Q&A: Leo Ku Kui-kei

Canto-pop singer Leo Ku Kui-kei has been expanding his design business after creating his comic character Kubi in 2003. Since opening a fashion store in Causeway Bay and a pop-up outlet in Tsim Sha Tsui this year, the 37-year-old has established a design studio, abc.

Short for A Big Company, the studio got off to a good start, creating merchandise for Canto-pop duo Twin's reunion concerts and a recycle bin for skincare brand Kiehl's. This led the Trade Development Council to appoint him as an ambassador to promote local brands at the Hong Kong Fashion Trade Show, now being held in Fuzhou, Fujian province. Ku will also visit the World Expo in Shanghai in October as a TDC ambassador to promote Hong Kong design.

You've become very active in the design business. How much time do you allocate to your design work?

I've almost stopped collecting toys and playing video games because I have to take care of my entertainment and design career now. I use every second of my leisure time for my design projects.

Having been involved in different design projects on and off for many years, I thought it was time to launch my own design company to collaborate with different clients. At the moment, we have four full-time staff and one freelancer working at our workshop in Chai Wan. The scope of our work should be broader, not just limited to fashion.

I'm not doing it just for fun. My design studio is another platform for me to apply my creativity. I like to create and I have contributed ideas to my own concerts. When I worked on my albums, I thought of special themes for each of them. I regard myself as more than a performer, there are a lot of ideas behind my performances. I also like to draw. I'm thrilled that I can combine these two interests through being a designer.

You've just designed a recycle bin for Kiehl's. What else do you do to protect the environment?