As a world-renowned designer and artist, Dr Kan is skilled in ink painting. As one of the pioneers of the Hong Kong Creative Industry, he started his career in art and design since 1967.

His works are highly acclaimed, and awards he received had brought him immediate prominence.

Important awards include: Gold Awards, International Art Competition, Los Angeles; Gold Award in Mercury Award and Grand Winner of Galaxy Awards, New York; 1st Prize in the 1st International Computer Art Biennale in Rzeszów, Poland.

Kan was the first designer elected as one of the "Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Young Persons" in 1979; the only designer to receive the Urban Council Design Grand Award in 1984; and was the first Chinese to be included in the “Who's Who in Graphic Design” of Switzerland in 1995. He was conferred with Honour of Bronze Bauhinia Star in 1999. In 2010, he was commended officially with receiving the Honor of Silver Bauhinia Star. Kan is involved in educating and promoting art and design professions.

He was the dean of Shantou University Cheung Kong Art and Design School, the guest professor of numerous universities including the China Central Institute of Fine Arts and Tsing Hua University and a member and the Chairman of Chinese Committee of the Alliance Graphique Internationale, an advisor of the Leisure & Cultural Services Department, and honorary advisor of Hong Kong Museum of Art.

In 2005, Kan was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Design at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.