Latest news with #CallyChan
Tatler Asia
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Creative director Cally Chan on weaving the tales of Mother Nature into her textile work
Roots of creativity One of Chan's cherished childhood creations was a magazine cover she drew when she was eight, and which earned her an award at school. It featured several drawings of Snoopy, the beloved beagle character from the Peanuts comic strip, sheltered by a large tree, symbolising how the school supported its students. Her interest and confidence in illustration grew the more praise she received for her work, but the craft remained a hobby. Only after moving to the UK in 2006 for secondary school did she begin exploring the possibility of turning her interest into a career when her paintings caught the attention of a teacher, who later encouraged her to develop her talents further. Chan decided to intern with interior design firms during the summer holidays and found herself drawn to the industry. While the profession is distinct from the traditional art industry, she saw similarities in how both are about 'crafting narratives through the careful combination of materials, colours and elements'. Photo 1 of 3 A meeting space at Coltex Furnishing's 4,000-square-foot studio in North Point (Photo: Cally Chan) Photo 2 of 3 Racks of fabrics featuring patterns designed by the Coltex Furnishing team (Photo: Cally Chan) Photo 3 of 3 Shelves display a selection of fabric and material samples in a corner of the studio (Photo: Cally Chan) After graduating from Chelsea College of Art and Design with a bachelor's degree in interior and spatial design in 2012, Chan worked at two design firms—Aedas and AB Concept. The experience gave her a crash course in this line of work, teaching her the basics and leading to her developing her soft furnishings niche. She also worked on projects for Four Seasons hotels in London and Kuala Lumpur, where her knack for abstract design started to shine. Read more: Discover how Johor architect Razin Mahmood is redefining Malaysian architecture with tropical modernism Designing beyond boundaries In the early days of Coltex Furnishing, Chan and her co-founder and husband, Jacky Hung, approached their business as potters approach a lump of clay. 'You're never quite sure what the final form will be,' she says. They began by offering a kaleidoscope of design styles—Chinese, east-meets- west and abstract—allowing clients to explore and define their aesthetic preferences. Quickly, the abstract designs emerged as the studio's signature. Chan also ensures that its furnishings tell a story that resonates with both the brands it works with and their customers. Some of her approaches include adding elements that provide context based on the venue's history and align with its purpose. It's even more rewarding when her products are used in unexpected ways, as it broadens her perspective. For example, at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong's British bar The Chinnery, her classic basket weave pattern—typically suited to casual settings—is transformed into sophisticated upholstery by adding a leather trim. Despite the popularity and success that Chan and her team have enjoyed over the last nine years, she says they always prioritise focusing on the present instead of chasing expansion or accolades—and this has led to their creating exceptional work and finding joy. 'What if the world ended tomorrow?' she asks. 'It may cost you a lot to get to the place you think you want to be. Focusing on small pieces can lead to big steps, and it might just take you somewhere.' Read more: School tour: Architect Hoang Thuc Hao's humanist vision at Phieng Mut Kindergarten Quick takes Here, we ask Chan a quickfire round of questions to discover more about her artistic preferences and inspirations. Do you prefer hand-drawn or digital design? Cally Chan (CC): Hand-drawn design. It's easier for me to review what I've drawn. What is your favourite pattern scale: tiny or large? CC: Large. If you could collaborate with any historical artist, who would it be and why? CC: Claude Monet because I can stay at his place with a beautiful garden. What is one trend in fabric design that we should pay attention to? CC: Geometric abstraction. What do you do when you hit a creative roadblock? CC: I would talk to my friends. Most of them are in the interior design space, and we can bounce ideas off each other. Meet more Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow from the Architecture & Design sector. NOW READ 'Bro-chitecture': Jesse Armstrong's Mountainhead and the rise of male-coded luxury homes Designers discuss how lighting shapes space, emotion and narrative at Sol Luminaire's new 397 showroom Brutalist by Design: M Residences Katipunan's homes are stunningly versatile
Associated Press
11-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
HKT partners with Microsoft Hong Kong to launch next-gen Teams Phone solution
First local telecom carrier in Hong Kong to provide Microsoft Operator Connect1 HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 11 February 2025 - HKT has partnered with Microsoft Hong Kong to provide Operator Connect, making it the first local telecom carrier to offer the new Microsoft Teams Phone solution for enterprises in Hong Kong. Operator Connect revolutionises business communications by seamlessly integrating existing business phone lines with Microsoft Teams through an operator-managed service. This solution enables enterprises to benefit from professional technical support and quality assurance while enabling Teams for calls, without the need for extensive changes or new hardware, resulting in a cost-effective, streamlined transition. By utilising its self-managed network, HKT has also introduced HKT Operator Connect Plus, an advanced version of Microsoft Operator Connect powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Leveraging its expertise in solution design and system integration, HKT Operator Connect Plus offers monitoring of call quality, automatically alerting users of any potential issues2 and tracking down to the root causes of the fluctuations during voice calls. Steve Ng, Managing Director of Commercial Group, HKT, said, 'HKT has a long-standing history of providing reliable voice services to thousands of enterprises in Hong Kong. We understand the need for a future-proof, enterprise-grade communications platform in the evolving digital landscape. HKT Operator Connect Plus, powered by AI, assists enterprises in swiftly identifying and resolving cloud voice issues. Committed to enabling corporates in their digital transformation journey, we will continue to leverage the latest technologies, including AI and automation, to deliver advanced Unified Communication-as-a-Service (UCaaS) that caters to enterprises' evolving needs.' 'We are thrilled to see the launch of Operator Connect in Hong Kong, marking a significant milestone in our collaboration with HKT,' said Cally Chan, General Manager of Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau. 'By combining Microsoft's industry-leading technology with HKT's carrier-grade capabilities and local expertise, Operator Connect becomes a future-proven solution that provides customers with a comprehensive, reliable and AI-powered communications solution that will drive productivity and digital transformation for businesses of all sizes.' Comprehensive end-to-end support is available to enterprises, covering Microsoft licence, technical integration and operator-managed service. Additionally, a dedicated technical support hotline provides professional advice on preventative measures and troubleshooting, ensuring reliable communication for local and regional businesses. HKT addresses various migration challenges and operational requirements, ensuring seamless implementation of HKT Operator Connect Plus with the Teams Phone system. _____________ 2 This is a value-added service, and users need to apply for it separately. Hashtag: #HKT The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About HKT HKT is a technology, media, and telecommunication leader with more than 150 years of history in Hong Kong. As the city's true 5G provider, HKT connects businesses and people locally and globally. Our end-to-end enterprise solutions make us a market-leading digital transformation partner of choice for businesses, whereas our comprehensive connectivity and smart living offerings enrich people's lives and cater for their diverse needs for work, entertainment, education, well-being, and even a sustainable low-carbon lifestyle. Together with our digital ventures which support digital economy development and help connect Hong Kong to the world as an international financial centre, HKT endeavours to contribute to smart city development and help our community tech forward.
Zawya
11-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
HKT partners with Microsoft Hong Kong to launch next-gen Teams Phone solution
First local telecom carrier in Hong Kong to provide Microsoft Operator Connect 1 HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 11 February 2025 - HKT has partnered with Microsoft Hong Kong to provide Operator Connect, making it the first local telecom carrier to offer the new Microsoft Teams Phone solution for enterprises in Hong Kong. Operator Connect revolutionises business communications by seamlessly integrating existing business phone lines with Microsoft Teams through an operator-managed service. This solution enables enterprises to benefit from professional technical support and quality assurance while enabling Teams for calls, without the need for extensive changes or new hardware, resulting in a cost-effective, streamlined transition. By utilising its self-managed network, HKT has also introduced HKT Operator Connect Plus, an advanced version of Microsoft Operator Connect powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Leveraging its expertise in solution design and system integration, HKT Operator Connect Plus offers monitoring of call quality, automatically alerting users of any potential issues 2 and tracking down to the root causes of the fluctuations during voice calls. Steve Ng, Managing Director of Commercial Group, HKT, said, "HKT has a long-standing history of providing reliable voice services to thousands of enterprises in Hong Kong. We understand the need for a future-proof, enterprise-grade communications platform in the evolving digital landscape. HKT Operator Connect Plus, powered by AI, assists enterprises in swiftly identifying and resolving cloud voice issues. Committed to enabling corporates in their digital transformation journey, we will continue to leverage the latest technologies, including AI and automation, to deliver advanced Unified Communication-as-a-Service (UCaaS) that caters to enterprises' evolving needs." "We are thrilled to see the launch of Operator Connect in Hong Kong, marking a significant milestone in our collaboration with HKT," said Cally Chan, General Manager of Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau. "By combining Microsoft's industry-leading technology with HKT's carrier-grade capabilities and local expertise, Operator Connect becomes a future-proven solution that provides customers with a comprehensive, reliable and AI-powered communications solution that will drive productivity and digital transformation for businesses of all sizes." Comprehensive end-to-end support is available to enterprises, covering Microsoft licence, technical integration and operator-managed service. Additionally, a dedicated technical support hotline provides professional advice on preventative measures and troubleshooting, ensuring reliable communication for local and regional businesses. HKT addresses various migration challenges and operational requirements, ensuring seamless implementation of HKT Operator Connect Plus with the Teams Phone system. _____________ 1 Information source: 2 This is a value-added service, and users need to apply for it separately. Hashtag: #HKT The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About HKT HKT is a technology, media, and telecommunication leader with more than 150 years of history in Hong Kong. As the city's true 5G provider, HKT connects businesses and people locally and globally. Our end-to-end enterprise solutions make us a market-leading digital transformation partner of choice for businesses, whereas our comprehensive connectivity and smart living offerings enrich people's lives and cater for their diverse needs for work, entertainment, education, well-being, and even a sustainable low-carbon lifestyle. Together with our digital ventures which support digital economy development and help connect Hong Kong to the world as an international financial centre, HKT endeavours to contribute to smart city development and help our community tech forward. For more information, please visit LinkedIn: HKT
