When Wang‚ 29‚ and Kong‚ 28‚ came up with the name of their studio‚ Hi Thanks Bye‚ they knew it would be a conversation starter. The name is intended to be both playful and earnest, just like their furniture pieces.

In their first commercial project‚ Collection O‚ the pair pay homage to their Chinese-Canadian backgrounds‚ evoking both Chinese gardens and the natural landscapes of Prince Edward and Fogo Islands. The pieces‚ made of cold-rolled steel sheets and handmade textiles‚ combine traditional and modern techniques.

The designers’ knack for storytelling is on full display in their latest collection‚ Be My Guest‚ in which they focus on the art of entertaining at home. Wang and Kong have several projects in development with emerging Chinese furniture companies such as HC28‚ Grado‚ and Kun Design.

Read about Kong's memory of visiting the Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou, China, plus Kong's most treasured possession and more, below.

Hometowns: Shanghai, China (Wang) and Guangzhou, China (Kong)

Current Location: Toronto, Canada

Describe what you make in 140 characters. We design furniture, art, installations, and objects that reflect upon our own physical and emotional states.

What's the last thing you designed? A dining table —Wang

Do you have a daily creative ritual? I wake up early in the morning and list all the tasks that need to be finished that day. Then, I send the list to Stein in order to wake him up. —Kong

How do you procrastinate? By over thinking. Nothing goes onto paper or into my computer until the idea is fully formed in my head. —Wang

What everyday object would you like to redesign? Why? Tableware. I am a foodie, and I think there are million cooler ways to eat. —Kong

Who are your heroes (in design, in life, or in both)? My professors Angelika and Koby, because they truly opened my mind to what design means to me. —Wang

What skill would you most like to learn? How to take time off —Kong

What is your most treasured possession? My teddy bear —Wang

What's your earliest memory of an encounter with design? It was the day I visited the Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou, China. It was drizzling, and the garden was empty. The window framed the view, but while I was moving, the view changed. The pavilion, bridge, and building were decorated with beautiful and meaningful patterns. I fell in love with the decorative rocks. It was inspiring. —Kong

What contemporary design trend do you despise? Minimalism just for aesthetic reasons. —Wang

Are you left-handed or right-handed? Left —Kong

Finish this statement: All design should...be able to withstand scrutiny. —Wang

I sketch with a…pen. —Kong

I work best with…silence. —Wang

I do my best work...first thing in the morning. —Kong

Our studio is...a hive of productive clutter.

Instagram is...a promotional tool. —Wang

Choose one: Bauhaus, Memphis, or Brutalist? Memphis —Kong

Rank the following: (1) Function, (2) Fun, and (3) Form —Wang

Choose one: Less is More, Just Enough is Enough, or More is More? Just Enough is Enough —Kong

Choose one: Past, Present, or Future? Future —Wang

If you had to pick a favorite material, what would it be? Steel —Kong

What’s in your dream house? Someone to come home to a night. —Wang

You can follow Wang and Kong on the Hi Thanks Bye website or on Instagram.

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