[News from Institutions] HKDI Design Show 2026 Showcases the Next Generation of Industry-Ready Designers
HKDI graduates showcase projects that combine emerging technologies and cultural heritage in response to today's creative and industry trends

The Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI), a member of Vocational Training Council (VTC) Group, opened HKDI Design Show 2026, its annual graduation exhibition showcasing student projects from the Institute's four academic departments: Architecture, Interior and Product Design; Communication Design; Digital Media; and Fashion and Image Design. Running until 23 September 2026, the exhibition highlights how students are applying emerging technologies, embracing cross-disciplinary collaboration, and using creative thinking to address industry needs, social issues and Hong Kong's cultural heritage in the artificial intelligence (AI) era.

This year’s exhibition centres on HKDI's three strategic pillars—Cross-disciplinary Collaboration, Industry Integration and Entrepreneurship—reflecting the growing influence of AI and arts technology on the creative industries. From immersive digital installations and interactive storytelling to fashion, spatial design and communication projects, the featured works demonstrate how design can respond to changing industry trends while engaging with contemporary issues and local culture.

As one of the region's leading design institutions, HKDI continues to evolve its curriculum alongside developments in the creative industries. By integrating emerging technologies with industry-focused learning, the Institute equips students with the practical skills, technical expertise and creative thinking needed to succeed in today's rapidly changing design landscape.

HKDI Design Show 2026: Responding to Industry and Social Change

Responding to how rapidly-changing technology is impacting the creative industries, this year's exhibition places Arts Technology at the heart of its curatorial direction. The featured projects reflect HKDI's academic focus on Digital Media and Future Technology, Popular Culture and Lifestyle Design, and Cultural Heritage with a Modern Twist, demonstrating how students are exploring new creative possibilities while addressing real-world opportunities and challenges.

Future-Facing Technology: Where Technology Meets Creative Storytelling

As the creative industries continue to embrace Arts Technology, HKDI encourages students to combine emerging digital technologies with storytelling and practical applications. One featured project is Where Pages Meet the Shimmer, created by a graduate of the Higher Diploma in Arts Technology (Show and Performance) from the Department of Digital Media.

The project follows a young protagonist, Siu Sing, who embarks on a magical journey after receiving a mysterious invitation to an enchanted world. Produced in HKDI’s virtual production studio, the installation centres on a striking “Giant Magic Book” that combines projection mapping with three-dimensional physical sets to create an immersive storytelling experience. The project demonstrates the student’s ability to integrate digital technology with spatial design, live performance techniques, and creative expression skills.

Popular Culture: Bringing Design and Collectibles Together

HKDI students also explore how design can engage with contemporary popular culture while reflecting wider social and cultural themes, effectively turning creative concepts into cultural products with strong commercial viability.

Demon of Devouring Desire, created by a graduate of the Higher Diploma in Costume Design for Performance from the Department of Fashion and Image Design, draws inspiration from the classic tale One Thousand and One Nights. Featuring a dramatic palette of black and deep red, the costume combines distressed armour with flowing red tulle to visualise the concept of temptation and restraint. The work showcases the student’s comprehensive capabilities in costume design, theatrical aesthetics, and visual storytelling, highlighting its strong potential for application across the stage, film, television, and performing arts markets.

Another project, Hong Kong Building Monogatari, created by a graduate of the Diploma of Foundation Studies (Design), transforms Hong Kong’s iconic buildings into collectible designer figures inspired by the growing popularity of blind-box toys. By incorporating the playful image of a French Bulldog, the project presents local landmarks as miniature “history museums” that appeal to younger audiences.

The project also integrates Augmented Reality (AR) technology, allowing visitors to scan the figures with their smartphones to discover the stories behind each featured building. By combining collectible design with interactive digital experiences, the project offers a fresh way to preserve and share Hong Kong’s collective memories.

In the exhibition of the Diploma of Foundation Studies (Design), an art installation – Design Your Future, invites graduates to select a daily life object or tool as their topics. By applying different design principles, together with creativity and digital skills, they create a series of engaging forms. Visitors can pick up a specially designed magnifying glass to view the hidden student artworks.

Cultural Heritage: Reimagining Local Culture with a Modern Twist 

Transforming traditional cultural assets into modern commercial value has become a key focus in today’s creative industries. In response, the Department of Communication Design brings together a cross-disciplinary team from HKDI’s Department of Communication Design, Diploma of Foundation Studies (Design), Youth College, and talented alumni in partnership with Budduck.com, the Dutch based collectable rubber duck brand, featuring 1,000 unique hand-painted art ducks - Budducks Flight.

The exhibition invites students and alumni to explore the themes of Hong Kong’s local culture and the fusion of Eastern and Western influences. Drawing inspiration from Hong Kong’s cultural symbols, folklore, and traditional motifs, students transformed each duck into a distinctive collectible artwork. 

These creative pieces not only offer an innovative take on local heritage but also inject a brand-new design language into the label, significantly amplifying its international market potential. To bridge students directly with the global industry, the Budduck team will select top-performing designs, which may eventually be put into commercial production or featured in overseas exhibitions.

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Nurturing Practical, Creative Talents

As collaboration across disciplines becomes increasingly important in the creative industries, HKDI places strong emphasis on project-based learning and interdisciplinary thinking. This year’s exhibition demonstrates how students work across different design fields to develop creative solutions with real-world applications.

Graduates of the Higher Diploma in Design for Event, Exhibition and Performance from the Department of Architecture, Interior and Product Design were tasked with designing their own department’s graduation exhibition. Rather than focusing solely on the finished outcome, the exhibition invites visitors to experience the students’ design journey, showing how ideas evolved through research, experimentation, refinement and collaboration. Projection mapping, immersive displays and large-scale installations connect the different exhibition zones, creating a cohesive visitor experience.

Elsewhere, students from the Higher Diploma in Digital Fashion Branding and Buying from the Department of Fashion and Image Design partnered with Marks & Spencer to develop a pop-up retail concept. Bringing a fresh Gen Z perspective, they created a fashion brand from the ground up, applying their classroom learning throughout the process, from brand strategy and visual merchandising to retail operations.

A Diverse Programme of Design Showcases: A New Generation of Design Talent is Emerging 

This year, HKDI is honoured to welcome Drew LAI, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries of the HKSAR Government, as the Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony. Her presence not only reflects the Government’s strong commitment to nurturing the next generation of design talent in Hong Kong, but also underscores the close alignment between HKDI’s efforts in advancing arts technology and cultural industries and the Government’s vision of positioning Hong Kong as an East-meets-West hub for international cultural exchange.

Speaking at the ceremony, LAI expressed her great pleasure in witnessing the graduation of a new generation of talent and their connection with the industry. Highly commending the opening showcase, she noted that “‘The Revolutionary Image of the New Generation’ stands as a testament to how the young generation’s fresh perspectives and boundless imagination will shape the future of our creative industries.” She also invited the audience to immerse themselves in the graduates’ creative works, describing the innovative concepts and designs as “thought-provoking and fascinating”.

LAI added that nurturing and supporting talent has always been one of the objectives of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency.     The Agency remains committed to nurturing a new generation of designers by strengthening their capabilities to create, implement and, eventually, thrive commercially.  

VTC Chairman, Mr Jeffrey LAM said, “HKDI is committed to cultivating the next generation of design talent with the vision and capability to drive innovation and creativity in an ever-changing global landscape. We are pleased to see graduates bringing their ideas to life with strong professional skills and a cross-disciplinary mindset, demonstrating their learning achievements. I am confident that they will carry forward the creative vision, intellectual curiosity, and collaborative spirit cultivated at HKDI into their future endeavours.”

HKDI continues to provide graduates with opportunities to showcase their work through a series of design events. Highlights include The Revolutionary Image of the New Generation and New Fashion Force, featuring outstanding work by graduates from the Higher Diploma programmes in Costume Design for Performance, Fashion Image Design and Fashion Design.

The Film and Animation Screening and V Music Show: Rising Star will also present projects by graduates from the Animation and Visual Effects, Film, Television and Photography, and Music Production programmes. Together, these showcases highlight how students are pushing the boundaries of digital media, visual storytelling and music production to shape the future of creative entertainment.

More than a graduation exhibition, HKDI Design Show 2026 offers visitors a glimpse into the future of Hong Kong’s creative industries. Through projects spanning technology, culture and design, the exhibition showcases how the next generation of designers is responding to evolving industry needs while reimagining local heritage for contemporary audiences. The exhibition details are as follows: 

About Hong Kong Design Institute 

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 horizon and international perspective.

Website: http://www.hkdi.edu.hk

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