PolyU collaborates with Royal College of Art to establish an AI powered Design Laboratory

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Royal College of Art (RCA), United Kingdom, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to confirm their intention to establish the PolyU | RCA Artificial Intelligence Design Laboratory (AIDL). The Laboratory will be the world’s first and leading research facility to advance the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the design of products and service. Targeted to uncover knowledge and techniques related to design and scientific principles, new design process and innovative products, AIDL will address industry demands for efficiency, automation and customising products and services in the innovation and technology era. Its research deliverables will support industries including healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality and retail services. The Hon Mrs Carrie LAM CHENG Yuet-ngor, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) attended the ceremony and witnessed the signing of MOU by Prof Philip C. H. CHAN, Interim President and Provost of PolyU and Dr Paul THOMPSON, Vice-Chancellor of RCA. Also joining the ceremony as witnesses were Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU; Ir Prof Alex WAI, Vice President (Research Development); Dr Miranda Lou, Executive Vice President; Prof Naren BARFIELD, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost of the RCA; Prof Juan Cruz, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities and Ms. Helen PROTHEROE, Director of Development & Alumni Relations of RCA. Addressing in the ceremony, The Hon Mrs Carrie Lam, said, “The opportunity to witness this marriage of design and AI which belongs to the technology portfolio is extremely gratifying. I am sure that the collaborated team of PolyU and RCA will find in Hong Kong  the appeal of time-tested legal system, robust intellectual property protection, strong financial sector, and the support for commercialisation of R and D results, as well as the distinctive east meets west culture which sparks creative inspiration.” Prof Philip C. H. Chan said, “I am confident that this Laboratory will bring together the strengths of both institutions to lead the world in this new design paradigm, contributing to the innovation and technology development in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.”   “Founded 182 years ago, in response to the first industrial revolution, the Royal College of Art (RCA) today stands at the turn of the fourth revolution. The world will witness breakthroughs across design and technology including artificial intelligence – where art and design will meet.  As the world’s number one art and design university, we have built our capacity to work across disciplines, combining our art and design research expertise with insights from science, technology and engineering. We are delighted to collaborate with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to bring together unrivalled capabilities,” said Dr Paul Thompson Vice-Chancellor of RCA. PolyU will engage researchers and resources from various disciplines including Department of Applied Mathematics, Department of Computing, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Institute of Textiles and Clothing, Department of Mechanical Engineering and School of Design to work together with RCA on a number of theme-based research. Among them, there will be empirical research in Affective Computing and Social Robots that could recognise and analyse human emotions. Other studies will include Intelligent Fashion Design; Intelligent Textile and Apparel Design and Manufacturing; innovating materials of the future that are extremely light, robust and able to detect human bio-metrics for fashion and wearables; creating automatic systems for ergonomic design and human modelling, and using regenerative approach in product design and material development for sustainability in the circular economy, etc. Committed to supporting the HKSAR Government’s InnoHK initiative in developing Hong Kong as the hub for global research collaborations, the two institutions has just submitted a proposal to the HKSAR Government under the AIR@InnoHK research cluster initiative. Prof Kun-Pyo Lee, Dean of School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Dr Paul Thompson, Vice-Chancellor of Royal College of Art. The PolyU RCA Artificial Intelligence in Design Laboratory MOU Signing Ceremony.

Product Design student Cindy Ho Yee CHAN named Most Outstanding PolyU Student

Congratulations to Miss Chan Ho Yee Cindy from the BA(Hons) in Product Design (Year 4) on winning The Most Outstanding PolyU Student Award 2018! The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) presented a total of eight Outstanding Student Awards of Faculty/School and "The Most Outstanding PolyU Student Award" to undergraduate students who excel in both academic and non-academic pursuits at the presentation ceremony held today (21 February 2019). Cindy is named the Outstanding Student of School of Design, and The Most Outstanding PolyU Student 2018.  PolyU's Outstanding Student Award is granted on an annual basis to full-time final-year students who excel in both academic and non-academic pursuits during their studies. "The Most Outstanding PolyU Student" is selected among eight outstanding students nominated by six faculties and two schools. Cindy founded the School of Design Open Ideas (SDOI) with other students of PolyU in 2016. SDOI is a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration aiming to create positive impacts through design. Click here to read more about the SDOI. Cindy and her VIPs at the award presentation ceremony.    Learn more>>

CALL FOR PAPERS: CUBIC JOURNAL #4 Design Education

Call for Papers Issue #4 Design Education Technology’s Role in Reforming Design Education| Pedagogy - Critique - Transformation Issue Editors: Jae-Eun Oh (POLYU), Sharon Poggenpohl (POLYU) Can technologies transform and reform design education? Can online learning replace face-to-face tutorials across different design disciplines and their education processes? How can technological development today help studio-based learning take place in virtual space? Importantly, how should design educators adapt to the new (technological) direction this era is facing?  In studio-based learning, students undertake a long journey of idea generation, problem-solving, evaluating and refining their designs throughout the learning process (Oh 2018). Active communication between faculty members and students is imperative in this specific learning environment to help students remain motivated during the design cycle. Studios are critical in design education as they provide a simulation of industry practice (Brusaco et al. 2000). In this setting, teachers are the domain experts who guide and mentor students with their projects. Thus, studio-based learning is an essential teaching approach and a unique pedagogic method within design education, where face-to-face tutorials and peer learning happen continuously (Broadfoot & Bennett 2003). Interactivity in the studio can foster a proactive learning environment; students feel more involved in the project and more comfortable approaching educators, who give prompt feedback to their students in a designated physical space (Ma 2016).   Many design educators believe it would be too challenging to conduct studio-based learning using online tools and insist on a face-to-face format for their teaching and learning activities. It is time to consider the potential opportunities that online learning can provide. Technologies such as mobile devices and laptops enable both teachers and students to explore and use various online pedagogical tools. These technologies overcome barriers of distance and different locations to bring teachers and students together, helping to facilitate discussion and an exchange of ideas. Active communication occurs online as much as in the studio, even as dematerialization occurs with the shift from the strictly physical studio to the virtual space. To this effect, new forms of teaching and learning are able to occur anywhere.  With the swift development of technology, the outlook of education in the twenty-first century has transformed rapidly. Technologies such as smart devices and laptop computers support our daily communication in addition to enhancing teaching and learning methodologies. Advanced technologies help us to connect with each other through diverse platforms such as social media, learning management systems (LMS), massive open online courses (MOOC) and many others. Several higher institutions have begun to adopt the flipped classroom model, which is a form of blended learning that has become an essential learning approach for the future of education.  The millennial generation is comprised of digital natives that come to higher education with extensive knowledge of and experience with advanced technologies (Reinhardt et al. 2009). Universities now employ various teaching technologies to improve student motivation, engagement, involvement, and learning experiences, while encouraging students to use these technologies in traditional classroom settings. As a result, students have undoubtedly become more inquisitive about new technology and possess high expectations for an effective learning experience. Despite this, while a number of studies recommend applying appropriate technologies to teaching and learning in the traditional classroom environment, little attention has been given to the use of technology in design education.  We further ask, how has technology empowered us, and what has it taken away from us? What has it done to enhance our learning and teaching methodologies? How is technology used to guide students in their teaching and learning experience? How can we help students engage in meaningful learning? How has technology transformed our education scenes, and how might it affect our education scene in the future? How can design deal with the dematerialization of education? How does design education change in contextual settings? How can educators help students become more aware of these changes, specifically in design education? How do we educate our students with the mindset of transformation and reformation?  Issue 4 on Design Education seeks inspiring and thought-provoking contributions that may provide further insight into the questions raised as a response to uncovering the area / influences / consequences of technologies in design education. The call is open to contributions from a wide range of disciplines and fields related to education. This may include product design, spatial design, graphic design, game design, fashion design, communication design, advertising design, digital interactive design, film (live action and animation) media studies, architecture, design theory as well as art education and many other sectors. This issue, therefore, encourages contributions that reposition design education and design research, and that fills the evident gaps as well as generates other and new forms of knowledge that have been overlooked.    Contributions will be academically positioned papers up to 5,000 words that exemplify research-based exploration in the domain of design education. All contributions will be double blind peer reviewed.  Submissions are to follow submission criteria as described on the cubicjournal.org website. Final submissions must be made by 1st June 2019 at 12 noon, Hong Kong time to jae.oh@polyu.edu.hk and editors@cubicjournal.org    References: Broadfoot, O., and Bennett, R. (2003). “Design studios online? Comparing traditional face-to-face design studio education with modern internet-based design studios.” In Apple University Consortium (online), 2003. http://auc.uow.edu.au/conf/conf03/papers/AUC_DV2003_Broadfoot.pdf Brusaco, P. L., Caneparo, L., Carrara, G., Fioravanti, A., Novembri, G., & Zorgno, A. M. “Computer supported design studio.” Automation in Construction 9, (2000): 393-408.  Ma, H. “A study of blended learning strategies for project-based studies.” Asia Pacific Journal of Contemporary Education and Communication Technology 2, no. 1 (2016): 50-57.  Oh, J. (2018). “Educators and social media: Learning motivators in creative media courses.” Asia Pacific Journal of Contemporary Education and Communication Technology 4, no. 1 (2018): 130-138.  Reinhardt, W., Ebner, M., Beham, G & Costa, C. “How people are using Twitter during conferences.” In Creativity and Innovation Competencies on the Web: Proceedings of the Fifth Edumedia Conference, edited by Veronika Hornung-Prähauser and M. Luckmann, 145-156. Salzburg: Edumedi, 2009.  ///////////////////////////////////////// Cubic Journal ISSN: 2589-7098 (Print) ISSN: 2589-7107 (Online)

Alumni The Lamp That Breathes - AirLuna, Winner of JUMPSTARTER and KALEIDOSCOPE

Congratulations to our alumna Mui Kinoshita (MUI Ngo Suet) (Industrial Design, 2005) who recently won JUMPSTARTER and the Kaleidoscope Lab ignition programme with the ‘Airluna’ co-invented with her partner! The product is an app-controlled lamp that can break down indoor pollutants using nanotechnology. An interview done by BeFast.TV with Mui: 「港產空氣淨化燈搶風頭 污染物用新技術變無害物質」HKET:https://startupbeat.hkej.com/?p=69123

Call for Submissions—'Unfolding' exhibition (BA Scheme students & recent graduates)

The Communication Design programme of PolyU Design is organising a student and recent graduate exhibition in collaboration with the design departments of Ewha Womans University, Korea. Interested students and recent graduates of all BA programmes at PolyU Design are invited to submit a work (this may be an existing work) on or before 28 February. From each university, 20 works will be selected for display, meaning 3-5 works from each of PolyU Design’s BA programmes.  The exhibition will provide students, recent graduates, and teachers from the two institutions an opportunity for conversation. At the same time, it offers students and recent graduates a chance to showcase their work to the public in the form of a group show.  Submission Details Submission Deadline: 28 February, 2019 Submissions may be sent to Anneke Coppoolse (anneke.coppoolse@polyu.edu.hk) via email—attachments should not exceed 20MB, links to work uploaded to the web or Google Drive are preferred. Non-digital submissions may be photographed and submitted accordingly. The email should include (1) name(s) and BA design programme of the student(s)/recent graduate(s), (2) the title of the work, and (3) a 100-word description of the work, in English. Once a submission has been selected for exhibition, the respective student(s) or recent graduate(s) will be contacted for further arrangements. Advertising and Communication Design submissions (Visuals) should be 2D (preferably posters), Product and Interactive Media submissions should be single objects, Digital Media submissions should be time-based/video-formats of max. 10 minutes, and Space submissions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Open to PolyU BA(Hons) Scheme in Design students & recent graduates only.  About the Exhibition Exhibition title: Unfolding Venue: 3/F, Jockey Club Innovation Tower Categories: Space, Visual, Product, Media Exhibition period: 27 March – 3 April, 2019 Submission Deadline: 28 February, 2019  Unfolding  The exhibition Unfolding brings together works from students and graduates from the School of Design of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the College of Arts and Design of Ewha Womans University in Seoul, creating a visual dialogue between young designers in East Asia.  The contemporary economy in the era of convergence is continually searching for ways to break down barriers and develop new methods to build a better tomorrow. In parallel, design is continuing to be multifaceted and increasingly multidisciplinary—through creativity, community, technology—unfolding potentials and possibilities across and between design fields.  Unfolding—referencing something in process, becoming—aims to present design works produced by undergraduate students and recent graduates from the two cities. Through these works, it considers approaches and perspectives of young designers as their practices and futures are unfolding. It is hoped that the visual dialogue this engenders will lead to an understanding of convergent topics of concern and ideas about forthcoming design trends. Enquiry Anneke Coppoolse, Assistant Professor Email: anneke.coppoolse@polyu.edu.hk

PLAY A Bag Design Competition 2019

Material Resource Centre (MRC) announces the launch of the brand new competition, the 'PLAY' A Bag Design Competition 2019, jointly with Smart Creations and Piece of Work to allow students of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to show and share their flair of creativity and potential in design. The competition is open to all PolyU students and encourages the participants to play with the Tyvek® bag by using different materials and printing effects to create a new, lightweight, durable and stylish material carrier bag for designers.  Submission: www.pieceofwork.hk Eligibility: Students of PolyU Themes: PLAYFUL FASHIONABLE Requirements and Submission: Conveys unique and rich visual content; combines value and practicality; fully displays the properties of Tyvek® Themes: Playful & Fashionable To enter, entrants must: download the Template of the bag; design the bag using one of the specified design themes; ensure that all entries are original; save the final design as a PDF document no larger than 8MG; complete one entry form per bag design submission; and submit to: www.pieceofwork.hk. Prize rewards: Grand Prize: Medal, HK$3000, Design Tokyo Attendance with 4-day round trip  Second Prize: Medal, HK$2500, Design Tokyo Attendance with 4-day round trip  Third Prize: Medal, HK$2500 Consolation Prizes: HK$1000 (3 persons)  Award-winning business opportunities: 1st round shortlisted entries (aka the 20 semi-finalists): exhibit at the 'Design Tokyo' on 28 June 2019; Online and offline sales platforms; Get access to promotional opportunities at MRC and Smart Creations; Grand, Second and Third Prize Winning designs will be produced for sales as limited edition (qty: 100 each). Timeline: Date Detail 28 Jan to 10 Mar 2019[EXTENDED!] Online submission 20 Mar Announcement of shortlisted entries 3 Apr Final judgement 10 Apr Announcement of winners onwww.pieceofwork.hk 15 Apr Award presentation ceremony and exhibition opening 15 Apr to 3 May 'Play & Display' Bag Design Competition Exhibition 7 May Exhibition at theITC store 28 Jun Exhibition at theDesign Tokyo Enquiry: Man Tsang +852 27667971 wman.tsang@polyu.edu.hk

Capturing Hong Kong's Neon Heritage

Brian Kwok and his Information Design Lab's neon sign archive project has been widely featured locally and internationally through to NHK World.  Check out how the team captures Hong Kong's neon heritage on the Hong Kong Neon Lights Facebook page! 今晚7點鐘翡翠台「新聞透視」或於10:30 無線財經資訊台重播，將會有我地嘅出現！多謝記者林嘉成和攝影師們的訪問！  Posted by 霓虹黯色 on Saturday, January 5, 2019

Newly installed PolyU Council visits School of Design

We were happy to share about the School with the newly installed PolyU Council. Led by Chairman Dr Lam Tai Fai, Deputy Chairman Dr Lawrence Li, and members Ms Karen Chan and Ms Shirley Chan, council members learnt about the vision of the School and the latest in teaching and research. Date of visit: 11 January 2019

First Staff Meeting Hosted by Dean Prof Kun Pyo Lee

Together, we reach new heights! New dean of PolyU Design promises to lead the School by empowerment, communication, and commitment. Prof. Kun Pyo Lee shared his vision at his first all-staff meeting today and is met by an enthusiastic turnout. Look out for lots more to come from us in the new year! #ComeTogetherForDesign #PolyUDesign

PolyU Design formed alliance with peers in the Greater Bay Area

PolyU Design is honoured to join the Fine Arts and Design Education Development Alliance of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to further promote the development of art and design education in the region. The inaugural ceremony was held on 28 December 2018 at the Guangzhou Academy of Fina Arts.