Having designed a rich and diverse array of original characters and dedicated over a decade to the designer toy scene, Taiwanese designer Shon Chen not only deeply integrates his love for Japanese culture and street elements into his characters but has also recently begun pouring his innermost thoughts and feelings into his work, preparing to build a narrative universe for his own world of monsters.
Today, we at the Toy-People editorial team are sitting down with Shon Chen. Not only will this allow all you toy people to get to know his creations better, but we're also here to introduce his latest collaboration with Toy-People: the monster boy, "Nick Toy-People Ver."!
Toy-People: What did you major in at school? And what kind of jobs did you have before becoming a toy designer?
Shon Chen: My final major in school was product design. I've also worked in magazine layout, visual design, street brand design, and so on.
Toy-People: How did you become a toy designer?
Shon Chen: It was actually a chance opportunity. When I was 19, I drew a design for a POP display for a toy store, and the owner suggested we try making it into a real product. That's how I stepped into the toy world.
Toy-People: Please share with us your first toy creation!
Shon Chen: The very first one would be "Robot-Shon," which was a concept of turning myself into a toy. But if we're talking about my official entry into the toy scene, that would be Cap Duck. I would bring him to toy exhibitions both domestically and internationally.
▼ "Cap Duck," which was brought to life in 3D as early as 2010, is likely the first character through which many toy fans got to know Shon Chen. He subsequently created various versions of Cap Duck.
▼ Although Shon Chen is very modest, he is definitely one of the pioneers of Taiwanese toy design. Besides Cap Duck, the Cat Rider is another classic representative character. The Astro Cat Rider, created in collaboration with the major Japanese entity GOCCODO (ゴッコ堂) back in 2016, still looks like an incredible treasure today!
▼ The Labubu × Hug Hug Cat, launched with Kasing Lung at TTF 2017, is surely a highly sought-after grail for many toy collectors!
▼ In addition to cute styles, Shon Chen has also created the pumpkin character Nightmare, infused with a bizarre and grotesque atmosphere. He's practically a fantastic chameleon of toy design (laughs)!
Toy-People: Besides making your own toys, what kind of toys do you like the most? Have you been particularly obsessed with any new toys recently?
Shon Chen: What do I like? I'd say Kasing, Louis Wong, Kila (Xiao Ming), T9G, and Headlock Studio... and others. The most recent toy I bought was probably from Headlock.
Toy-People: The little boy Nick, who debuted at the 2022 three-way collaboration event [The Waffle Room] with Vans, How2Work, and The Little Hut, was your first humanoid character in a long time. Not only is his style refreshing, but he also looks a lot like you. Can you share the story of Nick's creation with us?
Shon Chen: Actually, I was going through a personal low point for the past couple of years, so I started discussing with The Little Hut how to move forward. They suggested I give concrete form to these feelings and thoughts, and that's how Nick and Lucas were naturally born.
▼ Shon Chen also mentioned that when he was conceptualizing this collaboration version of Nick with us at Toy-People, he imagined him as a blond, blue-eyed foreign kid—the kind whose eyes light up when he sees toys. Coincidentally, he's also a big fan of "Stranger Things," and he gradually started associating this version of Nick with one of the main characters, Dustin. That's why the trendy yet retro trucker hat accessory came to be.
Toy-People: From your earlier solo exhibition at Paradise, [Alone, But Not Lonely....], we could feel a strong thematic connection between Nick and his imaginary monster companion, Lucas. Could you share their story with us? Will there be new characters joining them in the future?
Shon Chen: Nick lives his life alone under the sun, yet deep down, he doesn't feel lonely. Although he is by himself, he has a rich inner world that keeps him from ever feeling lonesome. In this fantasy world, Nick can play games and live together with his imaginary friends, who are so real they seem to exist in the real world. These imaginary friends have various personalities and characteristics, each one a unique being.
Sometimes, Nick embarks on adventures with his friends, searching for treasure in enchanted forests or exploring mysterious ruins together. They overcome difficulties, sharing joy and accomplishments. At other times, Nick and his friends meet within the pages of a storybook. They read the stories, experiencing the plots and emotions together. They cheer for the characters in the story and are moved by the endings.
This fantasy world prevents Nick from feeling lonely. He knows he can be with these friends anytime, and their existence gives him strength and support, making him feel warm and joyful. Although in reality Nick is alone, his inner world is full of beauty and wonder. This fantasy world has allowed him to find his own happiness, and he knows that as long as he can imagine, this world will exist forever.
There will be other characters! More characters will appear later on. I believe friends who attended the previous solo exhibition may have noticed them.
Toy-People: How do you usually spark inspiration for your toy creations? Do you have any special rituals?
Shon Chen: I actually love letting my imagination run wild. I use my inner world to conceive what I need and then express it. Nick is a great example of this.
Toy-People: Among all the works you've created so far, which one is your favorite and why? Which one left the deepest impression on you during its creation process?
Shon Chen: Right now, it would be Nick and Lucas. Because they represent the emotions in my heart, I put a great deal of effort into making them the best they can be.
▼ Lucas, the monster companion imagined by Nick, can be separated at the head and body to fit Nick inside. In a way, Shon Chen also sees Lucas as a kind of armor for Nick, just like how every little boy has imagined wearing cool battle armor.
Toy-People: What kind of environment do you like to create in? Please share with everyone what your studio looks like!
Shon Chen: I like to create in a space that is completely filled with toys that I love.
▼ The day our editor stepped into Shon's studio, the immediate feeling was that calling it a studio didn't quite capture its essence; 'a big boy's secret hideout' felt much more fitting! Row after row of toys and a rich collection of his own designs—being surrounded and immersed in all of this is truly incredibly romantic!
Toy-People: What are your interests outside of creating? Please give your fans a chance to get to know you better!
Shon Chen: Pokémon! Kamen Rider! There are so many, I really can't list them all (laughs).
▼ He loves them so much that he even gets posters of Pokémon cards framed.
▼ Shon Chen's love for Kamen Rider can perhaps be glimpsed in his earlier character, the Cat Rider. On the day of our visit, he enthusiastically introduced his favorite Riders as if they were his own treasures.
Toy-People: Please write down (or draw) your answer to the question, 'What are toys to you?'
Shon Chen: "Toys are not just a microcosm for entrusting emotions, but also a place for me to rest and relax. They accompany me through every moment of daily life, helping me rediscover my inner self."
Toy-People × Shon Chen Nick Toy-People Ver. lottery information has been released. All Shon fans and toy people, don't miss your chance to get one!
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