in weaving the urban and community fabric of Hong Kong. The exhibition provided a retrospective overview of archival and interpretive materials for Choi Hung Estate including original drawings from P&T and historical reports from the SCMP, along with narrative and artistic presentation of collective memories from interview with more than 40 past and current residents of the estate. The exhibition hosted 15 guided tours and 3 seminars, welcoming more than two thousand visitors from diverse backgrounds, alongside community engagement workshops led by Hong Kong artists Kevin Ling and Eric Tsang, and panel discussions with scholars and architects.  As a referential blueprint for high density development in Asia region, the ongoing research on the Choi Hung Estate provides insights to future opportunities of developing resilient and vibrant public housing models with strong community connections.  由Don Hong、Martin Lau、 Christine Lee 及Sarah Chan策劃的信言設計大使種籽資助計劃研究展覽及系列活動「彩虹邨的建築故事：虹色背後的突破」，於3月7日至29日舉行，探討彩虹邨在編織香港城市與社區肌理方面所處的獨特地位，及其在論述與建築層面的重要性。展覽透過回顧性視角，彙整了彩虹邨的檔案資料與文檔素材，包括P&T建築事務所的建築圖紙原圖及《南華早報》的歷史報導，並透過對逾40位現任及前任居民的訪談，以敘事與藝術形式呈現集體記憶。展覽期間舉辦了15場導覽及3場研討會，吸引逾兩千名來自不同背景的訪客參與；此外，亦舉辦了由香港藝術家Kevin Ling及Eric Tsang帶領的社區參與工作坊，以及與學者及建築師的座談會。 作為亞洲地區高密度發展的參考藍圖，針對彩虹邨的持續研究，為未來發展具韌性、充滿活力且與社區緊密連結的公共房屋模式，提供了寶貴的洞見。 Photos courtesy of the grantees.  @marisayiu @designtrust @choihungestate_exhibition @don_hcw @misscxtn

Design Trust Graphic Archive Fellowship in partnership with HKDI is currently presenting “From here to there: How design moves Hong Kong” from the Fellow Walter Chan, until Sunday April 26th, 2026; in revisiting the graphic design history of Hong Kong’s public transport from the 1940s to the 1980s, he explores the relationship between graphic design and user behaviour, on everyday commuting as a form of urban aesthetics. Design Trust Graphic Archive Research Fellowship, in partnership with HKDI, supports fellowship research on the history and development of graphic design, publishing and advertising from the 1940s to the 1980s in Hong Kong to unfold the transition of ‘commercial art’ as a trade to ‘graphic design’ as a profession. As part of the ongoing fellowship research, “HKDI Graphic Archive Symposium” will be held on Saturday April 25th with a presentation from the 2025 Fellow Walter Chan, followed by sharing from the current 2026 Fellows Loraine Wong and Wibo Bakker. Walter will also lead an exhibition tour and workshop in the afternoon of Sunday April 26th. Join our Design Trust Graphic Archive Fellows to learn more about how design impacts our everyday life in the city of Hong Kong.     Exhibition “From here to there: How design moves Hong Kong" On view until Sunday April 26th   11:00am-9:00pm daily  G/F, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong  HKDI Graphic Archive Symposium: How does graphic design shape Hong Kong people’s mobility in the 1940s–1980s? Saturday April 25th, 2:30pm - 4:30pm  G/F, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong  Special Public Programmes Sunday April 26th   Exhibition Public Guided Tour, 3:00pm -3:30pm Exhibition Design Workshop, 4:00pm-5:00pm Register via @hkdi.communicationdesign @designtrust @marisayiu @keithchtam @hkdi_hongkongdesigninstitute @hkdi.communicationdesign @graphichistory.hk @lorainewong

Thank you all for your support! Design Trust Exhibition 2026: “ The Art of Movement” has welcomed over hundreds of visitors from March 20th to April 12th 2026, with 10 programme events including guided tours, dialogues and the Hong Kong Architectural Legacy symposium by Design Trust. With personal interviews and dialogues with Lead Curator Marisa Yiu, Design Trust Architectural Archive Research Prototype 2026 was presented as a focal point of “The Art of Movement” exhibition, unveiling the hidden stories, archive documents and oral histories of Hong Kong’s architecture, art and natural landscapes through time from the 1980s. Research and archive materials from Foster + Partners, HSBC Archive, Penelope Seidler and Harry Seidler & Associates, Henry Steiner & Margaret Steiner, Nora Leung, Rocco Yim, John Wu, personal archive of Hardy Lok (John Lok/Wimpey main contractor of HSBC Main Building), Anthony Ng (architect of St. Johns Building), Hongkong Land Corporate Archives, Zaha Hadid Foundation, the Peak Tramway Company, was shared and on loan to empower the research process. Deepest gratitude to all the participating artists, architects and designers, partners and supporters of Design Trust Exhibition 2026 shown at the St. Johns Building venue, generously supported by the Peninsula & the Peak Tramways company.   With Design Trust Legacy Award 2026 honouree Lord Norman Foster, returning to Hong Kong on April 9th, to Design Trust “The Art of Movement” honourees Mrs. Penelope Seidler and Ms. Nora Leung, along with renowned architects, designers, historians, researchers, and curators including David Nelson, Donald Choi, Margaret Steiner and Henry Steiner, Rocco Yim, Hardy Lok, Polly Seidler, Florence Chan, Cole Roskam, Aric Chen, Bryant Lu, Angharad McCarrick, and  Eric Schuldenfrei. [CONTINUE IN COMMENT]

We are delighted to share the highlights from Design Trust Sketchalogues 2026, finissage programme of Design Trust Exhibition 2026: “The Art of Movement” on April 10th 2026. The event welcomed Design Trust “The Art of Movement” honouree Penelope Seidler, from Sydney to share her journey with Harry Seidler on the design and building of the Hong Kong Club building, and stories shaping the urban landscape of Central district of Hong Kong at the St. Johns Building. Along with architect David Nelson (Head of Design, Foster + Partners, London) who worked closely with Lord Norman Foster, and elaborated on the 1979 competition proposal of HSBC Main Building, designed by Lord Norman Foster and his team. Continuing on “ the Art of Movement”  by Lead Curator Marisa Yiu, the event was followed by a tour led by Lawrence Wong and Perry Ip of Foster + Partners through the Murray, revealing the team’s design consideration behind the renovation endeavor of the 1969 government building revitalized into a hotel and in the urban context. We are grateful for the presence of Penelope Seidler, David Nelson and his team at our finissage programme to inspire our community, including students and academics in attendance from the Department of Architecture, HKU. Thank you to the Murray Hotel, and Champagne Bollinger for the support of this finissage event on the rooftop of the Murray looking back to the Central architecture and the Peak views and the conclusion of the exhibition venue supported by Peak Tramways and many sponsors and partners involved.   @designtrust   @marisayiu @fosterandpartners @penelopeseidler @themurrayhk @champagne_bollinger 我們欣然分享「信言設計大使2026 年度展覽：The Art of Movement」的閉幕活動「Design Trust Sketchalogues 2026」的精彩瞬間。活動邀請本年度展覽榮譽嘉賓、Harry Seidler & Associates 的 Penelope Seidler 女士分享香港會的設計曆程和建造過程，和他們塑造香港中環建築景觀間的故事；以及Foster + Partners 設計總監 、建築師David Nelson生動分享1979年滙豐總行大廈設計方案背後的故事。來自Foster + Partners 的Lawrence Wong 與 Perry Ip隨後帶領參與者穿過美利酒店，分享針對這座1969年建成的政府建築的改造過程，以及其與城市融合的設計巧思。 我們由衷感謝Penelope Seidler 、David Nelson及其團隊出席本次活動，持續啟發我們的社群包括來自香港大學建築系的學生暢想未來的中環。我們亦感謝美利酒店及 Bollinger 對本次活動的慷慨支持，以及展場場地支持山頂纜車公司及眾多贊助方的支持。 #DesignTrust2026 #theArtofMovement  #DesignTrustExhibition2026

Convened and moderated by Lead Curator Marisa Yiu, “Hong Kong Architectural Legacy Symposium” by Design Trust took place on April 9th at HSBC Main Building supported by HSBC. The symposium celebrated the many contributions that craft the optimistic spirit of Hong Kong, delving into the layered, hidden stories of how cities shape culture, and how the culture of architecture and patronage, in turn, shapes cities. The panel “The Making of Central District: Foster + Partners legacy, Innovation & Sustainability Through Time” explored how the architectural evolution of the Central district mirrors Hong Kong’s dynamic history, examining the interplay between its enduring legacy and continuous innovation that shapes the city’s unique identity, with sharing from the former architect of Foster + Partners’ team for the Chep Lap Kok Airport,  Ar. Donald Choi, BBS, JP, Managing Director of the Urban Renewal Authority; Penelope Seidler, the 2026 Design Trust “The Art of Movement” Honouree and architect partner of the Hong Kong Club; David Nelson, Senior Executive Partner and Head of Design at Foster + Partners; Margaret Steiner and Henry Steiner who brought the corporate identity of HSBC to life; and Rocco Yim, BBS, JP, Executive Director of Rocco Design Architects.  The following panel explored “Untold Stories: the Positive Power of Architectural Archives, Voices of Central; and the Making of Future Cities” delved into the critical role of architectural archives as powerful tools for unearthing hidden narratives and giving voice to the diverse communities that inhabit and interact with Central’s iconic structures, ultimately informing the future of urban design, with Prof. Cole Roskam, Professor of Architectural History at the University of Hong Kong; Florence Chan, Principal at KPF; Hardy Lok, Managing Director of The Sun Company, Limited and John Lok & Partners Ltd who worked on HSBC construction, as main contractor for six years;  Angharad McCarrick, Regional Head of Archives ASP, HSBC; Bryant Lu, Vice Chairman of Ronald Lu & Partners; and Dr. Eric Schuldenfrei, from the University of Hong Kong, who leads innovation and design education programmes. [Continue in comment]

Design Trust is honoured to present 2026 Design Trust Legacy Award to Lord Norman Foster,honouring his prolific contributions to Hong Kong, the region, and the global practice of Foster + Partners as a pioneering force in sustainable cities, transformative urban design, and technological excellence in design and innovation, on the occasion of Hong Kong Architectural Legacy Symposium convened and moderated by Lead Curator Marisa Yiu on April 9th at HSBC Main Building. During the keynote dialogue between Lord Norman Foster and Lead Curator Marisa Yiu, Lord Foster shared insights on the enduring legacy of architectural design and its profound connection to human experience, reflected on the design of HSBC Main Building and evolution of the city of Hong Kong through time. Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the iconic HSBC Main Building, Lord Foster says: “Design is ultimately about anticipating the future – creating buildings and cities that are resilient, humanistic, and open to change. The Hongkong Bank building was a radical departure from the typical office tower; it was also an expression of optimism, of confidence in the city’s future, and of the extraordinary energy that defines Hong Kong.  I have always said that such projects are never the work of an architect alone — it depends on enlightened patronage, on those with the courage to support innovation, and on a shared belief that design can help shape better cities for generations to come.” Last day tomorrow April 12th Sunday to visit Design Trust Exhibition 2026: “The Art of Movement” at St. John’s Building to see more archive documents on HSBC Main Building and Lord Norman Foster’s legacy. Lead Curator Marisa Yiu will be present at 3:30pm to share more on the Design Trust Architectural Archive Research Prototype and the exhibition. Plan your visit via the link in bio.  @designtrust   @marisayiu @officialnormanfoster @fosterandpartners @hsbc_hk #DesignTrust2026 #theArtofMovement  #DesignTrustExhibition2026

Forty years ago on this day, the HSBC Main Building, designed by Lord Norman Foster and Foster + Partners, officially opened on April 7th, 1986. As one of the key case study buildings of Design Trust Exhibition 2026: “The Art of Movement”, HSBC Main Building is seminal to the journey and architectural heritage narratives of Central District’s innovation and placemaking, celebrating many contributions of the optimistic spirit that Hong Kong brings. Our Lead Curator, Marisa Yiu, shares on the 1979 competition winning document by Foster on show for the first time, in an exhibition format here in Hong Kong, amongst other rare to see construction photo slides. Today, we also share on Foster’s newly published, unique architectural oeuvre, the first volume of this XXL monograph, ”Works“ with unpublished images and sketches, handpicked by Lord Foster, while the second book, ”Networks“, contains eight essays on the sources of his inspiration written by the Pritzker–prize winning architect himself, since starting his practice in 1960s. In our exhibition, photograph works, old magazines, archive documents of the HSBC Main Building, are generously loaned by Foster + Partners, personal archive of Hardy Lok (John Lok/Wimpey main contractor of HSBC Main Building), and HSBC Archives, are currently on display at Design Trust Exhibition 2026 at St. John‘s Building, until Sunday April 12th. Plan your visit via the link in bio. 我們深感榮幸能慶祝滙豐總行大廈落成四十週年。這座由Norman Foster 勳爵與Foster + Partners建築事務所設計的大廈，於1986年4月7日正式啟用。作為信言設計大使2026年度展覽「The Art of Movement」的核心案例研究，滙豐總行大廈對中環區的創新與地方營造歷程及建築遺產敘事具有開創性意義，彰顯了香港所蘊含的樂觀精神所帶來的諸多貢獻。主策展人姚嘉珊在展覽中首次展示了1979年的滙豐總行設計方案，今天也欣然分享他的全新出版物，包括其建築作品，以及Foster勳爵的八篇短文，回溯其1960年代至今的建築創作之旅。由Foster + Partners建築事務所、Hardy Lok （滙豐總行大廈承建商香港公和建築及英國雲比）個人檔案、以及滙豐檔案館提供的大量關於滙豐總行文獻資料，以及更多攝影作品，現正於信言設計大使2026年度展覽中展出，展期至4月12日（星期日）。請透過個人簡介中的連結規劃您的參觀行程。 @designtrust   @marisayiu @officialnormanfoster @fosterandpartners @hsbc_hk #DesignTrust2026 #theArtofMovement  #DesignTrustExhibition2026