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Product Design graduating student Lo Kin Pan as National Winner of James Dyson Award 2018

  Congratulations to our Product Design student, LO Kin Pan, who has been announced as National Winner of James Dyson Award 2018 (Hong Kong) yesterday with his capstone project POD.  The POD is a multi-functional furniture designed for low-income people who face superstorm and flooding issues frequently, such as people living in Tai O. It is a bench for daily life and a lifeboat and a means of transportation when there is a flood. It can be transformed between different modes in a minute with its foldable and flexible structure. Lightweight, low cost and durable materials are also its key features.  The James Dyson Award is an international design award that celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers. It is open to current and recent design and engineering students from 27 countries/regions, and is run by the James Dyson Foundation, James Dyson’s charitable trust, as part of its mission to get young people excited about design engineering.  All winners and runners up will then be presented to Dyson Engineer’s who will create a top 20 shortlist to be announced on 20 September. James Dyson will decide the ultimate international winner, along with two international runners up. Taking this opportunity we would also like to congratulate Benny Leong, the supervising tutor of Pan’s POD, and the Product Design team.  Read more: https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/en-HK/2018/project/pod-3/  Interview by HK01: 【天鴿風球】大澳風災啟發靈感 理大生憑長凳救生筏贏設計獎     

6 Sep, 2018

CALL FOR PAPERS: CUBIC JOURNAL #2 Gender in Design

  Call for Papers Issue #2 Gender in Design  The GREAT small: Gender Design | Other - Different - Willful All design reflects the established notions of gender both in the society or culture in which it is created and in the one in which it finds its use. While many creators specifically address questions of gender in designs, think of Rad Hourani’s genderless fashion (est. 2007) or Monica Förster’s Lei desk chair for women (2009), the ‘gendered values’, user expectations, and often gender-conforming, stereotypical features and functions are typically mere examples of insensitivity or oversight rather than deliberate discrimination or sexism. Whereas some areas of design are more interested in addressing one or the other binary gender scales, think of fragrance design or the design of protective headgear, the inclusive and universal design perspectives bring forth the idea of pleasing all – or at least both binary – genders. Firstly, most design approaches remain unaware of the necessity to include gender as a self-evident part of the whole design process (Brandes 2017). Although often overlooked, whatever the focus and method be it theoretical, research-wise, or in creating products, experiences, signs, apps or types of online communication, gender and design remain co-dependants. Secondly, gender-related power relationships (cf. Radtke & Stam 1994) claims a key role in the design of products, services and other things, in the use and identification of target markets as well as in object development itself; their form, functions and their affordances. And thirdly, in the field of design, gender’s role is vital in the manner in which educational programmes historically signpost masterminds that situate ‘gender’ hierarchy over others. Practitioners and academics in game design or architecture, for instance, discuss the lack of prominent female role models. A case in point, is Dorte Mandrup’s “I am not a female architect. I am an architect” (Dezeen 2017) plea that echoes throughout this discussion in favour of acknowledging female equality against that of male counterparts or establishing a ‘separate list’ of successful women. Following Beauvoir (1949), Butler (1990, 2004), Barad (2007) and numerous thinkers before and after, we concur that gender is constantly constructed through regulated repetition of acts. Here we accept the role that both design and design practice have in creating such gender(s). Designed products are both the results and the material processes of constructing gender as individuals and as socio-cultural notions. As such they are not separate entities that would merely incarnate some pre-existing conceptions. Furthermore, intersectionality (Crenshaw 1989), allows us to consider how ethnicity, class and regional identities, such as those best addressed through a postcolonial framework, earmarks ‘gender in design’ a positively messy and dynamic topic. Finally, as an acknowledgement of the ‘other’ genders involved, it is hoped that an expanded discussion will further address queer identities and design concerns specific to LGBTQI creators and audiences. The debate here commences from the valuable, yet at times difficult discussions held at The GREAT small: Gender Design Conference co-organised by the issue editors at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2014. Gender in Design within ‘the mind’ or as a ‘discussion’, as already implied by design, is often the work of willful subjects (Ahmed 2014) where obedience, dismissal, moral law and negative emotions meet in face of injustices. We invite contributions that critically and analytically problematize gender, its questions and its appropriateness in relation to design. Interest here is centred on the question of ‘how’ genders are present and constructed through conflicts, gender fluidity, and manners of interpreting design approaches and problems. This issue also seeks to address the sensitivities that gender brings to various design fields. We further ask, ‘how’ the multitude of genders contributes to shaping the disciplinary course or reframes their understandings? Has the question of gender become a burden or catalyst for designers? What is the future that design should be looking at when considering gender? This call for papers on the topic of Gender Design seeks diverse contributions from a wide range of design sectors including - but not limited to - Product Design Spatial Design, Graphic Design, Game Design, Fashion Design, Communication Design, Digital, Interactive Design as well as Design Theory. Articles that focus on gender in design education are considered very valuable. Methodological approaches that make visible and help to overcome or critically challenge existing non-sensitive approaches of design research are particularly welcomed. The Gender in Design call encourages contributions that reposition design and design research in which the question of gender construct communities of practice, methodologies and significant design outcome from the processes employed. Two forms of contribution are possible: (a) academically positioned papers up to 5000 words that exemplify research based explorations into Gender in Design and (b) process driven exemplifications that highlight emergent Gender in Design practices that constitute a procedural but primarily visually based contribution in the form of pictorials and video contributions. All contributions will be double blind peer reviewed. Authors are to follow submission criteria for each contribution type as described on the cubicjournal.org website. Final submissions have to be made by 1st September 2018, at 12 noon, Hong Kong Time to editors@cubicjournal.org and hanna.wirman@polyu.edu.hk. To make sure your contribution receives duly consideration, include ‘CUBIC Gender in Design’ in email header. Issue Editors: Hanna Wirman & Uta Brandes © Cubic Journal 2018       

28 Aug, 2018

Appointment of Chair Professor of Industrial Design and Dean of School of Design

We are pleased to announce that Professor Kun-Pyo LEE has been appointed Chair Professor of Industrial Design at PolyU Design, and will concurrently be the new Dean of the School.  Prof. Lee will be on board with us on 27 December, 2018. Prof. Lee graduated from the Chung-Ang University with a Bachelor of Fine Art degree.  He then received a Master’s degree of Science in Design from the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology in USA where he was only one of the two Korean scholars selected nationwide for the Scholarship Program of the Korean Ministry of Education.  He was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Design from the University of Tsukuba in Japan. Before joining our University, Prof. Lee has a long term relationship with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) where he joined KAIST as a Lecturer in 1988 and was promoted to Assistant Professor in 1991, Associate Professor in 1995 and then Professor in 2001 in the Department of Industrial Design.  He was appointed as Head of the Department of Industrial Design in KAIST from 2003 to 2010 and then from 2014 to 2017.  He is also the Director of the Human-Centered Interaction Design Lab, KAIST and the President Emeritus of the International Association of Societies of Design Research (IASDR).  During 2010 to 2013, Prof. Lee left KAIST for a few years and set the highest marks of achievement in industry through his leadership as the Executive Vice President and Chief Design Officer in the Corporate Design Center of the LG Electronics in Korea where he heavily promoted the advancement of user experience design and design research.  He received the highest academic recognition by being the first in Asia to be appointed as Honorary Fellow of the Design Research Society (DRS) where he is also one of the 10 Honorary Fellows in the long history of DRS.   Prof. Lee is an internationally renowned and prominent scholar and his research is focused on human-centered design.  He has published extensively in more than 80 international and domestic journal publications and has more than 200 successful conference submissions.  He has also established or headed numerous academic societies for the development and scholarship of design research.  Most notably, he was the co-founder of IASDR and had served as the President of the Korea Society of Design Science and the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility, as well as the Vice President of the Ergonomics Society of Korea.  Prof. Lee is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Archive of Design Research, as well as the Editorial Board Member of top tier journals such as Design Studies, International Journal of Design, She Ji, and Journal of Design, Business & Society.         

20 Aug, 2018

Summer Programme 2018 “What Design?” 「設計搞邊科」2018

PolyU Design holds a Summer Programme every year for students from S.4-5 to learn about “What Design” is by exploring different design disciplines through workshops. This year, 100 students spent one day with us on 11 July.   WELCOME PolyU Summer Programme 2018 organised by the Secondary School Relations Section (SSRS) is always popular among secondary school students. There were 100 participants attended our PolyU Design Summer Programme to learn about design.   ICE BREAKING SESSION Participants were asked which design discipline they liked most and how they thought about it. Mr. Francis Hung, Scheme Leader of BA(Hons) Scheme in Design was impressed by many sharings by the participants.   INTRODUCTION TO EACH DISCIPLINE Before we started the workshop, each tutor gave an introduction on the related discipline.  Mr. Benny Leong, Programme Leader of Product Design was giving an introduction.   WORKSHOPS O  Advertising Design  - Water. No colour, no taste, no smell. How do you make it more desirable than other drinks? Participants were asked to choose a bottle and promote it in different ways. Mr. KC Tsang, Programme Leader of Advertising Design was commenting on their proposals.   O  Communication Design - Ms. Anneke Coppoolse, Assistant Professor from Communication Design introduced participants to some of the key aspects of communication design by using basic elements of design. Each group needed to create an animated GIF with eight images by drawing or collage.     Animated GIF created by participants.   O  Environment and Interior Design - Participants were given different themes from a novel named ‘Invisible Cities’ and were required to study them.  By using paper and stapler, participants needed to create a city with the theme provided and presented to the rest of class. Mr. Horace Pan, Assistant Professor from Environment and Interior Design was commenting the cities designed by different groups.   O  Product Design - Dr. Tulio Maximo, Assistant Professor from Product Design explained how important 3D sketching is to design.  Participants learnt how to draw perspective through the workshop while Mr. Scott Chin, Teaching Fellow from Product Design was sharing the technique with a smaller group.   POLYU DESIGN ANNUAL SHOW GUIDED TOUR Guided by our experienced student ambassador, the participants learnt to appreciate the creative and innovative design exhibits through the tour.  (PolyU Design Annual Show 2018)   THANK YOU! At the end of the day, we would like to thank you all participants who joined the Summer Programme and we hope to see you again in the coming future!   Facebook Album For details, please visit HERE.  

11 Jul, 2018

Cubic Journal - a platform where global scholars exchange on topics covering design disciplines

CALL FOR PAPERS Cubic Journal, in conjunction with Cubic Society, is an academic platform for the publication and dissemination of design enquiry and design related research. Operating from within The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design, the platforms aims to draw together global scholars in order to generate, exchange and discuss contemporary questions within the pursuit of advancing knowledge through and within a number of design disciplines. As online open source peer reviewed journal Cubic is open to a wide audience, allowing for the disciplinary crossover between various design positions, discourses and mediums, theoretical argument or through praxis. Moreover, With the geographic nexus of Hong Kong, the journal wishes to fuse Asian and Western knowledge to inform scholarly, technical and critical enquiry within the research fields of Design Social, Design Economies and Design Making. The Cubic Journal will be published twice annually. Special editorials and thematic issues will be published outside the standard publication schedule. Cubic Journal follows a double blind peer review process relevant to each disciplinary formats and approaches. Contributions within the ‘traditional research’ format are equally encouraged in relation to research of artistic or experimental endeavours. Proposals are meant to critically engage with the various topics, based on the requirements of each issue. Call for papers was made internationally. The first issue has 13 contributions of which 50% is from PolyU Design and 50% from across the globe.  Read online now: http://www.cubicjournal.org/wp/       

31 May, 2018

Launch of 'ilolo' — game for autistic children

[PolyU Design Research] 'ilolo' is a 2D drawing, exploration, and life simulation game with mechanics that change based on how you play. The game is designed for children with autism and aims to help them to better express themselves. It is good for those with self-stimulatory behaviour and for those who wish to interact with virtual beings. After all, people are often horribly complicated to figure out! The game is now available to download at Apple Store. It is the outcome of 'Digital game development principles and design considerations for autism and special education' project completed earlier, funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission, and conducted by our Assistant Professor Dr. Hanna Wirman. Download now (iPad and iPhone): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ilolo/id1370237793?mt=8

24 May, 2018

Advertising Design student wins recycling bin design competition

Congratulations to Miss Lau Cheuk Yan Sharon, our year-2 student in Advertising Design's winning the Clean Recycling - Two Plastic Containers Recycling Bin Design Competition organised by YMCA. Her winning design and others of the competition will be used for the recycled bins in all YMCA venues and centres. Report on Oriental Daily, 6 May 2018

7 May, 2018

Exhibition Highlights: 'Roadate' 始於觸下 — 觸感展

The 'Roadate' Exhibition launched on 23 April 2018 (Mon and will end on 29 April 2018 (Sun).  Audience wil experience the culture of Hong Kong through avenues, streets, alleys and paths. Click HERE for more details. Here are some hightlights from the opening and exhibition: Avenues 道 Streets 街 Alleys 巷 Paths 徑 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Facebook: fb.me/roadate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roadate/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- A project by BA(Hons) in Communication Design Year 3 students Credits: Amelia Lau, Ann Chan, Antony Wong, Charlotte Li, Claudia Yip, Connie Lau, Eagle Chan, Erika Jean Ho, Kayla Lau, Kest Cheung, Kiki Cheng, Kiki Lam, Mandy Lam, Matthew Yung, Mike Leung, Russell Pun, SinYi Lau, Susi So Project Leader: Amy Chow

23 Apr, 2018

Exhibition Highlights: 'Unmute — The Sound of Hong Kong' Exhibition 無意聲展

The Unmute’’ Exhibition launched on 23 April 2018 (Mon) and will end on 29 April 2018 (Sun). The exhibition presents the Hong Kong community through the aspect of sounds and voices (“unmute”). Click HERE and the photos below for more details. Here are some hightlights from the exhibition: Re-captivation 洞曉 Unfamiliar Familiar 陌悉 Buried Bonding 湮沒的關係 Unrevealed Stories 深聲   Facebook: fb.me/unmutehk Website: unmute.hk ------------------------------------------------------------------ A project by BA(Hons) in Communication Design Year 3 students Credits: Alice Wan, Astrid Li, Ava Chan, Brenda Hui, Chan Hin Yung Chan Ka Man, Connie Chan, Happy Lai, Ho Shan, Jacky Ho, Lee Nicole, Lokki Chau, Poon Ching Chloe, Sara Ng, Thomas Chan, Tiffany Lau, Tong Wing Yi Ivy, Victoria So Project Leader:  Anneke Coppoolse

23 Apr, 2018

PolyU Design organises “Origami x Materials” exhibition

Through origami, even materials like paper, textile, blanket can be folded into everyday life housewares and installations, like furniture, chairs and light shades that bring us surprises — as showcased in the latest exhibition on The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) campus. Origami has hundreds of years of history. It is a folding technique changes the characteristics of materials, transforming two-dimensional materials into objects with three-dimensional attributes. Modern origami design is no longer a sculpting process, but a way of designing objects that are neither limited to materials nor folding methods. In the exhibition "Origami x Materials" organised by the Material Resource Centre under PolyU's School of Design between 3 and 18 April 2018, a group of designers and brands, as well as PolyU design alumnus and students, will showcase a variety of origami-inspired houseware designs and installations. Applying origami-inspired structures and folding styles on different materials, they have created many design works for daily life uses that bring us surprises and inspirations. The exhibition aims to enhance audience's understanding of origami, its structural principle, and the many possibilities of different materials as presented in origami form. Designers and inventors can thus be inspired to explore new, trendy and interesting materials in their future creations. The exhibition features two designers: Mr Kade Chan Pak Hei A professional origami artist and product/graphic designer, Mr Chanis also a graduate of PolyU's School of Design. He is the first Chinese receiving the Yoshino Issei Fund from Japan Origami Academic Society, the most prestigious award in the origami community. So far, Mr Chan has created more than 100 origami designs and organised more than 60 public events/exhibitions in collaboration with various brands and organisations. Mr Eric Tong Graduated from The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, Mr Tong is passionate about bespoke furniture and product design. He has worked for renowned architects Zaha Hadid and Future Systems before starting up his studio in Hong Kong. Highlights of Student Works The exhibition also highlights a collection from five groups of PolyU's design students. Their origami works attempt to provide practical solutions to different problems of our daily lives. Material Resource Centre of PolyU's School of Design PolyU's School of Design is committed to bring new sources of inspiration and creativity for innovation. The School's Material Resource Centre serves as a material library where staff, students and alumni of PolyU, and university partners can explore materials representing current trends in design, materials research and productions from all over the world. "Origami x Materials" Exhibition Exhibition Period: 3 April – 18 April 2018 Venue and Opening Hours (Free Admission): (1) 3/F, Jockey Club Innovation Tower, PolyU Monday to Sunday 10:00 – 19:00 (2) Room V510, 5/F, Material Resource Centre, Jockey Club Innovation Tower, PolyU Monday to Friday 10:30 – 18:00 Free Guided Tour>> Free Origami Table Lamp Making Workshop by Mr Kade Chan Pak Hei>> For public enquiry: Ms Man Tsang (Email: wman.tsang@polyu.edu.hk / Tel: 2766 7971) More about the exhibition>>

4 Apr, 2018

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