Back in 2004, Michael Young settled in Hong Kong in order to develop industrial design projects in China. Over the course of time, this process exposed him to enumerate fascinating technologies in factories he felt he could not exploit fully for industrial production.

And now the result of all this has culminated in an exhibition in Hong Kong at The Space last month in collaboration with The Cat Street Gallery as well as the release of a book; both entitled 'Works in China'.

“This is my first show in 10 years." says Young of the installation.

"I started out making one offs in London as it was all that one could make back then, but it was a passion. After years of mass production it’s refreshing to go back to my roots and play a little."

The first concept was developed in a glass factory in Shanghai for a brand looking to explore in which direction new Chinese contemporary culture would move towards, as historical icons of the country were becoming less important to new generations of consumers. Looking at local architectural constructions long forgotten, Young combined the structures with specially developed software to create a process that could translate a language across a broad range of materials.

The book, written by John Heskett with a foreword by Young, is a text on his evolution as a designer and delves into the process of design, documenting a number of Young’s products from the initial sketches, right through to the finished products.

An eye-opening look at the staggering amount of work that goes into producing everything around us, it encompasses close examinations of five Asian brands (complete with CEO interviews) images of other projects and interiors in Asia and photomontages of Young's time in the region.

"When I arrived in Asia I decided to record some of the important moments and meetings with new clients, I did not know the reason why, I just felt it important to collect the data since the impact the local environment was having on my creative process was immeasurable."

We're glad he did; this is fascinating stuff.