"Design Commons - Practices, Processes and Crossovers" by Gerhard Bruyns and Stavros Kousoulas

Dr Ir Gerhard Bruyns, Associate Professor of PolyU Design and his co-author Stavros Kousoulas have recently published the book "Design Commons - Practices, Processes and Crossovers".  This book directly links the notion of the commons with different design praxes, and explores their social, cultural, and ecological ramifications. It draws out material conditions in four areas of design interest: social design, commons and culture, ecology and transdisciplinary design. As a collection of positions, the diversity of arguments advances the understanding of the commons as both concepts and modes of thinking, and their material translation when contextualised in the domain of design questions. In other words, it moves abstract social science concepts towards concrete design debates. This text appeals to students, researchers and practitioners working on design in architecture, architecture theory, urbanism, and ecology. Keywords • Design Commons • Commoning Practices • Commoning Processes • Commons Crossovers • Ecological Thinking • Alternative Economies • Urban Movements • Digital Commons • hacktivism and design • transdisciplinarity and design • spatial commoning Editors Gerhard Bruyns and Stavros Kousoulas, with contributions from Dorina Pllumbi, Maria Reitano, Nikolaus Gartner, Chun Zheng, Daniel Elkin, Leung Chi-Yuen, Wang Xiao Lu, Frank Bauer, Lasse Sehested Skafte, Gert van der Merwe, Nicholas Frayne, Markus Wernli, Piero Medici, Liana Psarologaki, Stamatis Zografos, Dora Karadima, Katharina Moebus, Lőrinc Vass, Roy Cloutier and Nicole Sylvia. The book is now available at Springer>>

Alumna Oh.Mankee won Asia's digital art battle

Big congratulations to our alumna and local illustrator Oh.Mankee (Industrial and Product Design, 2008) on winning LIMITS Asian Championship 2022! The contest is the first digital art battle of its kind challenging best artists from all over the world. The grand final broadcasted online last Sunday (15 May) in Tokyo was attended by eight finalists from Japan, Hong Kong (China), Taiwan (China) and Singapore. Two young illustrators from Hong Kong, Oh.Mankee and Rosine Wo have made themselves among these best challengers and finally won the Championship and 1st runner-up after rounds of one-on-one ‘art fight’. Each finalist was tasked to deliver their creative digital art on two randomly picked keywords in a 20-minute battle against another finalist. In addition to the judging panel, the judging was participated by online public poll, supported by an overwhelming popularity from audience around the globe. Thank you for making Hong Kong proud, Oh.Mankee and Rosine!

Recent external appointments of staff (Oct 2021-May 2022)

Prof. Kun-Pyo Lee, Dean and Swire Chair Professor of Design, Alex Wong Siu Wah Gigi Wong Fook Chi Professor in Product Design Engineering Member, Board of Directors, Hong Kong Design Centre Prof. Stephen Jia Wang, Professor, MDes Scheme Leader Distinguished Visiting Professor, The Future Lab, Tsinghua University Mr Tak Chi Lee, Professor of Practice (Design Practice) External Examiner for THEi Product Design programme Member of Assessment Panel-ITF Enable Better Living Fund Chairman of Re-Accreditation of the BA in Cultural and Creative Industries, Hang Seng University of Hong Kong Mr Horace Pan, Senior Teaching Fellow Chairman, Hong Kong Interior Design Association

Video Tutorial Competition: Unfold Hidden Talent With Your Peers

Extended deadline: 10 June 2022 Unfold Your Hidden Talent!  Do you have any hidden talents, secret hobbies, or knowledge you want to share with others? Spread your hidden talent by creating a video tutorial to get everyone's attention and win a cash prize!  We are accepting 20 teams formed by students at different levels from different schools or faculties of PolyU, and the maximum number of group members is 4. Your team might need to attend an interview session to see if you are a qualified competitor. You will have two months working period starting from June to Mid-August 2022. But before that, please fill in this application form with your project introduction and the brief project plan! Please be reminded that we are looking for your creativity, clarity, attractiveness, and fun elements for this competition. Please show us your hidden talent!  If you have any questions, you shall contact Dr. Jae Oh jae.oh@polyu.edu.hk> or Shovel lyshochan@polyu.edu.hk>  Please follow us on Instagram to get the latest news. Stay tuned! @Unfold_guru Application form Follow us on Instagram

Vong Ka Hei Annette named Outstanding Student of School of Design 2021

We are proud to announce that Miss Vong Ka Hei Annette, BA(Hons) in Environment and Interior Design is selected Outstanding Student of School of Design 2021 under the PolyU Outstanding Students Award Scheme.  This is an official recognition to her excellent performance in both academic and non-academic pursuits during studies. “My university life has not only equipped me with professional knowledge but also provided me with abundant opportunities to broaden my horizons,” Ka Hei shared her fruitful journey at PolyU. “Through the elective and Service-Learning subjects, I was able to better comprehend different social issues and met many people from different cultural backgrounds, which have boosted my confidence and inspired me to incorporate inclusive design into my daily practice.” The Award Scheme is organised by the university annually to recognise full-time final-year students who achieve excellence in both academic and non-academic areas. This year, a total of 26 students were selected as outstanding students at the departmental level. Eight Outstanding Students including Ka Hei were recognised at the faculty/school level. Click here to read more about Ka Hei's sharing>>

Designing Central Publications

Designing Central features a series of creative events as part of the opening programme of the revitalised Central Market to be held from 21 September 2021 to 9 January 2022. The project is organised with a view to promoting Hong Kong creative designs via Central Market which is not only one of the Hong Kong prominent historical landmarks, but also an ideal venue situated at the heart of the business district of the city.  Click and flip over the following archive of the project to learn more: Event Chronicle Catalogue Pamphlet Issue 1 Pamphlet Issue 2 Pamphlet Issue 3 Pamphlet Issue 4 Pamphlet Special Edition

House of Dreams wins Grand Prize at Human City Design Award by Seoul and UNESCO

We are proud to announce that the House of Dreams has won the Human City Design Award Grand Prize organised by the Seoul City Municipal Government, Seoul Design Foundation and UNESCO that recognises human focused design and sustainability values. Over 100 international entries were submitted in a three-stage award with international judges. The award was presented at the online award ceremony broadcasted from Dongdaemun Design Plaza in South Korea on 21 March that presented one Grand Prize, and 11 winning designs from eight countries. The House of Dreams is a research by design project by the Insitu Project research platform led by Associate Dean Peter Hasdell of PolyU Design and Kuo Jze Yi of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning in Shenzhen U. The revitalised cave settlement in Zhoushan village in Henan Province, completed in 2020, was co-designed and implemented by Insitu Project together with Liang Jun, the Zhoushan Community Group and Dr Ku Hok Bun from APSS of PolyU. The 3-year project involved participatory design and construction, social design, and design led social innovation through the alignment of social initiatives with the architectural revitalization of the cave area. The project used a circular material economy approach and was constructed by villagers from recycled construction and household waste. Fostering a bottom-up self-built approach enabled the community to reduce construction costs, increase skills and community pride, at the same time enabling a circular material economy which cleaned up the village as a result. The outcome is uniquely composed of thousands of details, stories and collective memories. The Human City Design Award is one of four international awards the project has received within the past nine months. Other prestigious awards include the gold medal in the Taipei International Design Award 2021, the Architecture MasterPrize (AMP) award in 2021 and a Bronze in the Design Educates Awards 2022. The project was also shortlisted for a Dezeen award, and an Architecture in Development 2021 award. Press Release | Instagram of Insitu Architectural design and research team Project and Research Leaders: Insitu Project: Kuo Jze Yi and Peter Hasdell With: Zhou Zi Hau, An Tian Jian, Lee Chung Bun, Liu Min Hau  Project partners  Insitu Project School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University  School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University  Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University  Liang Jun and the Zhoushan Community Group  Project team  Community Work: Liang Jun, Ou Yang Xiu Zhen, Dong Lin, Jin Dou Dou  Solidarity Economy: Dr Ku Hok Bun (APSS, The Polytechnic University of Hong Kong)  Zhoushan Rural Building Team: Yi Rong Liang, Zhou Hai Shan, Chen Guo Bin, Zhou Bao Liang, Wang Zhen Shan, Wang Zhong Shuan, Wang Jin Ping, Zhou Yin Mu, Wang Dong Biao, Sun Huan Ling  Building Management: Feng Rui Fen, Wu Huai Zhen, Jing Qiu Feng, Hao Yu Zhi  Community Association: Zhou Xi Chuan, Jing Xiu Fang, Zhou Xi En,  Material Donation Representative: Yi Fang, Zhou Zi Yun, Zhoushan Village Party Branch Committee & Zhoushan Village Committee  Interior Decoration: Evelyna Liang Yi Hu  Volunteers: Wu Jun Ping, Keita Tajima, Tan Min, Li Dong Min, Aubrey Au, Chelsea Chan  Project funders: The Li & Fung China Social Policy Research Fund and the Chan Cheung Mun Chung Charitable Fund  

Portable and tactile paper-based Go game by Product Design graduate won Red Dot Best of the Best

We have been hearing from our alumni with exciting news from time to time. Today we would like to feature here is the 2021 Red Dot winning work ‘Poppu Go Chess’ by our young alumna Miss MAK Ming Huen RubyMaky (Product Design, 2020). It is Best of the Best’ for the Design Concept | Concept | Play category and the honour is shared with RubyMaky’s colleagues Cheng Ka Wing Kavieng, Wei Ruo, and Wong Cheuk Laam. Poppu is a portable and tactile paper-based Go game. A single sheet of paper replaces both the traditional game board and Go stones. Its design enhances the tactile experience of Go Chess by distinguishing between the die-cut textures of black and white stones, making it accessible to people who are blind or have vision loss. The textured ‘game pieces’ were inspired by Kirigami art and created with die-cut and letterpress. Poppu aims to give players an alternative Go experience that is fun, easy, and relaxing. Since it is so lightweight, Poppu can be carried anywhere for a game of Go and easily mailed around the world. Our heartfelt congratulations to the winning team! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Jz2gss Red Dot Award: Design Concept - Poppu Go Chess from Red Dot Design Award on Vimeo.

PolyU Maker Fund Programme supports maker dreams of young designers

Young makers have been encouraged under the resources and network provided by PolyU. In the latest PolyU Maker Fund Programme presented by the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office, PolyU students and alumni across different disciplines were granted funds to support their dreams in making.  Among them all, winners from School of Design include:  Woo Pak Fai, Master of Design in Design Strategies (2014) Yau Chit Kwan, BA (Hons) in Industrial & Product Design (2011) Chan Tak Keung, HD in Product Innovation Technology (2008) Chan Chi Leung, Master of Design in Advanced Practices (2007) Pang Chin Wai Cherry, International design and business management (2021) Tam Tsz Shan, BA(Hons) Scheme in Design (Year 4) Elaine Leung (MScMET 2021)  This programme is a brand-new initiative tailor-made for Hong Kong’s young makers and hardware developers to realize their ideas through the support of Youth Development Fund (YDF). It aims to accelerate local hardware start-ups’ product development from ideas to production, leveraging the manufacturing capabilities of Shenzhen and other Greater Bay Area (GBA) cities. Learn more: https://www.polyumakerfund.hk/  Congratulations to all winners! Look forward to the good works!

Customisable ergonomic furniture designed by PolyU scholars to benefit 2,000 subdivided flats’ residents

A design team from PolyU Design formed by Dr Tulio Maximo as Project Leader, Dr Paul Lo and three student assistants has recently been awarded prestigious Red Dot Award: Product Design 2022 in Germany with the “Omni Study System” in recognition of its achievement on improving well-being and studying condition of underprivileged children residing in subdivided flats in Hong Kong through human-centered adjustable design.   “Omni Study System” features a set of tailor-made ergonomic furniture including a table, chairs, stools, reading boards, leg rests and cushions to provide a more optimal studying space for the children and to support their healthy development. It aims to offer an affordable solution to provide equal opportunity to learn, study and create under the harsh living conditions of restrictive living space.  The system is designed under a cross-disciplinary project as the result of the Action Project on Adaptive Design and Child-friendly Furniture in Subdivided Units commissioned by Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (JCDISI). The design comes from School of Design’s Asia Lifestyle Design Lab and Public Design lab in collaboration with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the School of Optometry, the Salvation Army and JCDISI.  2,000 families will be benefited as the furniture will be issued to them starting from August, supported by Hongkong Land HOME FUND – a fund established in November 2020 to empower younger generation, promote social inclusion and assist those facing housing-related challenges in Hong Kong. To learn more about the design, click here.