Duy HUYNH , Fergal TSE

“Seemingly, a shortcoming can be turned into an advantage through comprehensive design work.”

Paper is one of the largest sources of municipal waste in the city. Whether it be documents, homework, printing or publications, the paper will be discarded very likely once its task of information transmission is completed. Duy Huynh and Fergal Tse propose to upcycle wasted paper into furniture. This is Paper, shows the new potential avenues and applications for paper after its consumption, and proposes alternate methods to give paper a new life.

User Empowerment

This is Paper is not furniture with a fixed design. With different fabrication techniques, paper can be transformed into a chairs, tables, or cabinets with various colors and patterns. Fergal explained that they value the engagement by users more than solely creating new furniture for people, “even a person without design knowledge or fabrication skills can create their own furniture and explore the possibilities of paper,” said Fergal.

Apart from the environmental perspective, This is Paper also favors the mass due to limited living space in Hong Kong. Duy believes that this product is particularly suitable for Hong Kong, “Seemingly, a shortcoming can be turned into an advantage through comprehensive design work before a new and unique local product is created,” said Duy.

Duy HUYNH , Fergal TSE (from left)

Designer & Student, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong

Duy Huynh and Fergal Tse are interdisciplinary designers currently based in Hong Kong. Both graduated from the Bachelor of Arts and Science in Design+ program at the University of Hong Kong. Duy's second major in material engineering sparked his interest in sustainable and nature-respecting design as he combined his knowledge of material innovation, research, and fabrication. Meanwhile, Fergal's background in architecture led him to explore design thinking and innovation, bridging the gap between architecture and design, particularly in the context of Hong Kong's rapid urbanization. Combining their previous experiences working in makerspaces, design studios, and architectural practices, their approach spans disciplines, including materials innovation, social innovation, architectural design, and design research. Their works have been showcased at various exhibitions, including the Sea World Design Society Sea World Culture and Arts Center in Shenzhen, PMQ, and K11.