[News from Institutions]Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) partners with renowned film production brands, disguise, Dolby, and ARRI, to establish internationally recognised certification training centres

As a leading design institution in the region, Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) remains at the forefront of technological advancements in the industry. It has recently become the only institution in Hong Kong to receive training accreditation from disguise, ARRI, and Dolby, three international professional film production brands simultaneously. HKDI-disguise partnership agreement signing ceremony cum the launch ceremony of disguise certified training programme offered by HKDI successfully held on today. It will further enhance HKDI’s teaching standards, aligning it with the global industry for nurturing talent while responding to the Hong Kong government’s vision of becoming the creative hub of Asia and fostering a creative community.

In addition to the certification as a training partner from the visual experience platform disguise, HKDI is the first institution in Hong Kong gaining accreditation as a film academy by ARRI earlier, who offers photography systems and virtual production solutions to the global entertainment industry. Meanwhile, HKDI has also become a collaborative partner with Dolby Laboratories’ Doly Institute, specialising in film and sound technology. These certifications fully reflect HKDI’s strength in film and television training.

HKDI-disguise partnership agreement signing ceremony was hosted by Dr Lay-lian ONG, Principal of HKDI and IVE (Lee Wai Lee) and Mr Alan LAM, Vice-President of disguise Asia Pacific region. With HKDI obtaining these three leading industry certifications, the curriculum of HKDI’s Department of Digital Media will encompass professional training courses from disguise, Dolby Institute, and ARRI. HKDI will also provide all-new learning resources, fostering collaboration between academia and industry. It will enable students to systematically acquire the knowledge and specialised technical skills of relevant platforms, preparing them for further education and employment. Additionally, it will serve as an international industrial platform for advanced studies and exchange connecting with industry elites.

Dr ONG said: “We are thrilled to be the first higher education institution in Asia to receive disguise certification! With the government’s strong efforts to promote the development of the cultural and creative industries and its focus on supporting the Hong Kong film industry, it is the perfect time to establish the training centre. It provides students with cutting-edge courses that are closely aligned with industry needs, enhancing their opportunities for further education and employment. What’s more, it will also foster talents for the cultural and creative industries, which will help consolidate Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s creative hub and promote the industry’s growth.”

Mr Alan LAM, Vice-President of disguise’s Asia Pacific region, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with HKDI. The institute’s emphasis on the integration of theory and practice aligns perfectly with disguise’s teaching approach. While Hong Kong has nurtured a significant amount of  creative talent, we believe that the establishment of this training partnership will effectively provide students and the industry with innovation and  knowledge in visual experience technology, as well as applications in international settings that will put them at the forefront of the entertainment industry. Through disguise, HKDI will elevate the creative process to another level through disguise.”

The first higher education institution in Asia certified as disguise training partner

disguise is a technology platform used to create top-tier visual experiences. Visual creators, designers, and artists can utilise the platform’s Extended Reality (XR) solutions to run 3D software on their servers, enabling them to imagine, create, and present productions in virtual worlds through visual storytelling. disguise’s technology can be applied to enhance the visual experiences of live events and performances, concerts, broadcasts, film shoots, online platforms, and hybrid events.

Three years ago, HKDI introduced training in the application of disguise’s platform in the curriculum of the Department of Digital Media. Students had the opportunity to participate in various visual experience creative projects, in collaboration with the industry. Currently, most of the local disguise users learn to use the platform through free e-learning provided by disguise, which, although flexible and affordable, needs to be enhanced by practical, hands-on learning. Additionally, there is a lack of teaching talent within the industry. In order to further enhance disguise’s training capabilities in the region, HKDI and disguise have partnered to train up instructors from the Department of Digital Media to become disguise certified trainers. Furthermore, the institute has upgraded its hardware to meet the requirements for certification as a training partner. HKDI’s Professional Education and Engagement Centre (PEEC) also provides disguise certification training for the industry to cultivate more local talent with professional knowledge.

The first institution in Hong Kong collaborating with Dolby for a more systematic learning experience in Dolby Atmos technology

With its rich history and a commitment to developing audiovisual technology for film, Dolby Laboratories has introduced widely used technologies such as Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. These technologies are extensively employed in various films, TV shows, mobile applications, music, sports entertainment, and games. Dolby Atmos, in particular, utilises immersive sound technology to create a 360-degree audio experience, allowing audiences to feel completely immersed in the boundless world depicted on screen.

To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of Dolby Atmos mixing techniques, HKDI reached a cooperation agreement with Dolby Laboratories’ Dolby Institute this March, making HKDI the first Dolby Institute partnered institution in Hong Kong. Dolby Institute’s courses and materials are incorporated into HKDI’s higher diploma and Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong’s (THEi) undergraduate programmes related to mixing and sound design. This will allow students to systematically learn about audio technology that is widely used in the field.

Since the cooperation agreement signed this March, a student from Higher Diploma in Film, Television and Photography programme, who is interested in delving into mixing technology, was able to pioneer the application of Dolby Atmos technology in his graduation project, “A Moment”, creating an immersive sound environment for the short film.

HKDI has become an accredited ARRI film academy and students will receive ARRI certification

ARRI, a film media technology company that combines creativity and techniques, provides a wide range of solutions for the global film and entertainment industry, including cinematography equipment, lighting systems, virtual production, and broadcasting. Its solutions are widely applied in the industry.

As the first certified ARRI film academy in Hong Kong, HKDI has the privilege of sharing learning resources from the ARRI Academy. In addition, HKDI’s instructors can participate in training activities organised by the ARRI Academy to gain in-depth knowledge of ARRI’s solutions and workflows. This knowledge can then be imparted to students and other industry professionals. Furthermore, qualified students at HKDI can receive ARRI certification, enhancing their qualifications and facilitating their entry into the industry.

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About Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) 

Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) is a member of VTC Group. HKDI was established in 2007 with the mission to be a leading provider of design education and lifelong learning, including architecture, interior and product design, communication design, digital media and fashion and image design. With a view to providing professional designers for the creative industries, it promotes the "think and do" approach and encourages interdisciplinary synergy in its broad range of design programmes that cultivate students' cultural sensitivities and sense of sustainability. HKDI maintains a strong network with industry and provides its students with essential practical experience. Overseas exchanges are actively arranged for students to broaden their horizons and international perspective.

Website: www.hkdi.edu.hk