Micro Factory

  • Image Courtesy of design*lab.
  • Documentary of Lee Kwok Wah, (2nd generation) Owner of Oi Yau Machinery Embroidery & Laces Factory. Image Courtesy of design*lab.
  • Documentary of the Old Hong Kong Woodmaker - Sze Cheung. Image Courtesy of design*lab.

The “micro factory” project is an independent community for designers, craftsmen, makers, scientists and local industries from Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. This project explored new narratives through curated objects. “micro factory” adopted the concept of factory assembly line as an experimental platform for old and new, high and low, and from crafts to technology, to produce new prototypes to benefit and raise issues on design heritage and contemporary culture.

The “micro factory” project is an independent community for designers, craftsmen, makers, scientists and local industries from Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. This project explored new narratives through curated objects. “micro factory” adopted the concept of factory assembly line as an experimental platform for old and new, high and low, and from crafts to technology, to produce new prototypes to benefit and raise issues on design heritage and contemporary culture.

Milestones

2017.Q2
Project awarded Design Trust Feature Grant

2019
The team took part in DTFS 2019 as Designer Mentees and created paper crafts with the theme “Souvenirs” based on their awarded project as a showcase of local production and craft in relation to heritage

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2017
Grantee: Ire Tsui, Michael Leung, Rony Chan
Organisation: Design* Lab

Ire Tsui, Rony Chan and Michael Leung are the founding members of Design* Lab, an independent research and production laboratory specializing in interdisciplinary design practices. Tsui is a design writer, editor and researcher, based in Hong Kong. She collaborates extensively with institutions, agencies and media, such as Enable Foundation, PolyU SD Press, Sunday Mingpao, ELLE HK, and HKIPF. Leung and Chan founded MIRO in 2010, which works to explore different aspects of design from crafts and industry to design systems and sustainability.

Project Result:

The research has conducted more than ten interviews and field visits in Hong Kong, with micro-scale factories, workshops, designers and districts. Research result is showcased in videos, booklet, sampling cards and mobile exhibition format.

Image Courtesy of design*lab.

“The grant provided start-up resources and support on the initial research and development for experimental design stories project, “micro factory”, a study on alternative or small manufacturing culture and know-how in Hong Kong. The grant provides excellent connections with and fellow grantees, networking and potential of working in the future projects. ” – Ire Tsui, 2017 Feature Grantee