News and Media

Published: Jan 22, 2010

HONG KONG—SCAD, the most comprehensive art and design university in the world, announces that alumna Sabrina Kwon, principal designer for U.S.-based design firm Wabi Sabi, will discuss “The Business Value of Design: Dollars and Sense” as a presenter at Asia’s first Make a Difference (MaD) Forum, Jan. 22-24 in Hong Kong. SCAD also is sponsoring admission for 30 local youth from low-income families to attend the event, which is aimed to encourage young people under the age of 30 to realize their potential and take action to make a difference on a personal, business and social level.

Merging a Bachelor of Science degree in brain and cognitive sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School and, most recently, a Master of Arts degree in interior design from SCAD, Kwon now heads her own design consulting enterprise Wabi Sabi Studio in Atlanta, Ga. She integrates her design and management consulting skills with functional knowledge in hospitality, retail and brand management to create distinctive and effective design solutions for her clients.

Kwon was formerly a management consultant at McKinsey & Company; a designer for USFS/Hyatt Corporation; and design director of Dewberry Capital. A LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited professional, Kwon’s design work includes numerous award-winning projects, such as HotelWorld’s Best Guestroom Design/Limited Service and Steelcase’s “Showroom of the Future” Design Competition.

Kwon’s presentation is a part of the group session “Design and the Triple Bottom Line,” and will focus on how designers offer the multidisciplinary skills of creative, “out-of-the-box” thinking along with resourceful problem solving, valuable assets for today’s business and cultural leaders.

“Through this forum we hope to groom a new generation of young people who are creative, cosmopolitan, collaborative and compassionate, who can communicate and create change,” said Rachel Chan, co-founder of the MaD Forum, and Ada Wong, Honorary Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Institute of Contemporary Culture. “We believe that accomplished professionals like Sabrina and organisations like her alma mater, SCAD, will help our youth learn that creative passion can be put to work to build fulfilling careers, enhance cultural opportunities and generate positive change that will make Hong Kong an even better place for its residents.”

SCAD will open SCAD Hong Kong in Fall 2010, becoming the first university in Hong Kong to focus exclusively on art and design. The university is currently accepting applications for admission. Courses of study at SCAD Hong Kong focus on digital media and are registered with the Hong Kong Education Bureau. They include advertising, animation, graphic design, illustration, interactive design and game development, motion media design, photography, and visual effects, pending U.S. approval by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Applications to SCAD Hong Kong and the other SCAD locations in Savannah or Atlanta, Ga., are available online.

The MaD Forum, organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Contemporary Culture, takes place at the Kwai Tsing Theatre in Hong Kong, Jan. 22-24. More than 20 renowned change makers from seven countries will share their success stories related to creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership. In addition to talks, workshops and sharing sessions, the forum will host competitions, awards and other activities. The MaD Forum is a nonprofit event sponsored by the HKSAR government and other corporate sponsors.

SCAD media inquiries and interview requests may be directed to Phoebe Ho at 852 2837 4756 or Tom Ho at 852 2837 4726.