This Creative Duo Is Pushing The Boundaries Of Film, Photography And Storytelling

Inspiration comes in many shapes and forms. And if there’s one activity that has inspired creatives across time and space, travel would be it. Often, this inspiration is rooted in the tangible world. Just look at all the fashion designers whose mood boards are filled with snapshots and souvenirs from their vacations, resulting in collections inspired by the sights and sounds of their trip.

Sometimes, the inspiration is not as tangible. For Jeremy Kieran Ng and Zhang Minhua of Telescope Studios, travel has not directly influenced the work they produce, but it has opened up their mindset. “Travelling has made me realise that there are more things out there,” Zhang tells us. Ng concurs, “It feels like the limit is actually much further than we think.”

Founded in 2017 as “a passion project”, Telescope has become known for its experimental and boundary-pushing photos, videos and creative direction. “We started Telescope to blend our love for cinema and pop culture with real, relatable storytelling. Our goal is to create content that not only looks great but also makes you feel something,” Ng and Zhang share.

Case in point: the video the pair created with Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore for RIMOWA’s latest launch, the Original Bag. Zhang is the lucky owner of the new bag, which comes in aluminium, and takes on an attache format. Ng is the envious onlooker, who attempts to follow in Zhang’s footsteps by repeatedly downsizing his RIMOWA Original Suitcase, one size at a time. Plot twist: at the end of the video, we realise they are in fact living inside the Original Bag—it is double the size and capacity of the RIMOWA Personal crossbody bag, after all—and everything starts all over again. It’s Groundhog Day meets The Truman Show, and a perfect showcase of their creative sensibilities.

Fresh off the shoot, we spoke to the duo about their creative partnership, how travel has inspired them personally and professionally, and the power of nostalgia.

Related article: RIMOWA’s New Handbag Looks Exactly Like Its Iconic Aluminium Suitcase

On how it all started

​​Jeremy Kieran Ng: The first time I picked up a camera was when I was about 10 or 11 years old and travelling with my family, they would bring along a point-and-shoot camera. I would play around with it, and take videos of my family members. That actually got me interested in filmmaking. 

I started off as a cinematographer but as the team at Telescope grew, I started focusing on bringing our creative visions to life. My role blends the nitty-gritty of production and challenges of leadership with the joys of creating content. It’s about nurturing ideas from their inception and watching them bloom on screen, which, to me, is super rewarding. I get to collaborate closely with every member of our team, guiding the projects but also learning from everyone’s unique creative perspectives.

Related article: The Best Pocketable Compact Cameras To Record Your Next Travel Vlog

Zhang Minhua: I started out in photography, but my background was always a bit of a “rojak”. I dabbled in documentary and TV in my previous job, which gave me a feel for how video production works. I also had an advertising background from back in school. When I joined Telescope, it all just fell into place—like all those different pieces finally clicked. I got to bring my photography, production skills, and creative ideas into one space, and it felt like I’d found my calling.

Lately, I’ve been diving more into art direction, where it’s less about being the one pushing all the buttons and more about shaping the vision. It’s been so exciting to see my artistic ideas come alive, especially when you have a team of insanely talented people who help make it happen. There’s this magic in seeing your vision brought to life by so many creative minds working together—it just feels incredible.

JKN: I think that’s what makes our partnership at Telescope so effective. While I focus on the big picture, Minhua adds incredible depth with his eye for detail. Together, we strive not just to do the work but to make people go… “Wow!”

On their travel styles

ZM: I’m very much an itinerary person. I like to know what is going to happen and what to expect, so I don’t do very well with a sudden change of plans. But Jeremy is the exact opposite—so I’m actually learning to relax more.

JKN: Yes, I’m definitely not one for itineraries. Travel for me is about discovery and freedom. I love wandering off the beaten track, finding hidden gems that aren’t in the tourist brochures. And food … is crucial!

On their personal styles 

ZM: I’m really into layering and the vintage western/cowboy style. My style, according to TikTok, is what you would call the “eclectic grandpa” aesthetic.

JKN: I’m definitely the main character of my own cinematic universe. I like to think of dressing up as stepping into different characters. Some days, I’m channelling a teen from the ’90s, complete with all the angst and vintage flair. Other days, I might feel like I’m working on a spaceship. And yes, sometimes I do brave the questions and rock a crop top.

On travel as inspiration

ZM: Honestly, what inspires me the most when I travel is watching how people dress and express themselves. It’s amazing how much personality comes through in the way someone puts an outfit together—it always pushes me to rethink my own style and try new things, to mix things up in ways I wouldn’t have thought of before.

But it’s more than just fashion; it’s also the vibe of the city. Coming from Singapore, which definitely has its own culture, I still find that when I’m in places like Europe, there’s a different kind of richness—a mix of tradition, art, and everyday life that feels inspiring in a new way. It helps me think outside of what’s familiar and try to create with a fresh perspective.

And then, there’s the people. I love seeing how free and fearless they can be, like they’re not afraid to break the rules or be themselves, no matter what. It really makes you feel like anything is possible.

JKN: As a creative, sometimes I find myself feeling jaded when I’m surrounded by the same things on a daily basis. During my travels, being exposed to new sights and experiences opens my eyes and reminds me that I have only seen 1 percent of this world. I get inspired by watching how people from different cultures do things and by discovering local artworks, designs or even food—especially those with a story behind them.

Last year, I went on a camping road trip in Australia, where I drove from Sydney to Melbourne. I’d stop at various campsites each night during my four-day journey. One morning, a man from the next lot came over to say hi. He was shocked that I would only spend one night at each place before moving on to the next town/campsite. “This place is beautiful, my family will be here for a week! There’s so much to see around here!”

I learned there and then that we Singaporeans sometimes have a way too fast-paced life. Granted, he is retired, but I was definitely inspired to slow down the pace of life and experience each moment more vividly.

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On their most memorable trips so far

JKN: My most memorable trip was a road trip that I did in the United Kingdom right after I graduated from junior college. It was the first time I was travelling independently with friends, and we did a road trip from London all the way to the West of England.

We were young, we didn’t know much, so everything was new and challenging. We got lost, we got scammed by car rental companies … but I feel like it is this type of trip, where things don’t go as planned, that you form memories. Because if it’s just smooth sailing and following the itinerary, it’s very predictable, right? Getting lost and finding that sense of adventure, is what makes a trip memorable for me.

ZM: I used to work at a documentary production company. One night, my boss called me and said, “We need your passport details, we need to send you to China the next morning.” So I flew to, I think it was Yunnan, and had to take a car for four to five hours all the way up the mountain to this village. It was eye-opening to see this part of the world that is totally different from how we live, and to experience how the locals from the village live.

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On their choice of travel destinations

JKN: I enjoy destinations that allow me to immerse myself in nature, like the countryside. I like the idea of being out of a city. I like to go to small villages, small towns, because it always baffles me how the lifestyle there and the pace of life is just very different. You have one town, they have one supermarket, one laundromat, one school; and it’s just a very different lifestyle. I also look forward to that when I’m travelling.

ZM: For me, it has evolved over the years. When I was younger, I liked to go to cities. I liked to plan and would Google “10 things to do in Tokyo”, and visit every tourist spot. But nowadays, because of experience and age, when we travel, we try to look for more unique experiences.

For example, we went to the Museum of Brands in London, where they have advertisements or products with packaging from the ’20s onwards. You can see how the packaging slowly evolved. When you reach the late 2000s, it’s not nice anymore, there’s no more character. Before that, each year, you can see that there’s a style.

JKN: That’s why I think there’s this evolving trend where the younger generation is leaning towards brands that embrace heritage, customisation or personality.

On nostalgia and creativity

ZM: Creatively, when we do projects, we also tend to go into that kind of aesthetic, like the ’90s or early 2000s. We are very fond of that period of time.

JKN: It reminds us of our childhood. It’s a universal thing, it’s not just us.

ZM: I think the ’90s was this point in time where there was a transition between offline to getting a taste of being online. It was a very interesting period. You know how Nokia had like, 20 different shapes of phones? We always talk about how nowadays …

JKN: Our phones are just a rectangle block. Last time, there were sliding phones, flip phones …

ZM: We don’t know who set this limit; why can’t phones be fun anymore?

On working with different mediums

ZM: At Telescope Studios, we work with digital media, experiential design, film, photography and 3D animation. Growing up in the early 2000s, we had this front-row seat to the whole Internet boom, but we also remember life before Wi-Fi was a thing. I think that gives us a cool edge because we’re comfortable creating in both offline and online worlds.

JKN: It’s a bit like making an engaging Instagram reel and also knowing how to put together a beautifully laid-out poster. We get to play around with different textures, formats, and spaces, and that keeps things fun and fresh. Plus, it lets us connect with different audiences, no matter who or where they are.

The RIMOWA Original Bag in Silver and Black retails at $2,950 and is available in RIMOWA stores and at RIMOWA.com.

Photography: Zhang Minhua and Jeremy Kieran Ng / Telescope Studios
Creative direction: Windy Aulia
Styling: Gracia Phang
Makeup: Kenneth Chia 
Hair: Christvian Wu