Creative STEM/ STEAM Learning Tools Shine at the PolyU Design Hatch Awards 2026

The annual PolyU Design Hatch Awards 2026 has reached a celebratory milestone as the award winners were officially announced following the Final Presentation on 25 May 2026. 

Organised by the School of Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hatch Awards is a platform designed to nurture creative potential, critical thinking, and design-led innovation among secondary school students across Hong Kong. 

Under this year’s core theme, "Designing STEM/STEAM Learning Tools," participants were challenged to reimagine modern educational resources by blending science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics into user-centered, practical tools. Finalist teams advanced through a competitive first round, participating in an intensive one-day Hatch Programme workshop where they received expert guidance to refine their design proposals and develop functional prototypes before pitching live to the judging panel. 

The final presentation showcased extraordinary creativity, technical ingenuity, and practical application, impressing the jury panel—comprising renowned designers and educators Mr Chi Wing Lee (Founder of MILK DESIGN), Mr Frédéric Gooris (Founder of Studio Gooris), and Prof. Yi-Teng Shih (PolyU School of Design). 

FIRST RUNNER UP 

Team Name: TerraTechs 
School: Malvern College Hong Kong 
Team Members: Ho Sin Yung, Metzger Tamara An-mei, Lai Ka Yin Gabrielle 
Project Description: TerraTechs features a smart terrarium base and an interactive mobile app to enhance student engagement and provide visual, hands-on environmental learning.  

SECOND RUNNER UP 

Team Name: 3H 
School: Hong Kong and Kowloon Kaifong Women's Association Sun Fong Chung College 
Team Members: Ho Ho Tin, Cheung Wang Hin 
Project Description: A Smart STEAM Whiteboard uses AI to transform hand-drawn sketches into 2D and 3D dynamic simulations instantly, making complex concepts easy to visualize. 

MOST INNOVATIVE PRIZE 

Team Name: Dison 
School: Shenzhen Hong Kong Pui Kiu College Longhua Xinyi School 
Team Members: Xu Ye Heng 
Project Description: SpiderSentinel is a hexapod bionic reconnaissance robot capable of performing field data monitoring and real-time image transmission for hands-on robotics and scientific exploration.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE 

Team Name: Steam: 尋回智慧石! 
School: Madam Lau Kam Lung Secondary School of MFBM 
Team Members: Li Sheung Sheung, Pan Li Yu, Tang Joey 
Project Description: An interactive STEAM learning kit with custom picture books and merchandise, designed to spark children's early childhood learning through storytelling and tactile play. 

Upcoming Public Exhibition Notice 
To showcase these creative accomplishments to the wider community, winning and selected projects will be featured in a public exhibition:
Venue： Hong Kong Central Library (Young Adult Library - CreateInfo Zone) 
 Exhibition period：2 Sep 2026 - 4 November 2026
Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with the prototypes and explore the students' design journeys. 

Closing Remarks 
Congratulations to all the award winners and participating teams for their remarkable effort and dedication! PolyU Design extends its gratitude to all participating schools, teachers, advisors, and judges who supported the Hatch Awards 2026. We look forward to seeing our young designers continue to push creative boundaries and innovate for the future.