What makes good design? For too long, Hong Kong’s creative output has been shaped by the practical, risk-averse tastes of corporations and institutions. Seeking to challenge this conformity, Kenny X. Li and Eunice Tsang have launched Postapalooza, a design festival that celebrates bold and unconventional poster art. Held at Heath, a cultural venue tucked in the basement of Chungking Mansions in Tsim Sha Tsui, the exhibition runs until June 12 and features 41 selected posters from an open call that received around 200 submissions from artists across East Asia, including Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Li, a photographer and creative director, and Tsang, founder of the alternative art space Current Plans, curated a judging panel comprised of local creatives from various disciplines rather than traditional graphic designers. Their aim was to ensure a more open, inclusive evaluation that embraced personal expression and broke free from rigid design standards. The selected posters line the industrial-style walls of Heath, showcasing works that defy conventions in typography, layout, and color.
Li and Tsang both share frustrations with the dominance of commercial design in Hong Kong, where brands often opt for safe choices and recognizable names. Tsang criticizes posters where corporate branding overshadows the intended message, and where repetitive fonts and color schemes reduce design to a formula rather than a craft. Postapalooza, by contrast, highlights individuality, humor, and experimentation—often seen in posters for one-off gigs, underground parties, and self-organized events.
One standout example is Panic Library’s Heartcore poster, a chaotic mix of handmade teddy bears and eclectic typography, celebrating fun and spontaneity over polish. Some featured artists addressed deeply personal themes, such as scoliosis or job hunting, while others embraced design for design’s sake. For instance, Singapore-based Filipino artist Djan Christopher Nillas Blanco created a purely typographic poster that plays with aesthetic rather than purpose.
The festival underscores a desire among designers for freedom from commercial briefs and constraints. Postapalooza offers a rare platform for unfiltered creativity—an open space where designers, both amateur and seasoned, can explore, play, and express themselves beyond the bounds of mainstream design expectations.
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