BENNY DAY

BENNY DAY FOUNDER OF DAY DESIGN STUDIO By Phoebe Kut

Day Design Studio is the brainchild of Britishborn Benny Day, who’s been living in Shenzhen for the past six years. His design company focuses mainly on F&B and commercial interiors, in addition to branding and product design. Day speaks with us about starting a business in China, offers advice for budding designers and discusses one of his more intriguing projects, designing vibrators.

How did you get started in interior design, and how did you end up in Shenzhen?

I went to university in London to study interi ors, but with a focus on architecture, and had a cool friend whose older sister had a large interior design company, so I started working in the summers with her. After finishing uni versity in London, my lecturer recommended that I try out a job in Shenzhen. I thought I’d do six months here, six months in Japan and Korea, then go back as the Asia expert and finish. But nope, got here and realized I didn’t know anything and stayed! What was the process like when you started your own design company? I was freelancing for four years, and regis tered the company two years ago. When I first arrived, I worked for a company and that year we did 41 projects. To put that in perspective, some large UK studios may do 40 projects in their career. Being in China, everything happens very quickly. By the end I realized I understood the process, but was I experienced? Did I have a style? Perhaps not, but I jumped out anyways and flopped quite early. My growth and placement right now is all built on failure. It was definitely a jour ney. But a year went on with one client and I started to build momentum and have been going since.

Why do you prefer designing for F&B cli ents in particular? F&B is quantifiable; it’s data-driven. Say, if you’re designing a restaurant, they need a kitchen, a certain amount of seats, an en trance and fire exits. After that, it follows trends, fashion and the project lifecycle is much shorter. In comparison, hotels take on average three to four years to design and cre ate and you’re not really following trends or fashion. That’s what I find more exciting: the fun, fashionable elements and the quantifi able data.

Is starting a business as a foreigner in China hard?

As one of my clients put it, “It’s like you’re growing up in public.” China has such a differ ent market than anywhere else, and you don’t have time to hide; you’ve got to work it out in public and if you fail, you fail. I’ve learned a few good things: relationships are everything, and don’t rely on one thing. I’ve diversified my company. Instead of just interior design, I’m doing a bit of branding and graphics. It’s about having that balance, and never focus ing on just one client. Lastly, you’ve got to be resilient, and you don’t necessarily need a Chinese partner.

Any advice for any designers who are just starting out?

It’s not your project until the money is in the bank. Never guarantee timelines to clients as they may come back and say they don’t have the budget or they’ll delay the timeline. Have other options. If you’re green, try to learn on someone else’s time.

Tell us a bit about designing vibrators?

Yeah, this project is actually for a Singaporean company called Smile Makers and they’re a great company. They’re educating beginners about the vibrator world while also providing education and awareness about sexual health and sexual wellness to a lot of people who may not openly talk about sex. For them we designed two vibrators, condom packaging (which will be in Watsons) and we’re in talks for their lubricant range too. I think I got into this space because it was more about brand strategy, launching and brand identity – each product has its own name (ie. the Romantic, Explorer, Ballerina) and personality. We did a lot of mood boarding, about the personality, shape and product goals.

Check out more of Day Design Studio ’ s work on Instagram (@daydesign.studio) or contact him on WeChat: bennyday

STYLERADAR

HOT ON TAOBAO Diva Ring Light

China’s e-commerce livestreaming-market is big business. The practice of reviewing and featuring products in videos designed for consumers has made waves throughout Chinese e-commerce platforms in recent years, with celeb rity livestreamers cashing in.

Austin Li, a widely-known male beauty blogger and KOL, reportedly sold 15,000 tubes of lipstick in 15 minutes during one of his live-stream sessions. Even older consumers are buying into the world of livestreaming, as made evident by the ayi we sat next to on the bus recently who watched a live-streamer feature two vinegar prod ucts. Vinegar!

Aside from a phone and a product to sell, this growing legion of lives treamers relies on one key component: a diva ring light. Used to enhance your look during video shooting, no livestreamer would dare to feature that new makeup item or clothing product without this essential lamp. So, if you’re thinking about throwing your eggs into the livestreaming basket, consider this must-have equipment.

> The diva ring light is available on Taobao by searching 手机直播光灯. Prices start from RMB39.

COVET Style and Structure Ladies, what’s the perfect accessory that can tie a whole outfit together? A staple handbag. You’ve been searching for it far and wide. Do you pick a trendy bag that will (hopefully) last a season, or opt for an investment piece with craftsmanship? Enter SELECTIV, a Shanghai-based Nordic fashion and lifestyle brand for the design-conscious individual. Their signature mini handbags (RMB2,800) are a chic statement for the modern woman (or man, we don’t judge). Lead designer Kashan Sing, an architect by trade, wanted to design a timeless and special piece for his first foray in fashion. Made with genuine leather, the optional crossbody bag can hold all your essentials and is perfect for day or night. SELECTIV’s line also includes tote bags, leather notebooks (which are perfect for journaling) and leather bracelets.

> Pictured is the SELECTIV vintage mini handbag, shop their WeChat store by searching SELECTIV

UNDER THE LENS ‘Micro-fat’ Influencers and Industry on the Rise The Chinese plus-size market is a multibillion-dollar opportunity. Four decades ago, 11.3% of Chinese adults were overweight; now that number is closer to 25%. However, there aren’t English equivalents to terms like ‘plus-size’ or ‘curvy’. Vogue Business reports, “the most common words used are the cutesy ‘micro-fat’ (微胖) or the slightly patronizing ‘meaty’ (肉肉).” A niche group of micro-fat influencers are on the rise, like Deng Deng, who has amassed 2.5 million followers on Douyin since appear ing on the scene a year ago. Deng explains, “In 2018, there were almost no influencers like me, fat girls dressed down, not up. This is changing. Big girls are seeing women who look like them wearing beautiful clothes, and they want in.”

TAP THAT APP Interesting Sports 趣运动

Anyone who enjoys sports and lives in China has likely faced the daunting task of finding a venue at which to play. With millions of residents in your city and – de pending on your Chinese skills – a language barrier to overcome, locating a good basketball court or football pitch can be a nightmare.

We came across ‘Interesting Sports’ (趣运动, Qu Yundong in pinyin) while having trouble finding a de cent tennis court in Guangzhou. The app proved to be a big help by providing a list of courts around the city with venue phone numbers and a map. Best of all, you can book a reservation through the app (or website) for your next outing.

Interesting Sports serves 80 cities in China, linking users with venues for football, basketball, badminton, tennis, swimming and more. You can book by the hour up to a week in advance. It’s worth noting that the app is only offered in Chinese, but you’ll have an easy time navigating once you know your go-to sport’s name in Chinese. Now that you’ve got the tool to get you back on the field, it’s time to lace up those cleats and go beast mode on Wesley from sales.

> Interesting Sports (趣运动, Qu Yundong) is available on iOS and Android devices. Visit quyundong.com or add their official WeChat account ( 趣运动) to learn more.

SPRING OF LINGNAN ( 岭南春晖 ) MEET CELEBRITY CHEF JACK LIN AT INTERCONTINENTAL GUANGZHOU EXHIBITION CENTER

Celebrity Chef Jack Lin ( 林述巍 ) is famous for his appearance in popular reality TV show Chinese Restaurant ( 中餐厅 ) Season 3 and for his commitment to bringing innovation to Chinese fine dining. Chef Lin was recently promoted to be the Insider Chef Ambassador by InterContinental brand. By partnering with experienced InterContinental chefs with strong reputations, the Insider Chef program aims to provide global travelers with an unforgettable culinary experience.

From February 25-27, Chef Lin’s fans in Guangzhou will have the opportunity to meet him at InterContinental Guangzhou Exhibition Center where Lin will work with hotel’s Chinese Executive Chef Andy Wu ( 吴玉擎 ) and Executive Chef Norman Zhong ( 钟荣华 ) to present “Spring of Lingnan” special menu to Guangzhou. Trained as a specialist in Cantonese cuisine, Lin’s short visit in Guangzhou will be a homecoming occasion for him.

The three chefs will create an eight-course menu to pay tribute to Cantonese cuisine. Lin will

bring his treasured recipes of modern Canton to blend with Chef Andy’s expertise in traditional Shunde and Chaozhou cuisine. Chef Norman will take care of the overall menu design to ensure the menu is well structured and perfectly presented. The menu boasts Guangdong’s coastal delights, and will feature both fresh and dried seafood. Guests will enjoy a fascinating combination of classic light saucing presented by Chef Andy and the increasingly popular spicy flavor by Chef Lin, favored among the younger generation. One course guests will absolutely love is the steamed lobster with egg white and yellow wine, presented by Chef Andy, which is a medley of textures and soft, elegant flavors. Chef Lin’s braised abalone and beef ribs with truffle is another stand-out dish, and it contrasts well with the silky eggs of Chef Andy’s aforementioned dish.

“Spring of Lingnan” special menu will be available at Canal Luna, InterContinental Guangzhou Exhibition Center from February 25- 27.

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