Alan Chan
Born in 1950 he is on the few Hong Kong trained graphics designer to have achieved international recognition with his works. The only real training in design he has followed is a mere 10 months evening courses in 1970 and yet during his 35 years of career he has received more than 500 local and international awards, including Communications arts, New York Art directors club, D & AD, Tokyo type directors club, Japan Topography Association, Hong Kong Designers Association . In 1989 he received the designer of the year from the Hong Kong artists guild. In 1996 his company was selected by the New York Graphis Press as one of the 10 best design firms in the world. His works are already in the Architecture and Design permanent collection of the San Francisco museum of modern art since 1997. His contribution to the design industry has been so significant that in 2002, he was awarded a Medal of Honor by the Government of the Hong Kong SAR.
In 1980, Alan Chan and his wife Sandra Chan set up the company Dimensions Advertising and built up a portfolio of a wide variety of work, ranging from corporate and brand identity design to packaging, product and interior design.
The fusion of Oriental and Western cultures in contemporary graphic design is a dominant theme in Chan's creative work. He successfully captures the spirit of these cultures and reinterprets them in his own unique style, a style which distinguishes itself in its wonderful juxtaposition of a quaint nostalgia with the contemporary themes, as well as the modern with the traditional, offering a revival of classic Chinese art and culture via a different perspective.
To even broaden his scope of creations, Alan Chan created in 1990 a brand. His products can be found in places like the Peninsula Gallery in HK. His brand has established an original Hong Kong label with an international appeal.
In 1999, Alan Chan was commissioned by the Mitsubishi Estate Ltd in Tokyo to create the Marunouchi Café (M Café) which comprises IT space, exhibition venue, promotional area and a unique vending machine room. The Cafe has become very popular and attracted numerous media coverage. He also had design works including the corporate identity for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation or the complete concept of a contemporary Chinese tea room in Osaka. In 2002, Alan Chan exhibited his works at the renowned Ginza Graphic Gallery. Chan has given lectures and written articles on cultural identity in graphic design and has acted as a judge for international design competitions.
Since 2002, Chan has ventured into the arena of fine arts. Three of his works were exhibited at Art Chicago 2002 upon the invitation of Art Beatus gallery in Hong Kong. The same year, he also exhibited at Art Basel in Switzerland and at Dream 02 in London.
Alan Chan had important projects in Shanghai in 2004, with the opening of 3 on the bund, where he designed the Evian Spa and the Whampoa club restaurant.
In 2007 he designed a special scarf for Ferragamo in HK and he held a big party in Lan Kwai Fung the 27th anniversary of his company.
Alan Chan is still very active in the Design world working more and more in Mainland China were his talent is more and more appreciated for his blending of East and West, Modern and Traditional, in interior design, corporate identity and many others fields.