Aless is on board. What makes him tick?

The cultured Aless talks tea, theatre, and poetry.

Tell us a little about yourself. Who is Aless?

I was born in Hong Kong, but I’m tea-obsessed like most British people. Earl Grey, Cha, Oolong tea, you name it! I built up more than 4 years’ experience working as a designer in Greater China, specializing in branding and information design.

I’ve also been involved in other creative projects, such as animations and video productions, improving my knowledge and getting inspiration to develop my skills further.

What were you up to before you came here?

I was working as a part-time barista in Seven Sisters, which is near where I live. It was a valuable opportunity for me to get familiar with the community — especially when it came to finding out how people like their coffee!

At the same time, I was also a freelance graphic designer, handling a broad spectrum of design projects for clients in London, Hong Kong and China.

How are you finding outré creative so far?

The people here are great, and I can really feel the team spirit. With the rapid expansion of the company, there are many opportunities to develop skills, take on interesting projects, and work with people I can really learn from.

Why did you become a designer? And what keeps you going?

I just followed my dream. I was always fascinated with the relationship between aesthetic and function. Passion (and deadlines!) keep me motivated to create even better design work.

Passion helps me generate new ideas throughout each project and overcome challenges. Deadlines, meanwhile, are the most powerful impulse of the designer’s spirit, which always take my work to another level.

Have you seen anything recently that inspired you? Tell us a bit about it.

I recently came across a poem by William Blake: Auguries of Innocence. It suggested that the beauty of nature and the universe is often in the fine details: “To see a world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wild flower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.”

Ideas and originality can be inspired by everyday details, and the poem also reminds us how children see the world — experienced designers should never forget this.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in the last few years?

Persistence is the word I have heard a thousand times but it’s something I only realized the importance of not long ago.

Finally, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoy watching theatrical performances, from classic plays to modern plays. The way the visual elements come together on stage seems like a miracle to me.

I particularly enjoy the moment when the house goes dark — anything seems possible.