Angus TING For-Chun

“Design is all about communication. Designers need to build connections and interact with others.”

The bamboo craft brand, Yiwooo, has been bringing forth the new through the old. The founder, Angus Ting, as a bamboo craftsman himself, is always curious about why Hong Kong people lack the opportunities to learn bamboo art, which is a local traditional craftsmanship. He created the Craft Kit Set which includes bamboo materials, a manual, and instructional videos, making it easier for people to give it a try.

Angus emphasizes that bamboo art has a long history, so his role is not limited to coming up with new patterns or techniques. Instead, he also took up the role of coordinating this craftsmanship with the contemporary urban style . “Many people did not try because they did not know where and how to start,” explained by Angus. He therefore detailly recorded the process of transforming a piece of bamboo into a basket, helping people to finish the procedure step by step.

Communication and Realization

The Craft Kit Set is based on the premise that anyone can make it at home and should not feel overwhelmed or too difficult. This stems from Angus’ community project design experiences in which he engaged heavily in local dialogues, “Design is all about communication. Designers need to build connections and interact with others, like the business sector and communities. Even the best product needs to be understood by people in order to bring the design concept to life, and make it useful to the audience,”, said Angus.

Angus TING For-Chun

Founder & Bamboo Craftsman , Yiwooo

Ting For Chun majored in Architecture and Interior Design at Caritas Bianchi College of Careers and graduated in 2010. He co-founded “thecaveworkshop”, a design studio exploring cultural and environmental topics. His team has partnered with notable organizations and projects including Detour, PMQ and The Art Promotion Office.

Ting came into contact with Takezaiku (a Japanese traditional bamboo craft) on a trip to Kyoto. Ting’s blossoming interest in woodwork and bamboo craft over the years prompted him to establish his bamboo craft brand Yiwooo in 2018. Meaning “twice” in Chinese, the name is inspired by the creation process where bamboo strips have to be woven across at least twice for sturdiness. The brand commits to connecting bamboo crafts with modern city life.