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Design Labs

As an extension to the PolyU Design’s history, the following research units summarise the various research incentives to date.

 

Design Research Laboratories

Asian Lifestyle Design Lab
Asian Ergonomics Design Lab
Interaction Design Lab
Information Design Lab
Public Design Lab
Digital Entertainment Lab
Creativity and Design Education Lab

 

Research Centres

POLYU-NVIDIA Joint Research Centre

Research Centre for Future (Caring) Mobility

 


Asian Ergonomics Design Lab 亞洲人體工學設計研究室

How does Asian ergonomics differ from Caucasian ergonomic systems? Do your products fit an Asian population? Do your products work properly in an Asian cultural context?

The Asian Ergonomics Design Lab focusses on Asian ergonomics and anthropometrics through a series of research projects.

Recent projects have focused on office chairs and the anthropometrics of female Chinese and Hong Kong Chinese office and factory workers, SizeChina, and more recently, studies of soft tissues around the head. The SizeChina.com project has created the first-ever digital database of Asian head and face shapes for use by manufacturers and designers internationally.

The Asian Ergonomics Design Lab works on consultancy projects for industries that want to create the perfect fitting and products for the explosive Asian markets. The lab encourages visitors to come by to visit its facilities and discuss their requirements.

 

Research Postgraduate Students:

Kimberly Anne Sheen, Qingchuan LI, Parth Bharat Shah


Research papers and publications:

 

Location: V711-V712, 7/F, JCIT
Contact: Dr Yan Tina Luximon (852)2766 5493, sdtina@polyu.edu.hk

 

For more information, please visit SD Plus website

 


 

Asian Lifestyle Design Lab 亞洲生活形態設計研究室

What are the lifestyle trends that drive Asian economies and design?

Asian Lifestyle Design Lab provides research service to and generates critical knowledge for designers and industries creating innovative, sustainable products and services for the Asian lifestyle. It also engages in fundamental and historical research, develops appropriate methodologies for fieldwork and analysis, and seeks collaborations with industrial and academic partners.

The Lab undertakes both broad and focused people-centric and user-centred research that explores those trends that have relevance to design-driven businesses serving Asian contexts, and it investigates the social, cultural, historical and environmental drivers of lifestyle change. It works in collaboration with several industrial and academic partners.

The lab conducts ethnographic studies of everyday experience in urban China. Its current emphases are middle-class consumption, sustainable lifestyle, sustainable micro-production, related design research tools, and Chinese traditions of design thinking/ making.

The lab is also involved with the establishment of supportive networks such as LSDER-China.

 

Research papers and publications:

 

Recent project(s):

For more information, please visit SD Plus website

 


 

Creativity and Design Education Lab 創意及設計教育研究室

How can Creativity and Design Education practices be transferred?

Creativity and Design Education Lab considers creativity from multiple angles. Apart from examining the role of design education, the Lab looks at improving creativity in the workplace. Its aim is to design environments that increase intrinsic motivation. Its mission is to help the creative industries of Hong Kong to increase their potential for economic growth.

The Lab will systematically build its research from inquiry-based learning, case-based studies by building on the studio-based approach typical to design. The lab works closely with the master’s program in design education.

 

Research Postgraduate Students:

Chan Yuet Kai

 

Research papers and publications:

 

Location: V912, 9/F, JCIT
Contact: Dr Henry Ma (852) 2766 4739, henry.ma@polyu.edu.hk

 

For more information, please visit SD Plus website

 


 

Digital Entertainment Lab 數碼娛樂研究室

How to scientifically design media and entertainment for consciousness?

Digital Entertainment Lab aims to bring people together to create new experiences in digital entertainment. The Lab delves into artificial intelligence and consumer robotics. It is trying to understand the mind-body relationship to produce experiences that people want.

The Lab has its origins in the Multimedia Innovation Centre, a leading-edge think tank and research center focused on digital entertainment that was established in 1999. As an associate professor and program leader of Master of Science in Multimedia and Entertainment Technology, Dr Gino Yu looks at the application of media technologies to cultivate creativity and consciousness as a design resource.

 

Research Postgraduate Students:

Andrew Wang, Mubarak Marafa, Sathya Naidu

 

Research papers and publications:

 

Location: V920, 9/F, JCIT
Contact: Dr Gino Yu (852) 2766 5070, mcgino@polyu.edu.hk

 

For more information, please visit SD Plus website

 


 

Information Design Lab 信息設計研究室

How to make wayfinding easier through graphic design?

Information Design Lab is a research and consultancy unit dedicated to investigating what makes the design of information accessible and understandable. The work of the lab primarily focuses on the processes that underlie how humans recognise, make sense of, process, remember and learn various types information in everyday life.

The lab sees information design as a distinct and valuable field of scholarship, study and practice. Its aim is to investigate what makes information usable and effective and to generate theories, models, processes and methodologies for information design.

Past and current projects have focused on bilingual typography in Hong Kong, ‘wayshowing’ and spatial representation, tourism, and medical information.

 

Location: V512, 5/F, JCIT
Contact: Brian Kwok (852) 2766 5441, sdbriank@polyu.edu.hk

 

For more information, please visit SD Plus website

 


 

Interaction Design Lab 交互設計研究室

How does new manufacturing techniques be used for interaction?

Interaction Design Lab is an applied research and consultancy facility at the School of Design. Established in April 2004, the Lab is endowed with the mission to promote the viability of interaction design in design and in Hong Kong industries at large.

Its aim is to develop new knowledge in interaction design and to explore new interaction design paradigms that help in designing more intuitive and enjoyable user experience. The emphasis is on user-centred design research, but the lab’s methods are solidly constructive, ending up in functioning demonstrations.

 

Location: V611-V614, 6/F, JCIT
Contact: Dr Kenny Chow: (852)2766 5454, interaction.design@polyu.edu.hk

 

For more information, please visit SD Plus website

 


 

Public Design Lab 公共設計研究室

How to design public spaces and furniture in Hong Kong with a specific interest in the ageing population and disabled users.

Public Design Lab was established in May 2007 with a mission to promote public design in order to serve new and changing urban needs. Its focus is on public furniture and facilities, and its aim of to promote and develop public design as a design subdiscipline.

The lab builds on the assumption that public spaces should be accessible to all, including disabled and deprives people. It also promotes inclusive design to policy-makers, consults public organisations and the government, and promotes interdisciplinarity in public design.

 

Research Staff: Chun Hong CHEUNG, Yihua HUANG, Kun LIU, Paul Chi Hang LO, Yi Lin Elaine WONG, Jia Xin XIAO

 

Research Postgraduate Students: Albee CHEN, Giovanni Jesue CONTRERAS GARCIA, Yihua HUANG, Alex King, Angelina LO, Paul Chi Hang LO, Satyakam SHARMA, Oluwole SOYINKA, Kaman TSANG, Weijia (VJ) WANG, Jia Xin XIAO, Penny Mingjie ZHU

 

Recent project(s):

 

Location: V616, 6/F, JCIT
Contact: Prof. Michael Siu (852)2766 5455, m.siu@polyu.edu.hk

 

For more information, please visit SD Plus website

 


 

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