Interior design and furniture design are intertwined. After three decades of crafting spaces across Hong Kong, the US, Australia, Singapore, India, and Greater China, PAL Design Group partner Joey Ho is venturing into furniture design for this year's Maison&Objet. To mark the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations, Ho was invited to create a furniture collection for the prestigious design fair in Paris with an aim to once again put Hong Kong design talent in the global spotlight.

Free from his usual commercial constraints, Ho let his imagination run wild with this debut furniture collection. Taking cues from children's daydreams, he crafted twelve pieces that aim to make kids feel more free-spirited and relaxed.

The collection includes the whimsical "Head in the Clouds" play area, a peach-inspired "PP Stool," jellyfish-shaped chairs and lighting, and an "Open Book" lounger that literally lets users sit inside a book.

While kids were the muse, Ho designed these pieces to appeal to adults as well, hoping to spark interaction between generations and blur the boundaries. The series also features a sophisticated dining set inspired by the Monkey King — his beloved childhood character. This includes the "Wukong Plate Trio" tea set, "Piggy Pot" teapot, "Mount Five Finger" tea service, and "Wukong" dining set. At the fair, Ho shared with us the concept, the challenges, and everything in between.

How did this project come about?

The brief was simple - create furniture with personal character. Coming from architecture and interior design, furniture design was new to me. In interior design, you're solving problems that already exist; but with furniture, it's the other way around - you're creating solutions first. It was refreshing to break free from my usual practice and express creativity through a new medium.

Why design for children?

Designing for adults can be boring. Kids are refreshingly honest with boundless imagination - the perfect excuse for me to think outside the box. I believe every piece of furniture should come with a reason, and I wanted to create dialogues between children and furniture.

I noticed how kids love to interact with furniture. That's what inspired the 'Open Book' lounger -- the first piece of my collection. Kids naturally connect with books, so when you transform that familiar object into something new, it creates both comfort and excitement. The lounger's 'pages' can be flipped to reveal different materials for different weather. Watching kids interact with it has been a joy.

Tell me about your dining collection - it has quite a different style?

I've always been fascinated by the Monkey King character - particularly how he struggles against his golden headband. I used this as a metaphor for breaking free from creative constraints. The Monkey King is instantly recognizable to children, so I wove traditional Chinese philosophy into the twelve-piece dining set, incorporating the principles of 'see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil' in a playful way. The tea set design elements reference the story of the Five-Finger Mountain that trapped the Monkey King.

Also, something interesting happened during the exhibition setup. We had an empty space to fill, and on the spot, I decided to do some impromptu calligraphy - painting the Monkey King's headband in black paint on white canvas. It turned out to be a perfect fit. Sometimes the best creative moments come from unexpected situations.

Did your interior design background influence this collection?

Absolutely. I've always favored clean, spatial planning with a strong conceptual foundation. That's why my pieces aren't over-decorated - they're concept-driven. Take the play space, for example. A simple circular design with carefully selected materials creates a cozy sanctuary for children.

As an interior designer, I'm particularly strict about form and proportion. Every detail, from the rounded stool legs to the graceful curves of the cushions, was meticulously considered.

What were the main challenges?

The biggest hurdle was furniture manufacturing. Take the 'Open Book' structure - getting the framework, materials, elasticity, and page proportions right was incredibly precise work. What looks simple on the surface required complex engineering. Close collaboration with manufacturers was therefore crucial - not just for technical aspects, but for their expertise in materials and practical considerations.

What's your biggest takeaway from this project?

Creating furniture opened up a whole new world of possibilities. Without commercial constraints, I could really explore the relationship between people and furniture in fresh ways. It's sparked new creative directions and pushed me beyond my usual boundaries.

Following LAAB Architects' innovative 'Hong Kong Pavilion' at last September's Maison&Objet, Hong Kong made another strong showcase this January with the 'HK+FR: Furniture for World Design' pavilion. Ho's playful furniture collection joined local creative giants featured in the booth, including branding guru Tommy Li, fashion retail pioneer Walter Ma, digital artist Victor Wong, as well as Maison&Objet 2023-2024 'Rising Talent Awards' winners. All pieces were produced by local Hong Kong furniture manufacturers, demonstrating the city's excellence in both creative design and manufacturing capabilities on the global stage.

Last year, Maison&Objet made its debut in Hong Kong at HKCEC, offering the city a glimpse of global furniture and design trends, while highlighting local design talent across multiple disciplines. The prestigious biannual trade fair draws tastemakers worldwide to Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre every January and September, with more than 2,400 brands participating in this year's January edition. Under the theme 'Sur/Reality' — in honor of surrealism's 100th anniversary — the show presented a dramatic showcase of whimsical objects against dreamlike backdrops that dazzled and inspired.

The upcoming September 2025 edition of Maison&Objet will run from 4 to 8 September.

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