[News from Institutions] ‘Hong Kong Design Institute Emerging Design Talents 2024: Transform’
Leading Social Change through Design

Amidst the rapid changes and development of the social environment and industry, Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) focuses on cultivating students in applying design thinking, circular design, and regenerative principles, defying the traditional boundaries of design, and guiding emerging designers to create works that stand the test of time. From now until 15 September 2024, HKDI will hold the ‘Hong Kong Design Institute Emerging Design Talents 2024: Transform’ that showcases selected works of recent graduates and various design shows. The presentation shows how by harnessing the power of interdisciplinary collaboration one drives positive change and innovation through a human-centred approach.

This exhibition will feature more than 650 works by graduates from different academic departments, such as Architecture, Interior and Product Design, Communication Design, Digital Media, and Fashion and Image Design. 

Launched by HKDI, the 'Advanced Design Studio (ADS)' program, dedicated to nurturing outstanding young design professionals and leaders, presented the debut design show 'Metamorphosis' during the opening ceremony last night produced by 40 graduates from four academic departments along with faculty and industry professionals. The performance incorporated music, dance, fashion, and motion graphics, utilising large LED screen as a virtual background, and combining visual and auditory elements to create an immersive experience for the audience. Among them, the HKDI virtual idol created using virtual production technology collaborated with a special guest performer—popular boy band MIRROR’s member Jeremy Lee through projection, jointly presenting the students' works and perform 'transformation'. 

In addition, graduates from Diploma of Foundation Studies (Design) previously participated in the ‘Sustainable Get Set Go’ Bus Body Design Competition co-organised by the Vocational Training Council (VTC) and Kowloon Motor Bus (1933) Limited (KMB). The three outstanding finalist works, presented through illustrations, conveyed environmental awareness and green transportation. These works will be displayed as bus body advertisements on 3 double-decker buses, which will be in service across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories, demonstrating the application of sustainable design by HKDI’s young designers, and promoting sustainability and green transportation to the public. Graduates from Diploma of Foundation Studies (Design) utilise their design and drawing skills, including the application of colour and contrast, spatial and anthropomorphic drawing techniques, combined with computer skills, to transform environmental awareness and sustainable development concepts into vibrant and eye-catching bus body designs. These buses travel through various communities, using artistic designs to attract the passengers and the public and to enhance the awareness of environmental protection and green transportation.

Highlights of ‘Hong Kong Design Institute Emerging Design Talents 2024: Transform’:

'Transform' Innovative Fashion
The highly anticipated annual ‘The Revolutionary Image of New Generation’ fashion show will be held on 3 July. Under the theme of ‘East Meets West X Norse Mythology’, the presentation showcases a series of wearable artworks paired with revolutionary hair and make-up styling and fashion styling, revealing the transformation of fashion trends. Another fashion show ‘New Fashion Force’ will take place on 9 July, featuring 32 exceptional graduates’ works that are carefully selected from among the graduates of the Higher Diploma in Fashion Design, demonstrating their unique creativity and presenting the latest trends in fashion design.

'Transform' Tradition to Modern
Since the dawn of time, art forms have been developing and progressing, but what remains constant is people's pursuit of art. Be the traditional art techniques or today's contemporary artworks, they symbolise the transformation of generations of designers. A graduate of the Higher Diploma in Visual Arts and Culture created the work Eternal by integrating the unique techniques of cloisonné enamel and Tongcao flowers, along with using innovative display methods. This creation based on traditional intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship not only retains the unique materials required for traditional crafts and demonstrates the skills of intangible cultural heritage; it also fully demonstrates its uniqueness. The plant structures are visible under a magnifying glass, and the petals-like reflection emerges under illumination, shedding light on traditional art to the younger generation. 

The feminist art movement, which began in the 1960s, has an important influence on today's art ecosystem. Compared to nowadays, these ladies at that time tended to spend more time caring for their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Drawing inspiration from this concept, graduates of the Higher Diploma in Fashion Media Design collaborated with the fashion brand Charles & Keith and produced the videography work Revive.Reclaim.Rejuvenate. As modern women's work lives have become increasingly busy, this project aims to raise awareness about the importance of health and wellness, emphasizing the need for adequate rest and mental fortitude to face life's challenges, by blending ancient and contemporary elements to showcase the multifaceted appeal of womanhood.

'Transform' the Hub where East Meets West
With its cultural diversity, Hong Kong has always been a hub where the East meets the West, and it constantly transforms. HKDI's young designers are also influenced by the integration of Chinese and Western cultures, and they incorporate multicultural elements into their designs.

Traditional Chinese medicine is seen as the culmination of Chinese culture and is gradually receiving international attention. Graduates of the Higher Diploma in Interior Design were influenced by the concept of Chinese medicine and created the work The Meridians. Taking the seasonal changes in the environment and their effects on the body as the main theme, it incorporates Chinese medicine services and public spaces; through environmental transformation, the work implements environmental preservation and designs springs and oases in the urban landscape, promoting traditional Chinese medicine culture to the new generations.

Ink painting and renaissance are particularly crucial constituents in Eastern and Western art history and have been widely employed by artists from ancient times to the present. Graduates of the Higher Diploma in Fashion Image Design found inspiration in these two and intertwined them to create Rebirth, which demonstrates the shared values and aspirations of these two art forms and highlights the continuous renewal and evolution of artistic traditions throughout history.

'Transform' Industry-Leading Technology
HKDI has been following industry development trends closely, and bringing pioneering technologies such as virtual production and AI technology to the campus, which equip students to better engage in the ever-changing design industry. 

Since HKDI established a virtual production studio, students have been applying world-class professional virtual production technology. Graduates of the Higher Diploma in Arts Technology and the Higher Diploma in Animation and Visual Effects have collaborated with the film production company mm2 Entertainment to create a story about the lives of monsters in Hong Kong. The students utilised virtual production techniques to conduct real-time filming for the story.

In addition to advanced equipment, students also require the guidance of excellent teachers to get twice the result with half the effort. Head of Academic Development of HKDI, Terence Wong, was recently elected as an academician of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), he will showcase the workflow of virtual production together with the exceptional works from SMPTE and HKDI graduates from the Higher Diploma in Creative Media at the exhibition with an interactive and immersive experience for the audience’s easy understanding.

AI technology not only can be applied to digital production but also contribute to the development of a spectrum of design fields. In the work of Pure White Curtain, graduates of the Higher Diploma in Architectural Design used AI technology to assist in modelling the birdwatching haven of Po Toi Island, enabling architects to create a safe birdwatching space while exploring the coexistence between architecture and the environment. 

This exhibition will also showcase the outstanding graduation works of other HKDI students. 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: www.hkdi.edu.hk

About Advanced Design Studio
The Advanced Design Studio is a synthetic and thorough outcome-based training scheme under HKDI aimed at cultivating a number of high-calibre and talented young design leaders for tomorrow, as well as facilitating students in reaching their higher potential for the challenging and fast-changing global and local societies. The programme promotes holistic development to better prepare graduates for their future career. Students will undergo a series of results-oriented training and internship to actively engage in various invaluable professional experiences with hands-on, trade-specific skills. The programme also makes available a mentorship network to strengthen students’ sense of belonging to the Institute in support of its continued development in the future.

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