Hong Kong Design Centre

'Integrating design into places, and transforming places through design.' This short yet powerful statement highlights the significance of design on places.

Placemaking involves establishing and nurturing the connection between individuals and their surroundings. Through the integration of design, community engagement, and the public open spaces, placemaking generates shared value. It creates meaningful environments and experiences for both residents and visitors, fostering a sense of belonging and ultimately enhancing the economic value while generating business opportunities.

Heart-shaped design installations have cultivated an interactive and communal atmosphere in the city. (Courtesy of Jacky Woo)

During the period from Valentine's Day to the Lantern Festival, we presented the public design and art project Chubby Hearts Hong Kong, which exemplifies this profound connection. The Chubby Hearts project, conceived by renowned designer and artist Anya Hindmarch in 2018, transcends mere display of giant floating hearts. Its core objective is to cultivate an interactive and communal atmosphere. This project stands as a highly successful case of placemaking design, introducing innovative community design and fostering warm public interactions in the city, allowing people to find moments of joy amidst their bustling urban lives.

Sam Lam, curator and project director of Chubby Hearts Hong Kong, says, ‘The protagonist of Chubby Hearts Hong Kong is our city itself. Under the setting of the heart-shaped installations, Hong Kong stands out as the most captivating element.’ She further adds, ‘This marks the inaugural showcase of Chubby Hearts project outside of London, and it has discovered a new home in Hong Kong. Through this showcase, we radiate positivity and love in our beautiful city, while showcasing Hong Kong's charm as an international city that bridges Eastern and Western cultures to the world.’

Chubby Hearts Hong Kong, as a creative tourism project, has been very successful. ‘During the 11-day project period, we have held 30 sessions of display at around 20 locations in Hong Kong, creating countless moments of love and joy for over 700,000 residents and visitors. Showcasing the vibrancy and cultural diversity of Hong Kong, we have promoted the city’s distinctive landmarks on the global stage.’ Sam continues. ‘The participation of the residents and visitors, along with the photos, joyful moments, and smiles shared with everyone through the hashtag #CHUBBYheartsHK, has woven beautiful memories with the scenic backdrop of Hong Kong and the friendly locals. When people search for “Hong Kong” on the internet, these memories of our home, Hong Kong, will forever be recorded, attracting visitors from all over the world to travel to our beloved city.’

Chubby Hearts Hong Kong's curator and project director, Sam Lam (left), along with Anya Hindmarch (right), both share a strong desire to bring more surprises and joy to their favourite city – Hong Kong, through this project.

Love and Creativity Flourishing in the City: Showcasing Hong Kong's Diversity

Anya Hindmarch's Chubby Hearts series of artworks go beyond their visually striking and distinctive designs. They also serve as symbols of love and inclusivity, addressing the importance of social inclusion. Anya firmly believes that love is a universal language. The heart shape, with its simplicity and beauty, has the ability to bring smiles to people’s faces. When design is combined with societal concerns, Anya’s artworks acquire a profound significance that resonates deeply with viewers, touching their hearts.

This artwork has travelled all the way from London to Hong Kong, infusing love and creativity into every corner of the city during the periods of both Eastern and Western Valentine's Day. It allows citizens and visitors to immerse in the city to experience the warmth and joy brought by design. After comprehensive assessments of safety, weather conditions, transportation, and consultations with relevant government departments, particularly the Civil Aviation Department, we have meticulously planned almost 20 locations showcasing the diverse facets of Hong Kong. The largest and newest installation in the Chubby Hearts series has made its grand debut in Statue Square Gardens in Central, boasting a diameter of 12 meters - four times larger than its London counterpart. This highlights the pivotal role of Central as Hong Kong's core business district.

Displayed at Statue Square Gardens in Central, the giant red heart showcased the captivating beauty of Hong Kong’s cityscape’s day and night. (Photo at the Bottom: Courtesy of Dr Victor Wong)

Pop-up Chubby Hearts, with a diameter of approximately 3 meters, took place at various landmarks and tourist attractions across the city. These locations encompass both sides of the iconic Victoria Harbour, including Belcher Bay Promenade in Kennedy Town, Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section), East Coast Park Precinct in North Point, Hong Kong Maritime Museum in Central, and Clock Tower in Tsim Sha Tsui. These installations showcased the mesmerising waterfront scenery that Hong Kong takes pride in.

(Photo Courtesy of Dr Victor Wong)

The pop-up locations span across both sides of Victoria Harbour, showcasing the unique waterfront charm of Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong boasts a rich history, with numerous historic buildings that have stood the test of time. For this occasion, selected locations include Central Market, Woo Cheong Pawn Shop in Wan Chai, and PMQ in Central, taking visitors on a journey through the past and present. The vibrant streets, bustling day and night, also hold a significant place in the collective memory of the city. These locations include Flower Market and Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok, Kweilin Street and Apliu Street in Sham Shui Po, as well as Temple Street in Jordan, all of which exude the nostalgic charm of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's country parks and special areas cover 40% of the total land area. We have made special arrangements to display pop-up Chubby Hearts at the Lam Tsuen Wishing Square in Tai Po and Tai O.These installations serve as a reminder that getting in touch with nature in Hong Kong is just a stone's throw away owing to the well-connected transportation network.

As a project promoting creative tourism, it wouldn't be complete without the inclusion of popular and iconic attractions that have been beloved by tourists for years. These include the Ngong Ping Village on Lantau Island, Peak Galleria and Peak Road Gardens at The Peak.

(Photo Courtesy of Dr Victor Wong)

(Photo Courtesy of Dr Victor Wong)

The locations encompass vibrant streets, historical buildings, natural landscapes, and popular tourist spots, encouraging the public and visitors to appreciate the beauty of Hong Kong from multiple perspectives.

Hidden in various corners of Hong Kong, floating red hearts bring surprise and joy to people. Whether in bustling commercial districts, cultural venues, or natural environments, these installations have become focal points, capturing the attention of both residents and tourists, igniting a sense of community engagement. People can take photos in front of these installations, capturing memories with their family, friends, or even furry companions. This interactive and shared atmosphere makes the city more vibrant and enjoyable.

‘Our well-being can be enhanced through good design, enriching communities in the process. The Chubby Hearts project is recognised as one of the best creative placemaking cases in the world. By introducing innovative elements, our goal is to make the city more charming and appealing, while also generating business prospects in tourism, retail, and other sectors’, explains Sam, who recognises the significance of placemaking. She aspires to captivate people's attention with the distinctive heart-shaped installations, arousing curiosity and encouraging them to visit and experience the creativity and charm within.

It is noteworthy that Anya Hindmarch is a staunch supporter of sustainable development and plastic reduction. Despite having a number of locations, we have made the conscious decision to reuse the design installations daily, some of which were previously showcased in London, in order to minimise our environmental footprint. Once the project concludes, Anya will retain all the design installations, spreading love to other cities.

Cross-cultural Creative Exchange between East and West: Spreading the Message of Love with Chubby Hearts

The Chubby Hearts project, originating from London, has served as an inspiration for local creative talents across various fields to showcase the charm of Chubby Hearts throughout every corner of Hong Kong. This project has fostered collaborations with multiple local cross-disciplinary creative units, promoting design and cultural exchange: Composer Leon Ko composed original music for the project; new media designer Nelson Ng created a Chubby Hearts animation for Hong Kong; award-winning photographer Dr Victor Wong captured the beauty of Hong Kong with the floating Chubby Hearts; travel photographer Derek Tang produced a creative short reel; and artist Tommy Fung of SurrealHK contributed his signature surreal visuals for Chubby Hearts Hong Kong. Together, they bring a diverse range of creativity and immersive visual experiences to the project, showcasing Hong Kong's unique fusion of Eastern and Western cultures.

Award-winning photographer Dr Victor Wong captured Hong Kong's landscapes complemented by the presence of Chubby Hearts through his photography.

Tommy Fung, the surrealist artist of SurrealHK, showcases his one-of-a-kind creations with his magical brush.

The pop-up venues also witnessed a significant number of individuals who engaged in professional photography and artistic creations, unveiling hidden talents in the community. Among them, Peter Yao, a designer and photographer, impressed us the most with his Chubby Hearts photographic works. With his distinctive approach, he captured glimpses of Hong Kong's daily life, and his artworks exuded a strong cinematic aesthetic. Christine Cappio, a passionate artist who expresses life through both words and images, originally hails from France but has been a resident of Hong Kong for over three decades and has fully integrated herself into the social fabric of the city. Her artwork showcases urban landscapes that are infused with warmth, reflecting her deep affection for Hong Kong and her unique perspective on it. Another remarkable artist is architect Kelsey Chan, who visited multiple locations and engaged in on-site sketching. He incorporated his original dinosaur characters into his creations, adding a playful element to the world of Chubby Hearts.

Peter Yao, who holds dual roles as both a designer and photographer, created Chubby Hearts photographic works that leave a lasting and significant impression.

Christine Cappio’s artwork showcases urban landscapes that are infused with warmth, reflecting her deep affection for Hong Kong and her unique perspective on it.

Architect Kelsey Chan visited multiple venues, engaged in on-site sketching and creative exploration.

With the generous support from Motion City Partners, Chubby Hearts Hong Kong showcased visually striking motion and graphic design works by local creators on over 100 screens and vehicles throughout Hong Kong. This transformed Hong Kong into an open-air gallery, providing an immersive experience for all. A notable highlight was the Chubby Hearts digital artwork displayed on the Sino LuminArt Facade at Tsim Sha Tsui Centre and Empire Centre. Radiating with the glow of Victoria Harbour, these artworks illuminated Hong Kong's magnificent skyline, infusing the city with artistic and affectionate elements, and enhancing its visual allure.

Chubby Hearts Hong Kong display can be seen on LED screens positioned on the exterior walls of the World-Wide House in Central, as well as on the exterior of a tram.

Chubby Hearts digital artwork displayed on the Sino LuminArt Facade at Tsim Sha Tsui Centre and Empire Centre

Fostering Care and Inclusivity: Forging a Path Towards a Close-knitted Community

To promote community inclusivity and foster a sense of care within neighborhoods, Hong Kong Design Centre has collaborated with various organisations, namely the Central and Western, and Sham Shui Po District Offices; Sham Shui Po Community Living Room under the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society Kowloon; Shine Skills Centre under the VTC Group; and the Strive and Rise Programme. Throughout the project, they organised a series of educational tours for nearly 250 underprivileged children and teenagers, with the aim of cultivating community inclusion and providing valuable learning experiences for the participants. This collaborative effort between institutions not only had a positive impact on the community but also offered young individuals the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of design and placemaking, sparking their creativity and sense of social engagement.

We place great importance on the element of ‘surprise’ within the project, seeking to infuse the community with unexpected joy. Through thoughtful design, we aim to convey warmth and happiness, while fostering a stronger connection between people and community. Sam shares, ‘During a weekend of the project period, we received a message from Ms. Hung of Sham Shui Po Government Primary School via Facebook Inbox, expressing their desire to showcase Chubby Hearts on the school campus. Although it wasn't initially planned, our team was enthusiastic about making it happen. We immediately discussed the idea with Anya and the technical team, and we decided to display the Chubby Hearts in the school hall during recess, surprising the students. The students burst with joy as they witnessed the adorable Chubby Hearts suddenly appearing in the school!’

The unexpected presence of Chubby Hearts at Sham Shui Po Government Primary School brought great joy to the students.

Such collaborations and activities not only enhance the cultural vitality of the community but also create a platform for collective endeavours, fostering the exchange and collaboration of talents across diverse professional fields. This infusion of vitality contributes to the city's multifaceted development and innovation. The interdisciplinary collaborations not only contribute to the growth of the creative industry, providing opportunities and exposure for the design industry in Hong Kong, but also enrich people's lives, nurturing a sense of unity and happiness throughout the community as a whole.

Sparking Creativity, Kindling Love, and Unleashing the Power of Design in the City

Design and placemaking share a symbiotic relationship, each benefiting from the other. Design enables innovative and transformative placemaking, while placemaking provides a platform for the practical realisation of design.

Chubby Hearts Hong Kong serves as an excellent example of the dynamic interplay between design and placemaking. The presence of the giant floating red hearts adorned the Hong Kong skyline, delivering unexpected delight and joy to both residents and visitors.

The success of placemaking is evident not only in the physical design installations but also in the spirit of the city. Through Chubby Hearts Hong Kong, love and care permeate the public spaces, fostering a warm ambiance that resonates with the affection of both residents and visitors from around the globe. This infusion of love and care transforms Hong Kong into a beloved city, cherished by its citizens and treasured by travellers worldwide.

Above all, these accomplishments in placemaking hold immense importance as they act as a source of inspiration and influence for fellow designers and creative individuals. Through its creative and love-themed approach, Chubby Hearts Hong Kong sparks a flame that inspires the integration of love and creativity in the works of many others. This enduring inspiration and influence will continue to illuminate Hong Kong's creative landscape, propelling the constant growth and advancement of local design and placemaking endeavours.