PolyU Master of Design announces scholarship programmes for talents from around the world and mainland China

PolyU Master of Design (MDes) Scheme is offering two entry scholarship schemes for the 2023 entry to outstanding non-local creative talent to further their studies in Hong Kong. The scholarship programmes are part of the MDes' new vision to develop proactive leaders and game changers for the future of industries. International Excellence Scholarships (IES) and Top Universities Scheme (TUS) are the two scholarship programmes, with 50% and 15% tuition scholarships valued at HK$106,200 and HK$31,860, respectively. "We make every effort to provide a diverse and multidimensional learning experience in our programme. As a result, I'm delighted to announce the establishment of these two well-tailored scholarships”, said Prof. Stephen Jia Wang, MDes Scheme Leader. "I believe they will play an important role not only in attracting high-quality candidates from around the world, but also in increasing the diversity of our MDes Scheme from disciplinary, regional, and cultural perspectives." IES is a merit-based scholarship established to promote multicultural and multidisciplinary design and innovation. It honours the academic and professional excellence of non-local admittees from underrepresented regions and disciplines. Separate applications are not required for the scholarship. The Scheme will identify outstanding MDes applicants and inform them of scholarship awards and admission. TUS is a unique scholarship programme designed to attract more motivated and commendable students from prestigious universities to continue their studies at PolyU Design. Well qualified applicants with a Bachelor's degree from one of the top 50 institutions in any of the major global university subject rankings are eligible to apply. When they receive an interview invitation, applicants who want to be considered for the scholarship can submit a self-nomination form. IES and TUS, along with Hong Kong's other talent schemes (such as the immigration arrangements for non-local graduates (IANG) scheme), provide a two-year systematic pathway for non-local talents looking to advance professionally. In the first year, they will pursue top-tier interdisciplinary research and education in the region, and in the second year, they will embark on a career in a chosen field or an entrepreneurial journey supported by various mentorship, internship, and incubation schemes from PolyU and Hong Kong R&D bases. The initial screening of nominations will begin in late January 2023. Scholarship quotas are limited, so applying early is advantageous. Enquiry T: 3400 3440 E: mdes.sd@polyu.edu.hk PolyU reserves the right to change or withdraw the scholarships at any time. In case of any dispute/ disagreement, PolyU’s decision is final.

Dr. Jörn Bühring on Digital Transformation and the Emergence of Dynamic Business Models

Earlier in June, Assistant Professor Dr. Jörn Bühring was invited to give a public lecture titled ‘Digital Transformation and the Emergence of Dynamic Business Models’ that explored the interplay between digital transformation (DT) and life-centric business model futures. The lecture explored topics like: how does DT trigger the emergence of business models, how do those business models depart from the more traditional ways of creating, capturing and delivering values? How do customers and consumers perceptions and expectations change with DT? Examples from a specific sector, industry or region are introduced in support of dynamic business model futures.   Watch the video record now at https://hstalks.com/bm/4991/

PolyU Design Announces New Research Centre of Future Caring Mobility and Opportunity for Partnerships

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design (PolyU Design) has announced the establishment of the Research Centre of Future Caring Mobility (Centre). The Centre has recently won a $7.5 million seed funding from the University's competitive research grant with matching funds from PolyU Design and partner institutions. The Centre represents a vision of interdisciplinary, cutting-edge STEAM (STEM + Art & Design) and innovative design approach emphasizing living, caring, and wellbeing under various mobility scenarios.  Prof. Stephen J. Wang, Director of the Centre, remarked that his team is determined to tackle on the "wicked" real-world challenges such as the future caring in transportation, transit UX, communication and integration of personal information in mobility, automobile cybersecurity, smart city fluidity & liveability, UX in emerging transport modes such as versatile & on-demand transport, and wellbeing aspects in connected and autonomous vehicles. Prof. Wang said: "This Centre will be the first in the world to focus on blurring various mobility related boundaries to envision the future of "caring-moving", and the research and design outcomes will significantly contribute to Hong Kong, Greater Bay Area, and the region." The Centre will focus on the potential benefits of mobility innovations for the economy, society, health, and wellbeing to perform high-impact research. It will provide a distinctive platform that will enable visionary design-led innovations that are useful, user-friendly, and cutting-edge. This platform will also benefit the next generation of researchers, designers, and innovators in this field by focusing on the end-users' evolving and unmet needs from both the caring and mobility perspectives, in addition to specialized technological knowledge. The Centre is currently working with major corporations and welcomes proposals for joint-research projects.   An innovative adaptable vehicle interior design to boost income-earning opportunities and reduce downtime between income-earning events for public passenger transport drivers is one example of caring mobility projects currently on exhibit at the PolyU Design Show 2022. By dividing the labour between cargo fleet, ride-hailing services and taxis, this strategy also enables the delivery industry to employ existing automobile journeys as extra resources to spread out the industry’s high demand.    理大設計宣布成立未來關愛移動研究中心及提供合作機會 香港理工大學設計學院（理大設計）宣布成立《未來關愛移動研究中心》（中心）。該中心最近獲得大學研究基金的750萬元競爭性撥款，理大設計學院和合作機構同時提供配對資金。該中心代表了一個跨學科、前瞻的STEAM（STEM+藝術與設計）和創新設計方法的願景，專注於各種移動場景下的生活、關懷和福祉。 中心總監王佳教授表示，他的研究團隊決心應對現實世界中的棘手問題，例如未來的關愛運輸、通行用戶體驗、個人訊息在出行中的溝通和整合、汽車網絡安全、智慧城市流動性和宜居性、新興運輸模式中的用戶體驗（如多功能和隨需運輸）以及使用互聯和自動駕駛汽車的福祉。 王教授說：「該中心將是全球首個專注於跨越各種流動相關界限以展望未來關愛移動的研究和設計成果，將為香港、大灣區以致地區性發展作出重大貢獻。」 該中心將針對創新移動對經濟、社會、健康和福祉的潛在好處，以進行高影響力的研究。它將提供一個獨特的平台，成就有效用、簡便和前衛的創新設計方案。 除了專業的技術知識外，該平台還會特別專注終端用戶不斷變化的和未滿足的需求，從關懷和移動力的角度，為未來在該領域的研究員、設計師和創新者帶來裨益。 該中心目前正與跨國公司進行合作，並歡迎聯合研究項目的提案。

PolyU Design helps 'rebuild' Bruce Lee’s home in virtual world

Dr Kenny K. N. Chow and Dr Anthony Kong of PolyU Design are teaming up with Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education in a project of 'rebuilding' the late Kung-Fu film legend Bruce Lee's home in the virtual space. The project, organised by the Bruce Lee Club, aims to build a digital recreation of the two-storey house which was demolished in 2019 so that fans around the world would be able to visit it and commemorate the star. Design students will also be invited to contribute to the project. The project is expected to be completed next year. Media coverage: 全球民眾可虛擬作客入巨星之家 李小龍故居元宇宙重現 - Headline Daily (Chinese) Kung fu star Bruce Lee’s last Hong Kong home to be recreated as a digital shrine for fans - SCMP (English) 

Brian Kwok as ‘Persons with Outstanding Contributions to the Development of Arts and Culture’

We feel proud to learn that Associate Professor Mr Brian Kwok was named ‘Persons with Outstanding Contributions to the Development of Arts and Culture’ by The Secretary for Home Affairs' Commendation Scheme. The Scheme is an official recognition granted to citizens for their long-term dedication towards the training and development of youths in uniformed groups, distinguished community services, or support to the promotion of culture and sports. As a key leader of neon sign projects in Hong Kong with significant contributions to various cultural activities including workshops, researches, seminars, publications and exhibitions for general public, Brian has great influence to many people through his work and no doubt well deserves the honour. Congratulations!

Design student and alumnus at Hong Kong Film Award

We are excited to learn that our Outstanding Alumnus Mr Man Lim Chung is nominated for Best Director and Best New Director in the 40th Hong Kong Film Award for his debut work ‘Keep Rolling’. The Award being an annual film awards ceremony celebrating excellence of film industry in Hong Kong and Greater China will be held in the evening of this Sunday (17 July). Earlier in May, Hong Kong Film Award Poster Competition announced winners. Among them our student Lau Ka Yi (Year 1, Digital Media) won First Runner-up with her fantastic design. Congratulations to Mr Man and Ka Yi on the achievements. We wish Mr Man the best of luck and enjoy each moment of the ceremony.

Masters students receiving honourable mention in Student Service Design Challenge 2022 IKEA Service Design Spin-off Challenge in the Barcelona Design Week

Congratulations to Team Kooly on receiving an honourable mention in the Student Service Design Challenge (SSDC) 2022 IKEA Service Design Spin-off Challenge in the Barcelona Design Week. Their project, Furn.up, scored high on the criterion ‘society oriented’ for their inclusive and sustainable service concept, will also be shown in the Dutch Design Week this October. Team Kooly is a multicultural and highly interdisciplinary design team consisting of six master’s students in the Master of Design (MDes) and MSc Multimedia and Entertainment Technology (MSc MET) programmes: Christy Au-Yeung and Zhengtao Ma (MSc MET) and Hyunjin Kang, Justus Bremer, Mengyan Liu, and Xinrui Wang (MDes). The team was formed out of their passion for sustainability and innovative service solutions, and all shared a vision to change the way people live through design. Through their knowledge in the fields of interaction, business and multimedia design, they explored the way of life in Hong Kong not only from an environmental perspective but also from a social perspective, rescuing the power of design in a comprehensive and highly specialised process. Team Kooly: “We formed our team based on the premise of trying to involve students from a variety of different backgrounds. Overall, the main goal for us was to be able to learn from one another and get an understanding of all the different skills designers from different disciplines might have since we all have slightly different work and education backgrounds.” “Multinationality was an important factor for us. Our team includes students from four different regions of the world, one from Hong Kong, three from Mainland China, one from South Korea, and one from Germany. This way, we could also get a lot of different cultural viewpoints into this project, which was an important factor that ensured the success of our project.” The SSDC is initiated by Philips Experience Design and co-organised with service design college in collaboration with IBM, IKEA, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. 

Outstanding Student Annette Vong shares her life in a radio programme

Our Outstanding Student Award winner Miss Vong Ka Hei Annette (Environment and Interior Design) shared her life as a design student and a graduate-to-be in the RTHK programme aired last Friday (1 July 2022). Click below link and start listening. RTHK U秀幫 | 1 July 2022 | Language: Putonghua & Cantonese Listen now

'House of Dreams' wins UIA 2030 Award and more international prizes

We are excited to announce that 'House of Dreams' won the UIA 2030 Award co-presented by the International Union of Architects (UIA) and UN-Habitat.  House of Dreams was winner of the UIA 2030's Sustainable Development Goal #11 category. It was recognised for its 'collaborative effort between architect and local community extending through design and construction, in the revitalisation of a historical and cultural site.' The House of Dreams is conducted by Insitu Project, a research platform co-led by Mr Peter Hasdell, Associate Dean of PolyU Design and Mr 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 UIA 2030 Award is another prestigious international award received by the project in addition to other five honours within a year. Other awards include the Human City Design Award, Winner and People’s Choice awards under the Social Good category of Azure Awards 2022, 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.

PolyU Design students to work at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort as competition champions

We are proud to announce that the team formed by our students Kam Long Yin, Mak Ho Lam, Li Ka Man and Yeung Chin Ho has won the Championship at the Disney Imaginations Hong Kong 2022 Design Competition. The team beat over 90 teams to receive the honour and is offered with a 6-to-8-week internship for Walt Disney Imagineering Asia at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.   The Disney Imaginations Hong Kong Design Competition was brought to Hong Kong by Hong Kong Disneyland Resort in 2011, with the continued success in the United States. Students from selected design institutions use their technical, artistic and creative skills to propose concepts for an immersive experience. This is a great opportunity for participants to showcase their talent for integrating innovative and globally diverse ideas with a passion for Disney.  Congratulations to the winners of the Disney Imaginations Hong Kong 2022 Design Competition!  Read more: Students shine with creativity to win work experience at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (The Standard 17 Jun 2022)