Douglas Young

CEO & Co-founder
G.O.D. (Goods of Desire)

Hong Kong native, designer and artist Douglas Young is the founder and creative force behind Goods of Desire, an original Hong Kong lifestyle brand, whose designs are inspired by the vibrant culture of the city he calls home. Translated from Cantonese, G.O.D. means “to live better,” and G.O.D. is now a multifaceted brand selling home furnishings, fashion and premium gifts, all with a distinct Asian flair.

Douglas studied to be an architect at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom and worked in London before returning to Hong Kong and forming his own interior design firm. By specialising in prestige retail-design projects, he gained insight into the retail business and the mind of consumers, leading him to co-found G.O.D. in 1996 with fellow architect and designer Benjamin Lau.

The energy and history of Hong Kong permeates Mr. Young’s work; the brand’s headquarters is an homage to Hong Kong street culture, showcasing Hong Kong’s cultural roots dating back to the 1950s. His personal artwork include: installations at Detour 2009 and an exhibit at the Hong Kong Shenzhen Design Biennale in 2010 both exploring the theme of the Kowloon Walled City; and Quantity Has a Quality in Itself, a stringed sculpture of plastic water pistols presented during HKʼs International Art Fair 2012, examining Hong Kong’s past as the global hub of plastic toy production.

Mr. Young is a leading voice regarding design, arts, creativity and entrepreneurship in Hong Kong, and international companies seek his guidance on design and cultural considerations when establishing entities in the city. In 2015, he was named one of the Debrett’s Hong Kong 100 in the field of art, architecture and design.

As an outspoken proponent of cultural enterprise in Hong Kong, Mr. Young is often called upon by such media outlets as CNN, Time Magazine and The Wall Street Journal to share his views on Hong Kong culture and identity. He hopes, through his work, to inspire future generations of designers to seek inspiration from Hong Kong and foster pride in the community. Douglas was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Savannah College of Art & Design in 2017 followed by the Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Sheffield University in 2020.