Designer stands out for originality

Hilary Wong

Monday, October 27, 2014

One of the recipients of this year's Ten Outstanding Young Persons awards said he believes the honor is better than winning an Olympic gold medal.

Ajax Law Ling-kit, 39, is an interior designer who has already won more than 200 awards in his more than 10 years in the industry.

Law started his own interior design company in 2004 after three years working for other companies during which time, he said, he came across no ground- breaking ideas.

Law said he is a typical Hongkonger who grew up in a public housing estate in Ho Man Tin and whose family was not wealthy.

"I always believed the awards belonged to those with a remarkable background ... I did not expect this award at all as I do not come from a well-off family, did not have the opportunity to study abroad or work in a firm with a wide network."

As a result of his pursuit of originality he has, on occasion, been harshly criticized. But because of his persistence, he won the International Designer of the Year in 2012 making him the first Chinese to take this honor, which The Times of London called "the Oscars of the interior design world."

Law encourages young people to seek their own ideas and work to their best at all times. "Work as though you want to get 200 marks so even if they deduct 100 you are left with 100," he said.

"You have to work hard if you want to stand out from the crowd."

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Designer stands out for originality