Sept 2025 Entry
1 year (Full-time)
3 years (Part-time)
37
The School reviews applications in several admissions rounds, as follows: Early Round: 19 November 2024; Round 1: 16 January 2025; Round 2: 13 March 2025; Round 3: 30 April 2025.
What's New
Programme Aims
The Master of Design Scheme contains four specialisms: Innovative Business Design (IBD), Intelligent Systems Design (ISD), Smart Service Design (SSD), and Transitional Environments Design (TED). Hong Kong, a world-class city, offers an international environment that blends Eastern and Western influences. Students study in English but explore the increasingly changing context of Chinese culture as they acquire interdisciplinary skills and cultural experiences that expand their creative, critical and analytical thinking abilities. Exploration of interdisciplinary design aspects across specialisms in line with global trends is strongly encouraged within the Scheme. International and interdisciplinary faculty members prepare students to take charge of their future learning and development in the quickly changing world of design.
Master of Design (Innovative Business Design) (IBD)
The Master of Design (Innovative Business Design) (IBD) is an interdisciplinary specialism designed to equip students with the necessary skills and competencies to become leaders of transformational change in organisations and society. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of today’s global market through the programme’s interdisciplinary approach to design and business. The programme emphasises the importance of creativity, innovation and responsible business practices in driving sustainable growth in organisations. Students are encouraged to think critically, challenge traditional business models and develop innovative solutions to complex problems.
The aims of this specialism are
-
to foster transdisciplinary knowledge through systematic integration;
-
to impart an understanding of the essentials of design, business and technology;
-
to provide practice-based research opportunities and training in integrative business design thinking;
-
to cultivate talent to transform Hong Kong’s industries; and
-
to identify opportunities and resources to improve society and economies at the local, regional and global levels.
Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design) (ISD)
The Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design) (ISD) is an emerging specialism with interdisciplinarity at its core. It is based on the integration of intelligent technologies, systems theories and innovative design approaches, bringing together professional knowledge in STEAM fields (STEM + Art & Design). To achieve transformative industrial innovation, ISD aims to support the most cutting-edge and competitive industries, enabled by advanced technologies and processes, such as AI, Industry 4.0, robotics and AIoT (AI+IoT), through systemic design innovations.
The aims of this specialism are
-
to nurture students' creativity and design abilities by enabling them to embrace intelligent (especially AI-enabled) and systemic approaches;
-
to develop students’ awareness of current and emerging technologies in the innovation industry and in the advanced manufacturing (e.g., Industry 4.0) environment;
-
to promote an understanding of supporting marketing and business practices; and
-
to enhance awareness of the impact of designed systems and solutions on human, social, environmental and global domains through the development of responsible, transparent and ethical design processes.
A combination of theory, planning strategies, research and technical skills provides the foundation for studio subjects that explore emerging aspects of user experience (UX) and interaction design (IxD) based on human needs and desires as well as technological development.
Master of Design (Smart Service Design) (SSD)
The Master of Design (Smart Service Design) (SSD) is an interdisciplinary specialism focused on designing at the intersection of business, technology and human ingenuity to create meaningful service interventions for broader societal and business challenges. This specialism expands the scope of design beyond the current commercialised and compartmentalised professional practices by orienting it towards the socio-technical dimension of design, taking a critical, systemic and human-centred perspective in the context of service design.
This specialism is designed to develop students’ theoretical and practical knowledge of service design. SSD expands students’ abilities by providing them with a deep understanding of the technological, commercial, societal and organisational contexts of service design, and demonstrates the transformation of design opportunities into new and sustainable service experiences.
The aims of this specialism are
-
to deepen the understanding of end-to-end service journeys and design service ecosystems across multiple services;
-
to identify how the centrality of users’ needs and the interests of different stakeholder groups in the human-centred design process are complemented in businesses and organisations in the wider service industry, and to apply the same in practice;
-
to develop and apply service design to a range of business, societal and environmental challenges through studios, collaborations with stakeholders, partners and experts across multiple disciplines, and to use service design at the strategic, operational and systems levels; and
-
to accelerate new service design practices and systems thinking methods to advance the development of students’ skills and practices needed for service innovation.
Master of Design (Transitional Environments Design) (TED)
The Master of Design (Transitional Environments Design) (TED) is a specialism developed in response to the unprecedented rural and urban changes that have occurred in recent decades in Hong Kong and mainland China. TED aims to develop students’ intellectual and practical mastery in the analysis and design of diverse rural and urban environments in the region, with broader implications for global contexts. The approach of this specialism is based on an understanding of the sociocultural dynamics of the regional context, transformed into new design strategies and design interventions.
Characteristics of the Master of Design Scheme
The study pattern of the Master of Design Scheme has a relatively high level of flexibility. With few compulsory subjects, the Scheme allows students from different specialisms to make different choices for their studies, from selecting elective subjects to planning their own capstone/final projects and changing their graduation award title*.
* Students who wish to change their graduation award title must seek academic advice from their Specialism Leaders and undergo selection interviews.
Master of Design (Innovative Business Design) (IBD)
Targeting meaning creation, IBD is the first postgraduate programme in the world to focus on design-centred entrepreneurship.
IBD follows on from the unique ID&BM (International Design and Business Management) programme and aims to foster transdisciplinary knowledge based on a systematic understanding of the essentials of design, business and technology. IBD also aims to support practice-based research with the established history of SD and unique resources in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
IBD acts as a hub of the innovation ecosystem by configuring resources and facilitating innovation for our students, alumni, industrial partners, government and other key stakeholders as a catalyst for change. Moreover, the programme offers students the opportunity to engage in research and development projects, collaborate with industry professionals and participate in industry events and workshops. These experiences enable students to hone their skills, build their professional networks and gain practical experience in applying design-driven innovation to real-world problems. IBD also offers exchange opportunities. Full-time IBD students may choose to study abroad at Thammasat University (Thailand) in Semester 2.
Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design) (ISD)
The Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design) (ISD) is designed for students who have a passion for a human-centred approach and cutting-edge technologies, are curious about the future and are keen to shape it through design. In principle, ISD is open to all talented students who can innovate masterfully within this broad spectrum, have a global perspective, are willing and able to identify and take on “wicked” challenges and are eager to become future game-changers.
The ISD programme aims to train a new generation of designers (including, but beyond the scope of, interaction designers, user experience designers and innovative designers). For this purpose, it offers a specifically tailored technological learning environment that supports both students with STEAM backgrounds and those without. Students with a Bachelor’s degree in design (interaction, user experience, graphic communication, product or industrial design), STEM, communication or even psychology or anthropology may find that ISD broadens their professional development.
Master of Design (Smart Service Design) (SSD)
PolyU is the first university in Hong Kong to offer both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in service design education, in response to the rapidly growing global demand for service design. The focus of Smart Service Design (SSD) goes beyond user experience design, information design, product design or any other single output of design applications. Instead, SSD focuses on a broad design spectrum that integrates design, business, technology and human needs to create service solutions for tomorrow and to bring new value to the service industry and society at large.
Through advanced service design methodologies, SSD offers a unique interdisciplinary educational environment that meets diverse learning needs and provides students with the opportunity to reshape their own design practices. Through lectures, studio learning, workshops and industry research projects, this specialism enables students to be involved in creating, transforming and evaluating service products and content in both digital and offline channels.
Our graduates are equipped with the necessary professional skills to meet the demands of careers in the service industry. They play various roles not only in conventional design-related professions but also in management and strategy in various service sectors, such as consumer electronics, mobility, healthcare, tourism and hospitality, finance and public service.
Master of Design (Transitional Environments Design) (TED)
The Transitional Environments Design (TED) specialism focuses on the contemporary rural and urban experience of Hong Kong/China in the context of the Greater Bay Area. It offers unique postgraduate training in rural and urban space design. In line with the School’s critical approach to environmental and ecological design, this tailor-made specialism regards design as a holistic and systemic perspective on “wicked” and entangled global and local problems, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations.
PolyU Design: Reputation Built Since 1964
PolyU Design has been an important hub of design education and research in Hong Kong since 1964. The School thrives on its geographical position connecting East and West, which allows students to develop their design strengths with a uniquely international cultural awareness at both professional and social levels.
The School was ranked 15th on the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings® by Subject - Art and Design in 2020, and is consistently ranked among the top 20 in the world. Our Master of Design (Design Strategies) programme has been ranked among the World’s 30 Best Design Thinking Programmes (BusinessWeek, 2009).
The School welcomes nearly 900 students each year in a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. It offers a high-level, well-equipped environment that includes a significant research infrastructure with eight laboratories and a variety of first-class technical workshops in the Jockey Club Innovation Tower, a landmark building designed by Zaha Hadid (1950-2016). The Tower aims to stimulate and project a vision of future possibilities and to reflect PolyU's history by encapsulating the process of change in its architecture.
Career Prospects
MDes graduates are well equipped to succeed professionally in their chosen fields. Whether working in-house or in design firms, they excel as specialists, facilitators or project leads in various design areas, including innovation, product, interaction, user experience and spatial branding. Some broaden their professional fields and take on project management, consulting, research and development and teaching roles. Others run their own design firms or family businesses.
Industries that recruit our graduates include fashion, retail, hospitality, financial services, healthcare, toys, consumer electronics, automotive, innovation and technology, research and development, higher education and public service. Visit our website for a list of companies and organisations where our full-time graduates have secured positions.
Non-local graduates (non-local students with an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time and locally accredited programme in Hong Kong) can apply to stay or return to Hong Kong and work under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-Local Graduates (IANG) scheme. Successful IANG applicants may be granted a 24-month stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay, provided normal immigration requirements are met.
Curriculum of the Master of Design Scheme
The four specialisms within the Master of Design Scheme have a common curriculum. Students must obtain a total of 37 credits from the subject categories below:
-
6 credits in Compulsory Common subjects;
-
15 credits in Compulsory Specialism subjects;
-
15 credits in Elective subjects; and
-
1 credit in the Academic Integrity and Ethics Requirement subject
For full-time students, the normal duration of the programme is 1 year; for part-time students, it is 3 years. One academic year consists of three semesters (including the Summer Term). A full-time study load corresponds to 37 credits in a year, and a part-time study load corresponds to 6–9 credits per compulsory semester (Semesters 1 and 2).
All specialisms begin with a Compulsory Common subject, Research and Analysis for Design, followed by elective subjects to enhance students’ individual profiles and experiences. Students then focus on their Studios and Lab Studies specialism subjects. In the final stage of the programme, all specialisms conclude with a Compulsory Common subject, Research and Academic Writing, together with a specialism Capstone Project or Industry Research Project, to synthesise student learning.
Full-time and part-time students follow the same timetable and attend classes together. Classes are normally held during the day on weekdays. Please see below for the core areas of study in different specialisms.
Core Areas of Study by Individual Specialism
Master of Design (Innovative Business Design) (IBD)
The programme begins with subjects in which IBD students develop a knowledge base in their focal domain, identify appropriate directions for further development and develop skills in multidisciplinary collaborations.
In the second stage of the programme, students learn the core knowledge of Innovate with Lifestyle and Culture and Design for Transformation with a holistic view of the value of design in the new business context created by human-centred design thinking and new technologies.
The final stage is devoted to self-reflection and career preparation. At the end of the programme, each student must have completed three projects: an interdisciplinary project, a theme-based project and an entrepreneurial project.
Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design) (ISD)
ISD comprises a series of intensively taught subjects that directly support the ISD Studios and Lab Studies specialism subjects.
-
The ISD Studios subjects take various forms, from individual work to teamwork, and from self-initiated to externally sponsored projects.
-
The Lab Studies subjects provide a unique platform for students to gain exposure to real-world research projects; to familiarise themselves with lab equipment (which is normally more research-oriented, technologically advanced and hands-on than classroom teaching materials); and to work with established and experienced researchers in the field.
In addition, a range of elective subjects are available to enable students to tailor their learning experience based on their individual interests. Students are expected to be fully committed to their studies and to work well in a studio environment.
This specialism culminates in an Industry Research Project that combines research, industry collaboration, social investigation, creative exploration, user understanding and prototype testing to provide solutions to the chosen project.
Master of Design (Smart Service Design) (SSD)
The programme begins with subjects that offer foundational knowledge of service design and advanced research skills through a combination of lectures, studios and multidisciplinary project collaborations.
The programme is followed by subjects that provide a detailed and analytical perspective on the latest socio-technical developments that affect the service economy. The Studios and Lab Studies subjects articulate diverse perspectives on service factors and service design approaches that students can use to evaluate, transform and create future services in the service sector.
The final stage of the programme is where knowledge, skills and practice are integrated into either a self-directed or industry-sponsored project in each student’s area of interest. A Capstone Project, which is a significant and integrative final service project, synthesises student learning in a real-world setting.
Master of Design (Transitional Environments Design) (TED)
TED comprises intensively taught short courses that directly support workshop investigation. The Studios subjects and workshops take various forms, from individual work to teamwork, and from self-initiated to externally sponsored projects. A range of elective subjects are available to enable students to tailor their experiences to their individual interests. Students are expected to be fully committed to the programme and to work well in a studio environment. This specialism culminates in a Capstone Project that combines research, creative exploration, user understanding and prototype testing to provide a solution to the chosen project.
37
Prof. Stephen J. Wang
PhD, MA, MEng, BA, SFHEA
Common admission requirements
A standard recruitment and intake procedure is conducted to advise students on the appropriateness of particular specialisms for their personal and career development. Applicants for individual specialisms must also undertake specialism-specific interviews and meet some specialism-specific requirements (see below). Applicants are required to indicate their choice of specialism upon application.
If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to fulfil the University’s minimum English language requirement for admission purpose. Please refer to the “Admission Requirements” section for details. Applicants are normally also required to demonstrate oral competence in English by means of an interview.
Specialism-specific requirements
Master of Design (Innovative Business Design)
-
A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in design, business, humanities or a technological field is required, preferably along with two years of relevant professional experience.
-
Candidates with other tertiary qualifications and substantial relevant professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
-
Portfolios of professional work. Before submitting their portfolios, applicants should read “Additional Documents Required”, which includes Guidance Notes on Design Portfolios.
Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design)
-
A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Design, STEM, or a related discipline, e.g. communication, psychology or anthropology, is required.
-
Portfolios of design work. Before submitting their portfolios, applicants should read “Additional Documents Required”, which includes Guidance Notes on Design Portfolios.
-
Candidates with tertiary qualifications complemented by international or relevant professional experience can be considered to have an advantage.
Master of Design (Smart Service Design)
-
A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in design, business, humanities or a technological field is required.
-
Candidates with other tertiary qualifications complemented by substantial relevant professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
-
Portfolios of professional work. Before submitting their portfolios, applicants should read “Additional Documents Required”, which includes Guidance Notes on Design Portfolios.
Master of Design (Transitional Environments Design)
-
A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in spatial design, architecture, landscape design, or urban and rural design or a related discipline is required. Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related discipline, e.g. environmental studies, ecology, biology or urban studies, or an interdisciplinary field, e.g. ecological economics, environmental sociology or environmental management and technology, will also be considered.
-
Candidates with other tertiary qualifications complemented by substantial relevant professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
-
Portfolios of professional work. Before submitting their portfolios, applicants should read “Additional Documents Required”, which includes Guidance Notes on Design Portfolios.
For further information on applications and admissions, please contact:
Ms Stephanie Ho
Tel: (852) 3400 3440
Email: stephanie.ho@polyu.edu.hk
For academic matters, please contact the respective Specialism Leaders:
Innovative Business Design
Dr Sylvia Liu
Tel: (852) 2766 5447
Email: sylvia.liu@polyu.edu.hk
Intelligent Systems Design
Prof. Stephen J. Wang
Tel: (852) 2766 5478
Email: stephen.j.wang@polyu.edu.hk
Smart Service Design
Dr Shera Hyunyim Park
Tel: (852) 2766 6846
Email: hyunyim.park@polyu.edu.hk
Transitional Environments Design
Prof. Laurent Gutierrez
Tel: (852) 2766 5502
Email: laurent.gutierrez@polyu.edu.hk
Notes to Applicants
- Before applying, read the following sections on the University and School websites:
- FAQ
- Chat with Students
- Employers of MDes graduates
-
Please ensure that you provide your IELTS or TOEFL report when submitting your application. If your results are not yet available, please indicate the date when they will be. Applications without a satisfactory English test score or availability date may not be considered. Do not mail your IELTS or TOEFL report to the School.
-
If you are in your final year of study, you must submit a transcript showing your academic records up to the most recent semester. If your GPA or average score is not on your transcript, you will need to provide certification of this information.
-
Please read the Academic Registry's "Guide to Application Submission for Taught Postgraduate Programmes" and complete all relevant fields in the system, even if you have already provided your CV. Failure to do so will result in your application being considered incomplete. We strongly advise applicants to provide comprehensive details of their post-secondary qualifications, as well as their previous and/or current employment. This information and any supporting evidence submitted via eAdmission will be used to determine whether an application meets the entrance requirements. Incomplete applications will not be processed promptly.
-
Admission places for each programme are limited. Applying early (Early Round and Round 1) is advantageous.
-
The School reviews applications in several admissions rounds and makes decisions on a rolling basis starting in late January 2025.
6 for local students
12 for non-local students
Please click here to download.
HK$6,670 per credit for local and non-local students
As an ISD student, my journey has been filled with passion and exploration. I have always been curious about how to organically combine design and STEM. After experiencing ISD, I firmly believe that it holds the key to this question, and it has led to a transformative shift in my perspective.
ISD opens up unlimited possibilities in systemic design innovations. I not only learnt cutting-edge theory of intelligent technologies but also had the opportunity to get hands-on experience with robotic arms, turning my ideas into tangible creations. The most significant transformation happened when I faced “wicked” real-world challenges. Through ISD teaching, I honed my ability to approach these challenges from a systemic innovation perspective. This newfound confidence enabled me to analyse problems holistically and identify fundamental solutions.
Additionally, ISD provided invaluable opportunities for collaboration with industry partners, from automotive companies to financial institutions. Working with them allowed me to acquire practical skills and deepened my understanding of the transformative potential of intelligent systems in various sectors.
In conclusion, my ISD experience was enriching. I wholeheartedly recommend ISD to aspiring students seeking to explore the unknown and change the world of the future. Its interdisciplinary approach, perspective transformation and industry collaborations provide a valuable and authentic journey of professional growth.
The IBD programme cultivates students’ interdisciplinary understanding of principles in design, business and technology. Students will develop their ability to explore opportunities in businesses and industries with an emphasis on using design as a tool to face whatever challenges arise. The curriculum focuses on promoting a holistic understanding of the project development process instead of having students merely work on a design, leading us to care very much about the “why” behind a design, what opportunities it will bring and how it addresses issues and problems.
The students are excellent professionals from different design and educational backgrounds. Working closely together certainly strengthens our field of expertise and expands our knowledge and vision through cross-disciplinary team collaboration.
Industry-sponsored project opportunities are guaranteed and enable students to foster their professionalism from a practical perspective.
I strongly recommend joining this programme if you want to progress into different or more advanced roles in your career or intend to create your own business.
The Intelligent Systems Design (ISD) programme was a game-changer for me, transforming my traditional advertising design background. The unique learning approach of the ISD programme, which emphasises the practical application of concepts, allowed me to identify human needs and create solutions that blend cutting-edge technology with human-centred design. This approach ensured that our projects were both innovative and user-friendly. The balance of theory and hands-on lab sessions significantly enhanced my skills in user interaction, multi-channel visualisation and AI integration. Each subject provided valuable insights, from structuring human-in-the-loop system flows to conducting user research and programming sensors and actuators.
A collaborative environment enriched my campus life. I was surrounded by classmates with great attitudes and a can-do spirit who facilitated stimulating conversations and serious project engagement. The school's availability of incubation funding opportunities further enhanced my experience, supporting innovative ideas and entrepreneurial ambitions.
This programme has opened not only doors but also entire new avenues in academia and industry, broadening my career prospects and instilling in me the confidence to tackle complex challenges. I highly recommend the ISD programme to anyone looking to make an innovative and meaningful impact on society.
The IBD programme allowed me to enhance my knowledge and skills in design, innovation and business. Through the curriculum, I learnt design thinking and theories. While collaborating with global companies, from business management to lifestyle brands, on real-world projects, I had the opportunity to transform creative ideas into valuable business products or services, cultivating my cross-disciplinary abilities.
The IBD faculty, with their rich expertise and international perspective, have been instrumental in our learning journey. They brought industry experts to our course, where we learnt and gained insights from their global industry experience. Additionally, the chance to study abroad has greatly broadened my horizons and helped me develop an international outlook.
What I appreciated most about the programme was its strong emphasis on practical application. The numerous opportunities to have our projects reviewed by collaborators and to visit companies instilled in us the confidence to put our knowledge into practice and develop the ability to solve actual problems. This practical approach will be immensely beneficial for my future career development.
In conclusion, this programme teaches a full spectrum of knowledge and skills for succeeding in innovative business design. It is an ideal choice for students aspiring to lead transformative changes in organisations and society. I'm grateful to have had the chance to study in this programme and experience this remarkable learning journey.
A Personal Statement is a one-page written statement addressed to the admissions committee, designed to convince them that you are a good fit for the programme and will contribute to the MDes community. You can include your goals, background, experience, research interests, career goals and aspirations.
This refers to the recommendation letter related to your academic qualifications. Recommendations should be provided on an official letterhead paper with the recommender's name, affiliation, contact details and signature.
You have two options for submitting your recommendations. You can either provide the details of your referees so that the online application system can send them a link to submit their recommendations to PolyU directly, or if you already have the recommendation letters from your referees, you can combine all your recommendation letters, transcripts and certificates from the same institution into one PDF document. Upload the file to the specific entries in the "Post-secondary Qualification" section.
This refers to the recommendation letter related to your work experience. If you are in your final year of study, please consider to ask the internship supervisor/team leader for a recommendation. Otherwise, two academic recommendations are acceptable. Recommendations should be provided on an official letterhead paper with the recommender's name, affiliation, contact details and signature.
You have two options for submitting your recommendations. You can either provide the details of your referees so that the online application system can send them a link to submit their recommendations to PolyU directly, or if you already have the recommendation letters from your referees, you can upload your work recommendations to the specific entries in the "Employment" section.
Note that employment certification differs from a letter of recommendation. Recommendations tailored to admission are preferred over generic references.
Academic Transcripts and Certificates
Evidence of your academic qualifications must include full official transcripts and explanatory notes (usually printed on the back of the transcripts), as well as degree certificates and the accompanying graduation statement or diploma supplement (if applicable).
Please make sure to include the following documents if you have academic qualifications from mainland China: Academic Credential (毕业证书), Degree Certificate (学士学位证书), a certification letter of your GPA/average score if they are not indicated on your transcripts and notes explaining the grading system(s) (课程绩点与等级换算关系表).
If your documents are not issued in English, you must provide certified, literal English translations from your institution or the awarding body. To evaluate your qualifications, we need your transcripts and certificates in both your native language and English. Original documents are not required at the application stage; readable scans of the original documents will be sufficient.
Design Portfolio
Guidance Notes
A portfolio is required for all applicants to all MDes Specialisms, namely Innovative Business Design (IBD), Intelligent Systems Design (ISD), Smart Service Design (SSD) and Transitional Environments Design (TED). Please read the General Requirements and Specialism Specific Requirements below.
General Requirements
The content of your portfolio may include the most advanced design work you have done. We are interested in the process of concept development in self-initiated, experimental and commercial work. Work samples should be accompanied by succinct descriptions where needed.
Please include your CV and a maximum of five (5) best projects in your portfolio.
The portfolio submission should be based on a high standard of undergraduate work (especially final-year work or advanced professional work of an equivalent level) as reflected in your portfolio. Your work is required to demonstrate a level of maturity and readiness to undertake a higher degree in design.
Upon entry to any of the Master of Design (MDes) programmes, you should be able to demonstrate
- prior experience and knowledge indicating the potential to achieve the competency for the chosen MDes programme;
- the potential to benefit from and contribute to the programme to which you are applying; and
- enthusiasm and aptitude to confront various challenges in your interested Specialism or field.
Indicate your project references (name and organisation) whenever possible. State the project type, i.e. individual or group projects. For group projects, you must clearly specify your role in the creative process.
The organisation and appearance of your portfolio should be of a professional standard.
Those with a non-design background may present design-related projects with clear research and design processes or other projects related to making, innovation or even invention. The portfolio may include concepts, idea sketches, plans, experiments, testing data and processes related to the above.
IBD Specialism Portfolio Requirements
All applicants must submit a portfolio. Your portfolio is a compilation of your interests, beliefs, skills, qualifications, education, training and experience. It provides us with insight into your personality and work ethic.
For applicants with an academic qualification in the field of design, you must prepare a design portfolio with the following items:
- three (3) most representative design/business/innovative projects;
- a maximum of two (2) recent design or innovative projects from the past two years;
- indication of the process of problem definition, concept development, final solutions and any validation in each showcased project;
- evidence of your domain skills and knowledge, with information on the date, nature and your role in the work; and
- any design-related awards or public/professional recognition.
For applicants with an academic qualification in business, humanities or a technological field, you must prepare a self-introduction presentation including the following items:
- your most relevant experiences to convey your organisational, communication and tangible career-related skills;
- a work philosophy, in which you briefly describe your beliefs about yourself and the industry;
- your career goals for the next five years; and
- examples of work efforts and projects demonstrating your skills and work experience.
ISD Specialism Portfolio Requirements
All applicants must submit a portfolio of work to be assessed by the ISD team. The portfolio should demonstrate
- excellence of your current expertise, study area and professional activities in the field of intelligent design and/or systemic design, including, but not limited to, interaction design, experience design, product design (with intelligent components or systemic approach) or innovative design;
- your interests and abilities, or attempts that are beyond your current expertise;
- your user-investigation, data collection and analytical skills; and
- your creative problem-solving abilities.
SSD Specialism Portfolio Requirements
All applicants must submit a portfolio that showcases design-related work, made up of images, videos or writing samples that will be assessed by the SSD team. The portfolio should show your ability, motivation and potential capacity by including
- a minimum of three (3) most representative projects not limited to a single design domain but covering a wide range from communication design, product design, experience design, business/strategic design, as well as computing or other technological disciplines with services and service systems design;
- a clearly articulated process of problem framing, concept development and final solution design that shows intellectual engagement with the work;
- evidence of both technical skills and knowledge of creativity and innovation; and
- personal motivations, interests or aspirations that are appropriate to the work.
TED Specialism Portfolio Requirements
All applicants must submit a portfolio.
For applicants with an academic qualification in spatial design, your portfolio should include urban environment projects of multiple scales and typologies, demonstrating your conceptual and technical skills in analysing and designing hybrid and composite spaces.
For applicants with an academic qualification in other related disciplines, your portfolio may be supplemented with a presentation of your research and studies on transitional and environmental challenges in cities and sustainable futures.
Format and Submission
Files via:
- PolyU eAdmission – prepare your file in PDF format under 5 MB and upload the file to "Additional Document". A maximum of one file is allowed.
- Portfolio Submission System – for files larger than 5 MB.
Link via:
- Portfolio Submission System - indicate the URL in the "Personal Website" field. We expect to be able to view your portfolio online, i.e. without needing to download the file to a local computer.
