[News from Institutions] HKDI and IVE(LWL) Kickstart “Emerging Design Talents 2022: Culture Future” With Young Designers Who Leverage Different Media to Redefine the Cultural Landscape of Tomorrow

Design is the manifestation of culture. While studying the history of culture, a new generation of designers is continuing to explore the cultural power of the future. To shine a light on this process, the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) and the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) (Lee Wai Lee) have officially kickstarted its “Emerging Design Talents 2022: Culture Future” exhibition from now until 21 August 2022.

The exhibition this year is themed around the concept of “Culture Future” and gathers graduates across 40 Higher Diploma, Bachelor’s degree, Diploma of Vocational Education, Diploma of Vocational Baccalaureate, and Diploma of Foundation Studies programmes covering areas of Architecture, Interior and Product Design, Communication Design, Digital Media, Fashion and Image Design, Information Technology, and Jewellery Arts and Design. The collaborations between the industry and HKDI are also featured in Advanced Design Studio (ADS) programmes, which are dedicated to solving real-life issues and facilitating community development through design. The works also explore the root of culture through various technologies and media formats, from the application of virtual reality (VR) technology in the medical field or the heritage of the Dragon Boat Festival. The exhibits examine the relationship between people and objects and encourage visitors to think about the future of culture together.

“Emerging Design Talents 2022: Culture Future” is held in the campuses of HKDI and IVE (Lee Wai Lee). In the highlighted “Advanced Design Studio: Stage Fantasy Experience - Dance Imagination in VR City” special exhibition, visitors will get to understand more about the culture of the city through VR technology. On 20 August, visitors can also enjoy the “Denim Fridays” dance and busking performances prepared by graduates of the HKDI Department of Fashion and Image Design.

The many works displayed at the exhibition explore the concept of human beings as the source of culture and navigate their connections with all things in the world as well as their roles as propagators of culture for future generations. The event also features many photo-worthy spots, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the cultural future while also capturing beautiful memories.

Highlights of “Emerging Design Talents 2022: Culture Future”:

The Origins of Culture – the Relationships between Humans
Human relationships encompass the connections between our individual bodies and our health. In a fast and high-pressure living environment, many people struggle with various illnesses. To design a comfortable environment for surgical treatments, a design team from HKDI worked alongside students from the ADS programme and IVE’s Health and Life Sciences Discipline as well as a number of surgeons to co-create the “Advanced Design Studio: HKDI Well Being – VR for Pain Management” project. Using a diving-themed VR game, the programme creates a more pleasant experience for patients undergoing surgery. This technology is gradually being adopted around the world and has recently been introduced to Hong Kong, where it holds the potential to shape the future development of the health and medical field.

We share the closest relationship with our family members. However, in a fast-paced city like Hong Kong, it can be easy to neglect our connections with our families. Centring on the theme of “loneliness”, graduates from the HKDI department of Communication Design worked with various design methods and industry professionals to create “Advanced Design Studio: Family Emotional Bonding” project. The project reminds visitors that they have strong support from family even when they feel lonely or distant from their families amid the city’s hustling and bustling pace. One of the exhibits from this project is “Cuddle”, which aims to change the public’s conception of robots. Not only does “Cuddle” have different facial expressions and a warm body temperature, it can also record audience’s conversations, photos and text and send them a loving embrace, just like a family member would.

The Heritage of Culture – the Relationships between Humans and History
The advancement of culture needs to be based on the examination and inheritance of history. Because of this, passionate creators must constantly excavate and create. This year, HKDI joined forces with the Stanley Dragon Boat Association for the “Advanced Design Studio: Dragon Boat Festival – Ritual, Community and Environment” project. This interdisciplinary collaboration explores the culture of the Dragon Boat Festival in the local community and uses art and design to facilitate cultural exchange between the East and the West as well as between the traditional and the modern. Graduates from different programmes formed six groups to showcase their skills, which included establishing the brand image for the Stanley Dragon Boat Association; developing conceptual design of various landmarks, such as the Stanley Cultural Water Sports Centre, the Dragon Boat Centre and the Stanley Promenade, to showcase the culture and traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival. Aside from gaining an in-depth understanding of the Dragon Boat Festival and Stanley’s community culture, audiences can also experience first-hand the wonders of this unique cultural heritage by boarding a newly designed dragon boat, where they can take photos and even try their hands at beating the drum.

Aside from exploring the culture of the Dragon Boat Festival, graduates from Diploma of Foundation Studies - Design also incorporated different Lingnan cultural elements into their works with the hope that, in inheriting the past, they can lead the cultural development of the future. For example, the design of a Chinese opera cosmetic box includes an exterior adorned with stickers bearing a pattern from the Tang Dynasty – the peak period for Chinese opera – as well as a drawing with inspiration from the classical Chinese drama, “Peony Pavilion”. At the same time, to encourage the young people to pay attention to the cultural heritage.

In today’s digital age, an HKDI communication design graduate pays homage to the declining magazine industry with “Flow”. With this tangible, physical object, he hopes to redefine the culture of reading and create a more authentic and emotional experience for audiences. “Flow” is a design magazine dedicated to the discovery of visual platforms. The graduate believes that even in the digital age, a physical magazine is still an effective way to draw the public’s attention to the world of graphic design. It may seem like a step backward, but it is actually a continuation of a long-standing reading culture.

The relationship between people and history can also be reflected in fashion design. Using scavengers as their theme, the graduates of HKDI Department of Fashion and Image Design showcase different styles of scavengers beginning from the 16th century, focusing on everything from their tools to their street features. Modern streetscapes are digitally printed on natural fabrics, combining modernity with history to showcase the endless possibilities of fashion.

The Extension of Culture – the Relationships between Humans and the Environment
In addition to exploring the ego, our interpersonal relationships and our historical inheritance, it is also crucial to examine our interdependence with the environment when looking ahead to the future of culture. In Hong Kong, one of the biggest issues is the living environment. Collaborating with the Italian Cultural Institute in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Furniture and Decoration Trade Association, Memphis Group and Novalis Art Design, graduates from HKDI’s Architecture, Interior and Product Design department have created the “Advanced Design Studio: Memphis and the Post-Contemporary Object” project. Working in five groups, the students designed a series of furniture that reflects the bold and colourful style of Memphis Group in 1980s Italy while also staying in line with the new aesthetic sensibilities native to today’s digital networks. Among this furniture collection is “Playful”, which is based on classic amusement park facilities, such as merry-go-rounds and seesaws. This design encourages audiences to put down their mobile phones and to instead fully immerse themselves in the sense of carefree joy that a child feels when playing with their friends in a park. This design will also be showcased at the 25 Years of Design exhibition at the International Design Furniture Fair and at K11 Art Mall later this year.

Looking at the current leisure landscape in Hong Kong, graduates from IVE Information Technology Discipline have also found many areas that could be improved to create greater convenience and more engaging experiences for visitors. That’s why they’ve created “WE Park Adventure”, an augmented reality (AR) application designed especially for WE Park, the outdoor play space in Sha Tin District that integrates environmental protection with smart technology. Leveraging AR technology to introduce virtual characters and storylines to WE Park’s game area, the programme creates a fun and immersive experience that allows visitors to better understand and enjoy WE Park and the cultural charm that comes from its unique environment.

The human environment in today’s society has also aroused the interest of graduates from the HKDI Department of Digital Media. Through an AR lens, the interactive installation and application, “Reading the Terms”, uses intuitive animations and simple language to explain the tedious terms and conditions that have infiltrated our lives. By doing so, this installation encourages viewers to think about protecting their rights and interests.

Showcasing a number of outstanding works from this year’s graduates, the “Emerging Design Talents 2022: Culture Future” exhibition invites visitors to explore the myriad cultural possibilities of tomorrow with a new and talented generation of designers. In accordance with social distancing measures, there will be a limit on the number of visitors allowed into the exhibition at each session. Visitors will need to book their preferred timeslots in advance at https://HKDILWL-EDT2022.eventbrite.com before visiting. For the latest arrangements of the exhibition and other COVID-19 preventive measures, please refer to HKDI’s website.

“Emerging Design Talents 2022: Culture Future” (Free Admission)