The Hong Kong Designers Association was first established in 1972 when it invited practising design professionals from multiple disciplines to join. At present, its 560 members include designers who specialise in graphic, product, interior, multi-media, exhibition, architectural or fashion design, and academic professionals in the field.
'We only admit practising professionals,' says association chairman Alan Yip Chi-wing, a product designer who also runs his own firm, Yip Design.
'To become full members, professionals need to have at least five years' experience and demonstrate their experience in an interview at the association.'
The creative industry enjoyed a golden period from 1990 through to 1997, before the Asian financial crisis.
'We suffered as much as other service providers [during the crisis], when corporate budgets were tight. Then came an industry consolidation where design shops were closed and designers left the industry,' says Mr Yip.
In 2000, when the industry was left with the more established and high-quality designers, it started to become energetic again. Partially, it was being bolstered by the Hong Kong government's commitment to strengthen its 'creative industry' policy.