[News from Institutions] HKDI Gallery Presents “Beyond 100: Transforming Design & Imagining Futures with Lab4Living”

Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) and Lab4Living is proud to present Beyond 100: Transforming Design & Imagining Futures with Lab4Living at HKDI Gallery, marking the first Hong Kong exhibition of Lab4Living, the renowned design-led research group based within Sheffield Hallam University, UK.

As human life expectancy increases around the world, support for ageing populations has become a challenge for everyone, especially designers. Recognising the importance of people-centric design and the powerful implications of efficient and effective solutions, this exhibition looks at how design can respond to our changing demands and expectations as we grow older. While doing this, it also invites visitors to consider the civic responsibility as well as the inquisitive, provocative and technical qualities of design in response to society’s evolving circumstances and needs.

The exhibition is curated by Dr Michael Tan of Lab4Living. Through five key themes, it presents the eclectic approaches, formats and directions undertaken by the research group. The artefacts highlight the extraordinary potential of design and design research to put a different perspective on the world we live in, to transforming our way of life to foster positive and lasting change in the contexts of health and wellbeing, enabling life, and supporting human flourishing.

“Sheffield Hallam University has been HKDI’s close academic partner. It is our honour to collaborate with its research group, Lab4Living, to present this exhibition,” said Dr Lay Lian ONG, Principal of HKDI. “The design research approach of Lab4Living demonstrates that design can consider and create safe passages for all on life’s journey. The exhibition will stimulate creative thoughts and encourage our students to further develop the role of design in improving human health and general wellbeing.”

Speaking about the range of work selected for the exhibition, Lab4Living director Professor Paul Chamberlain said: “It shows how Lab4Living has utilised design to enhance quality of life in an increasingly extended life. It showcases a diversity of design approaches that highlight the importance of defining questions not just answers; the value of participatory and collaborative approaches; the need for inclusive and sustainable approaches; and solutions that are culturally and environmentally appropriate.”

Envision a Future of Living Beyond 100 Years
Visitors can explore the eclectic approaches, formats and directions undertaken by Lab4Living through five themes. The artefacts demonstrate the power and potential of design to transform lives, foster positive change and support human flourishing. The exhibition also exemplifies creative ways in which designers have responded and adapted to changing circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The theme of Creative Provocation subverts and challenges the boundaries of design practice, exploring notions of citizen science to bridge the gap between art and science. Designed by Prof Chamberlain, “HOSPITAbLe – Weighing Chair” rethinks health services for the future, especially with the increased shift towards self-care at home. Users can easily learn their weight by sitting on the Weighing Chair, making lives beyond 100 years old easier.

The Frugal Design and Sustainability theme demonstrates how effective design solutions can positively impact communities, and how these can be achieved via an economical approach. The “Playponics” exhibit is already utilised in schools and communities in India and leverages the energy generated by children’s physical activity on playground facilities to sustain a variety of hydroponic and conventionally grown crops.

In Life Transitions, we encounter the challenges that a longer lifespan can have on one’s quality of life. Design interventions are powerful ways of working with people to explore how they can continue to live well, engage in meaningful activities and maintain community connectedness. “Journeying Through Dementia” was developed in partnership with people with dementia, who spoke of the value they attached to new learning and their continued participation in everyday occupations.

In Capturing and Expressing Data, the exhibits use creative approaches to provide insights into lived experiences or to communicate data and provoke discussions through visual and physical means. The exhibit “Print my Pain – Visualising the Experience, Expression and Description of Chronic Pain” creates data-objects that enable young adults to explore and understand their own pain language so that they can communicate it to others.

Design Research in Healthcare explores how design can contribute to solutions and products that promote patient dignity, improve our healthcare experiences and support our overall well-being. The “Whole Mouth Health” exhibit explores different oral hygiene beliefs and experiences of people across the world in order to develop and support oral health literacy.

“Beyond 100: Transforming Design & Imagining Futures with Lab4Living” (Free Admission)
 

All visitors entering the HKDI and IVE (Lee Wai Lee) are required to use the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application to present the “Blue Code” of “Vaccine Pass”.

Media enquiries: 3928 2993 / 3928 2702

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 horizon and international perspective.

Website: www.hkdi.edu.hk

About HKDI Gallery
HKDI Gallery is a dynamic exhibition arm of HKDI, which is dedicated to present the exposition of cutting edge, top-notch international exhibitions and contemporary issues on design. In addition, HKDI Gallery also aims to support HKDI as one of the centres of design education in the region and promote design culture in Hong Kong.

HKDI Gallery engages with parties at home and abroad, including internationally acclaimed museums, designers and curators. With contemporary design as the cornerstone, it presents a series of top-notch exhibitions every year ranging from; graphic design, architecture, fashion, product design, multimedia and so on. This has included the following; exhibition for Zaha Hadid Architects, the retrospective for the Pritzker Prize-winning Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, the solo exhibition for the renowned Japanese designer Dai Fujiwara, the solo exhibition for the Oscar-winning artist Tim Yip, the retrospective for Hong Kong design legacy Kan Tai-Keung, the Asian debut largest solo exhibition for one of the most influential German industrial designer Konstantin Grcic and the exhibition of Japanese posters in 20th century, etc.

Through international exhibitions, HKDI Gallery turns itself into an education venue where design students, design community and general public can learn from the masters’ works. It also actively engages with institute’s students and external students with tailor-made tours, talk and panel discussions.

Website: www.hkdi.edu.hk/hkdi_gallery

About Lab4Living
Lab4Livingis a design-led interdisciplinary research group based within Sheffield Hallam University, UK. Established in 2007, Lab4Living is one of the longest-established living labs in Europe. The team brings expertise from art and design, allied health, science, and the humanities to address real world issues that impact on health and wellbeing. Lab4Living develops products, services, interventions, and speculative projects to support human flourishing.

Lab4Living has a well-established track record for practice-based research. It was once again rated as 100% World leading or Internationally excellent for its research impact and environment in the UK’s latest research assessment exercise. Research undertaken by Lab4Living has underpinned the development of a new generation of products for individuals living with long-term conditions. These have improved quality of life for people with motor neurone disease, cancer and dementia by promoting dignity and independence.

Lab4Living’s work spans more than 150 research projects to date and has included collaborations with over 80 academic, hospital and community organisations in over 15 countries. Lab4Living has also led and supported the development of a global community in design for health by launching the international Design4Health conferences in 2011, and a new international refereed journal, Design For Health. Beginning in Fall 2023, it launches a new MA Design for Health course, part of an MA Design programme at Sheffield Hallam University.

Website: lab4living.org.uk

About Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University is one of the UK’s largest and most diverse universities: a community of more than 30,000 students, 4,000 staff and more than 280,000 alumni around the globe. The University’s mission is to transform lives. Sheffield Hallam University provides people from all backgrounds with the opportunity to acquire the skills, knowledge and experience to succeed at whatever they choose to do.

As one of the UK’s largest and most progressive universities, its teaching, research and partnerships are characterised by a focus on real world impact - addressing the health, economic and social challenges facing society today.

Research at Sheffield Hallam University focuses on developing innovative, practical solutions to real world problems, centred on three high-impact areas: driving future economies, enabling healthier lives and building stronger communities. Its researchers provide cutting edge solutions to twenty-first century challenges.

Website: www.shu.ac.uk