PolyU Design hosts “Time-capsuled Histories: Six Decades of PolyU Design” exhibition, celebrating 60 years of design excellence in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design (PolyU Design) is hosting the exhibition “Time-capsuled Histories: Six Decades of PolyU Design” from now until 11 November 2024. Part of its 60^th anniversary celebrations, the exhibition showcases the School’s history and features works by alumni spanning half a century, witnessing the University’s significant role in advancing design education and the design industry in Hong Kong.

As Hong Kong’s first and iconic comprehensive design institution, PolyU Design is a vital hub for design education and research, offering world-class undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to nurture creative talent across various industries. The exhibition is divided into five sections: PolyU Design’s headship mapping, curriculum development, research development, alumni design works and a showcase of research publications.

Commissioned by Prof. Kun-Pyo LEE, Dean of PolyU Design, a research team from the School dedicated over a year to sourcing valuable artefacts and materials from alumni and former staff from various eras and sectors who have close connections to the School’s evolution. The materials have been meticulously organised and presented using a visually appealing and systematic timeline to showcase the journey of PolyU Design from its roots in the Hong Kong Technical College to its home in PolyU, capturing responses to changes in industry policies and technological advancements. The exhibition explores the School’s history and the relationship between design education and social and economic transformations in Hong Kong, while also providing a deeper narrative of design development in the City.

Another exhibition highlight is the impressive lineup of works created by designers who graduated from PolyU Design between 1973 and 2023. It highlights the evolution of design and artistic works from the 1980s to the present, reflecting changes in both local and global markets. These pieces include art inspired by the red lampshades of local wet markets symbolising Hong Kong’s value and global talents, a speaker system designed from a recycled plastic container, a branding project for the HKSAR Government’s Green@Community initiative, a multi-functional golf bag that has been a popular seller for over 16 years, and many more. Multiple research publications by PolyU Design scholars from different eras are also exhibited.

Mr SIU King Chung, the Project Leader and former Associate Dean of the School, and a group of alumni will present the School’s 60-year journey and development during the sharing session: “Time-Capsuling: The Untold Journeys of PolyU Design”.

Members of the public are welcome to visit and explore the legacy and future of design education in Hong Kong while also celebrating the remarkable journey of PolyU Design, where the past inspires the present and motivates the future.

“Time-capsuled Histories: Six Decades of PolyU Design” Exhibition

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