[News from Institutions] Hong Kong Design Institute Holds "Hong Kong Design Institute: Emerging Design Talents Exhibition" at Nantou City for the First Time

The Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) is holding the exhibition "Hong Kong Design Institute: Emerging Design Talents Exhibition" for the first time at Nantou City in the Nanshan District, Shenzhen, from now until 13 April 2025. 

The Chief Executive emphasised in his Policy Address the importance of helping youth seize opportunities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) across various fields, enabling them to utilise their strengths and contribute to the high-quality development of both Hong Kong and the nation in the future. As an exhibition by the leading design institution in the region, HKDI's "Hong Kong Design Institute: Emerging Design Talents Exhibition" will showcase a series of outstanding works from students in the departments of Architecture, Interior and Product Design, Communication Design, Digital Media, as well as Fashion and Image Design. The exhibition aims to help students explore and understand opportunities in the GBA by sharing learning experiences, displaying design works, and live performances, while also promoting creative exchanges within the region and enhancing interaction among youth, fostering a sense of national identity.

The opening ceremony of the exhibition was held on 29 March 2025 at the Baode Square in Nantou City, officiated by distinguished guests including Dr Michael WANG Jianguo, Deputy Executive Director of the Vocational Training Council (VTC); WANG Yuanhui, Member of the Standing Committee, Nanshan District Committee of Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC and the Minister, Nanshan District Publicity Department of Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC; HUANG Nan, General Manager of Shenzhen Wantong Nantou City Management and Operation Co. Ltd; Freeman LAU,  VTC Honorary Fellow, Chairman of the Design Institute Advisory Board and Dr ONG Lay-lian, Principal of HKDI and IVE (Lee Wai Lee).

Dr Michael WANG Jianguo, Deputy Executive Director of the VTC said, "This is our first time holding an exhibition at Nantou City. Through direct interaction and communication between students and the community, not only do we enrich their learning experience, but the exhibition also provides a unique opportunity for our students to showcase their ideas and creativity in different places and gain market experience. At the same time, we hope to take this opportunity to promote HKDI's creative brand in the GBA."

HUANG Nan, General Manager of Shenzhen Wantong Nantou City Management and Operation Co. Ltd remarked, "In recent years, we have actively revitalised Nantou City through various measures, hoping to transform the ancient town into a centre for modern culture, art, and design. This time, HKDI has specifically chosen to hold their students' exhibition at Nantou City, which will help strengthening academic creativity and knowledge exchange within the GBA, consolidating our position as a centre for modern art and culture."

The Financial Secretary proposed in this year's budget to develop artificial intelligence (AI) across various industries. HKDI, which has been committed to integrating AI technology into design, arranged the first AI virtual singer, Vi, created by its students from the Digital Media department, to perform at today’s ceremony, showcasing the institute's innovations and efforts in this area.

Following the opening ceremony, students from the Digital Media and Fashion and Image Design departments presented a unique fashion show and hosted several street music performances for the guests.

Nantou City, filled with Lingnan ancient culture and historical relics, serves as a cultural preservation unit in Shenzhen. After renovation, it not only retains its historical value but also highlights the potential of the ancient town as a centre for modern culture, art, and design, attracting a large number of tourists. In addition to the events at Baode Square, the "Hong Kong Design Institute: Emerging Design Talents Exhibition" is featuring a series of exhibitions and activities centred around Zhongshan South Street, one of the ancient streets that still exists today.

We welcome everyone to visit the "Hong Kong Design Institute: Emerging Design Talents Exhibition" and spark more creative exchanges in the culturally rich Nantou City 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 cultivates 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 international perspective.  

Website: www.hkdi.edu.hk 

About Nantou City

Nantou City is a creative urban neighborhood built on history and embracing cultural diversity. Here, art and culture are woven into the urban texture nearly 1,700 years old. We respect the original state and patterns of nature, history, culture, and urban development, and create a co-living space that is free and vibrant, multidimensional and diversified, authentic and original, organic and sustainable. In Nantou City, people interact and collide with space and time organically, creating sustainable value for the city and the community.

Website: https://www.nantoucity.com/

Media Enquiries: 3928 2994 / 3928 2702