THE DESIGN CAREERS OF ALAN YIP AND

WINNIF PANG

This case describes how two Hong Kong product designers chose their respective paths and achieved design excellence and celebrity status.

Yip: “A designer does not need teamwork. He will put his heart and soul into his work, taking charge of the whole project, just like a mother conceiving her baby.”

Pang: “Designing is a process of discipline, in which you gain and have a better understanding of yourself.”

 Yip was fond of 3D structures and mechanical toys

 He studied in a secondary technical school and obtained grades of “A” .after

completing graduation he won a scholarship to work as an intern at Frog Design, USA

 He returned to Hong Kong in 1990 and established Yip Design Ltd. and developed his

own products.

 In 1991 , Yip launched the “Sushi Calculator.” As of June 2010, two million products

have been sold and he reached the peek of his career

 In 2000 , He designed an automobile smoke filter, spent HK$500,000 for patent

application and product development.

In 2002-2004 ,He was elected chairman of the Hong Kong Designers Association.

In 2005 ,He signed a retainer contract with Life Power and served as chief design

consultant.

In 2006 ,He became chief product design consultant of the sports accessories

department of Li Ning Company Ltd.

In 2008,He established his first office in Mainland China located in Tianmian, Shenzhen.  

Alan Yip’s Career Milestones

Pang learned to draw under the supervision of his father.

 In secondary School ,he visited a graduation exhibition hosted by the Design

School of Hong Kong Polytechnic and decided to pursue studying design.

 After completing BA ,he joined a local electronic manufacturing company and was

promoted to product manager after six months.

 He established Zanif Design Consultancy with a friend BUT had no business for

the first six months.

 In 1994, With his partner, he opened a new firm called Zanif Advertising &

Promotion Ltd. and launched various product including clocks, watches, household

goods, stationery and toys.

 During 1997-1999 Pang’s products were very popular in Japan. His business grew

20—30 per cent in the Asian Financial Crisis era.

 In 2000 Pang’s company began to participate in exhibitions and build its brand. His

company had a total of 11 staff.

 During 2003-2004, his business decreased by 60—70 per cent in only two months

because his products were copied by others.

Winnif Pang’s Career Milestones

In 2006 Pang and his partner terminated the partnership because of irreconcilable

differences.

 In 2007 He launched his own company called Hoobbe Ltd., with a focus on

household goods.

In 2008 He was elected chairman of the Hong Kong Designers Association.

In 2009 Approximately 70 per cent of his products were introduced under his

international clients’ names. These products, labeled “Designed by Winnif Pang,”

made him a well-known designer all over the world.

Winnif Pang’s Career Milestones

Products designed by Alan Yip & Winnif Pang

Alan Yip : Yip founded Yip Design Ltd. in 1990. Through the years, the company designed and

launched more than 1,000 products covering a wide range of categories. Quite a number of

these hit the million-piece sales record.

Winnif Pang : Since Pang began his business, he designed approximately 1,500 products,

including clocks, watches and household products (e.g. kitchen utensils, stationery and loud

speakers).

Products designed by Winnif Pang

Products designed by Alan Yip

Awards Won by Alan Yip

2009 -China Dragon Design Fund Award China Red Star Design Award

2008 - iF Design Award China , China Red Star Design Award Outstanding ,Chinese Artist

Award

2007 -HKSAR Chief Executive’s Commendation for Community Service China Red Star Design

Awards Hong Kong Award for Industry - Design Award HK Vocational Training Council

Outstanding Alumni Award

2005 -Ten Outstanding Designers Award Outstanding Hong Kong PolyU Alumni Award

2004 -Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award

2003 -Hong Kong Tourism Board Lantern Wonderland Design Competition - Silver Award and

Certificate of Merit

2002 - HK Designers Association Design 02 Show - Bronze and Excellence Awards

2001 -Hong Kong - Japan Business Networking Forum on Gift and Houseware - Best Product

Design Award

2000 -Hong Kong Award for Industry - Certificate of Merit in Consumer Product Design HK

Designers Association Design 2000 Show - Bronze and Excellence Awards

Awards Won by Alan Yip

1999 -The Chartered Society of Designer HK Design Award - Distinction in Product Design

1998 -HK Designers Association Design ‘98 Show - Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Excellence Awards

1996 -HK Designers Association Design ‘96 Show - Gold Award in Consumer Electronic

1995 -International Winter Consumer Electronics Show - USA - Audio Innovations Award - Home

Office Innovations Award

1994 -The Chartered Society of Designer Award - TDC Grand Award - 2 Excellence in Consumer,

Watch Product HK Designers Association Design Competition - Gold, Silver, and Excellence

Awards Governor’s Award for Industry - Certificate of Merit in Consumer Product Design HK Gift

and Houseware Design Competition (TDC) - 1st Runner-up and Certificate of Merit Design

Gallery (TDC) - Best Product

1993 -Governor’s Award for Industry

1992 -HK Electronics Design Competition (TDC) - 2nd Runner-up and Certificate of Merit

Stationery Design Competition - Best VIP Premium Award - Best Originality of Thought Award -

Certificate of Merit 

Awards Won by Winnif Pang

2009 -HK Designers Association Asia Design Award - 1 Excellence Award, 1 Bronze Award

2007 -Red Dot Design Award HK Designers Association, Asia Design Award -1 Excellence

Award, 1 Bronze Award, and 3 Silver Awards

2005 -iF Design Award HK Designers Association - Asia Design Award

2002 -HK Designers Association - Asia Design Award

2000- HK Designers Association - Asia Design Award

1991 -Governor’s Award for Industry

1990 -HK Electronics Design Competition (TDC) — Merit Award

1989 -International Gift and Stationery Design Awards — Grand Price

1987- Ten Young Designer of the Year (Hong Kong)

1985 -HK Watch and Clock Design Competition — 3rd Runner-up

iF Design Awards : iF Product Design Award was introduced in 1954. It was annually conferred

by the iF International Forum Design. Along with the Red Dot Design Award, it was

acknowledged as the most important international product design award. The best products

received an iF seal of outstanding design quality.

 

Red Dot Awards : With more than 12,000 submissions from more than 60 countries worldwide,

the international “Red Dot Design Award” was one of the world’s most prestigious industrial

design awards.

A designer is like an artist. If the scale of business grows large, I cannot be like Monet.1 It is a

tradeoff. I enjoy life. I need to rest, spend time with my family and do a bit of gardening in my

terrace. I need to have my own space. In the past, many famous musicians, painters and

sculptors were sponsored by patrons. The patron could be the emperor, a noble and a

businessman. With enough money to live by, they did not need to make a living. Instead, they

worked hard on what they were good at and did what they enjoyed every day. Nowadays, this

kind of relationship seldom exists.

Thank You