Fostering industry collaboration: The Institutional Convention Conference 2025 Recap

PolyU Design co-organized the Institutional Convention Conference 2025 with the Association for the Betterment of Hong Kong’s Entertainment Industry in Mainland China and the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association on 3 & 4 March 2025, under the theme "New Perspectives on Hong Kong’s Film Industry: Mainland Integration, International Outlook, and Youth Development". Over two days of in-depth discussions, industry practitioners from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and beyond explored the current landscape and future opportunities in the film and creative industries, attracting over 400 participants. As a leading school in design and creative education, PolyU Design remains committed to fostering industry collaboration, nurturing young talent, and driving innovation in the creative sector. The event facilitated meaningful exchanges, further reinforcing our School’s dedication to advancing the creative industry. (Representatives from various parties delivered speech during opening ceremony.) (Left) Mr Gary MAK, Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries (2) / Secretary-General of the Film Development Council, Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (Center) Ir Prof. Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student & Global Affairs), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Right) Mr WONG Cho-Lam, Secretary General, Association for the Betterment of Hong Kong’s Entertainment Industry in Mainland China   (All officiating guests, speakers and partners took a group photo.) (1st Row – From Left)  Ms Bonnie WONG, External Affairs Consultant, Association for the Betterment of Hong Kong’s Entertainment Industry in Mainland China. Prof. Kun-Pyo LEE, Dean, School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Mr DENG Wugui, The Film and Television Artistic Director, Bauhinia Culture Group Mr Gary MAK, Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries (2) / Secretary-General of the Film Development Council, Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau Mr Victor TSANG, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau Mr WONG Cho-Lam, Secretary General, Association for the Betterment of Hong Kong’s Entertainment Industry in Mainland China Ir Prof. Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student & Global Affairs), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Mr YU Chiu For, Executive Vice-Chairman, Secretary General , China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association Mr CHIN Ka Kok, President, Hong Kong Stuntman Association Mr MAK Chun Hung, President, The Association of Motion Picture Post Production Professionals (2nd Row – From Left) Mr MJ Chun Fung CHAN, Secretary General of Hong Kong Stuntman Association Ms Miranda XU, Vice President, Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment Mr Peter KAM, Composer, Winner of the Best Original Music Award at the Golden Horse Film Festival Mr Ayanga, Chinese musical theatre actor, Head of the musical team of Beijing Dance Drama and Opera Mr AI Xifan, Deputy Director, Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs, Liaison office of the central people’s government in the Hong Kong S.A.R. Prof. Henry DUH, Associate Dean (Global & Industry Engagement), School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Prof. ZHI Feina, Chinese National Academy of ArtsMr YANG Shu, Director of the Production Department, School of Film and Animation, China Academy of Art, Deputy Secretary-General of the Digital Art Council, China Artists Association (Practitioners shared their working experience in Hong Kong and Mainland China.) (From Left) Mr Manho MOK, CEO of Popcorn Media Interactive Limited Mr CHU Wan Pin, Musician, Erhu player and film composer Mr Mike TSANG, Hong Kong Singer Mr WONG Cho-Lam, Secretary General, Association for the Betterment of Hong Kong’s Entertainment Industry in Mainland China (Prof. Feina ZHI analysed Mainland China’s film and television policies) (Practitioners discussed on the crossover between musicals and films.) (From Left) Mr WONG Cho-Lam, Secretary General, Association for the Betterment of Hong Kong’s Entertainment Industry in Mainland China Mr Peter KAM, Composer, Winner of the Best Original Music Award at the Golden Horse Film Festival Mr Ayanga, Chinese musical theatre actor, Head of the musical team of Beijing Dance Drama and Opera Ms Miranda XU, Vice President, Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment(On Screen)Mr Robert NEDERLANDER Jr., President and CEO of Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment (Speakers and the Emcee explored the applications and future prospects of AI in film and television content and post-production.) (From Left)Mr Vincent CHOI, EmCee of the conference Mr YANG Shu, Director of the Production Department, School of Film and Animation, China Academy of Art, Deputy Secretary-General of the Digital Art Council, China Artists Association Mr MAK Chun Hung, President, The Association of Motion Picture Post Production Professionals Mr Andy NG, Lecturer, School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University  

PolyVerse Exhibition Concluded with Innovative AI Film Competition and Cultural Heritage Symposium

(February 27, 2025) Hong Kong - The "PolyVerse - Culture and Art Technology Exhibition" concluded with a prestigious closing ceremony and awards presentation for “The AI-Powered Legacy – 48 Hour AI Film Competition” at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Curated by Prof. Henry Duh, Associate Dean (Global and Industry Engagement) of PolyU's School of Design, the exhibition was supported by 10 prestigious art institutions across China. 25 pioneering research projects and installations were showcased using LG's ultra-fine Smart AI monitors. This extraordinary collection of digital art and cultural innovation demonstrated the dynamic intersection of traditional heritage and cutting-edge technology. (Prof. Kun-Pyo Lee, Dean of PolyU School of design, delivers opening remark to PolyVerse – Culture and Art Tech Exhibition.) (Prof. Henry Duh, Associate Dean of PolyU School of design (Global and Industry Engagement), delivers curator’s remark to PolyVerse – Culture and Art Tech Exhibition.) (Group photo with sponsors and judges of The AI-Powered Legacy – 48 Hours AI Filmmaking Competition. (From Left) Mr Peng Cheng, CEO of EcoPlants,  Mr Rico Wong, Senior Manager of LG Electronics HK Ltd.,  Dr Charles Cheung, Co-Director of PolyU-NVIDIA Joint Research Centre and Deputy Director of NVIDIA AI Technology Center , Prof. Henry Duh, Associate Dean of School of Design and Director of PolyU Research Centre for Cultural and Art Technology and Director of PolyU- NVIDIA Joint Research Centre, Prof. Kun-Pyo Lee, Dean of School of Design,  Alan Lee – Audiovisual Expert, Dr Terry Lam, Dean of the School of Film and Television, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Ms Joyce Lam, Senior Supervisor of LG Electronics HK Ltd.) The closing ceremony was honored by distinguished guests including Prof. Kun-Pyo Lee, Dean of PolyU School of Design, and senior executives from LG, NVIDIA and EcoPlants. The afternoon symposium featured an impressive lineup of seven keynote speakers from China's top art institutions, including Nanjing University, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts and Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (listed in no particular order). These experts addressed crucial topics such as digital heritage preservation, AI in artistic creation, and the future of cultural conservation. (Group photo with all the award winners of The AI-Powered Legacy – 48 Hours AI Filmmaking Competition and participating artists of PolyVerse – Culture and Art Tech Exhibition.) (Group photo with moderator and keynote speakers. (From Left) Dr Zhou Zhibin, Assistant Director of PolyU-NVIDIA Joint Research Centre,  Prof. Wu Yangbo, Associate Professor of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Prof. Yu Chunna, Professor of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts,  Prof. Ren Hongwei, Associate Professor of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute,  Dr Terry Lam, Dean of the School of Film and Television, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Prof. Yangbo, Associate Professor of Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts)   "This exhibition represents a significant milestone in bridging traditional cultural heritage with cutting-edge technology," said Prof. Duh. "The scale of participation, with over 80 creators and researchers contributing their insights, demonstrates the enormous potential for technology to revolutionize cultural preservation and artistic expression."   The symposium presentations explored various aspects of digital cultural preservation, virtual reality in art, and sustainable development in cultural heritage protection. The PolyU Research Centre for Cultural and Art Technology and PolyU-NVIDIA Joint Research Centre served as a collaborative platform that brought together leading academics and industry experts, showcasing their dedication to advancing the field. (The exhibition view of PolyVerse – Culture and Art Tech Exhibition.)   Explore the virtual exhibition now For media inquiries: rc.cat@polyu.edu.hk  

Smart Service Design for EdTech Platform Empowering Secondary Students in Discovering Their Life & Career Purposes

Our Smart Service Design (SSD) students have reimagined MatchBox – an EdTech platform co-initiated by Cocoon Foundation and The D. H. Chen Foundation – to empower secondary students in discovering their life and career purposes! Tasked with enhancing 'authentic learning experiences (ALEs),' our service innovators infused MatchBox with gamified challenges to foster curiosity and resilience, awarding users with prizes that keep up with the times, fun and relaxing user experience, suggestions to bring in new key partners, and so much more! By addressing the needs of users and stakeholders and harnessing the power of AI, students transformed Matchbox into a dynamic tool that bridges ALEs with purpose. "This redesign isn't just about tech – it's about shaping a social learning community," shared a project team. Join us in celebrating how smart service design enriches lives and tackles societal needs! The project is under the SSD's 7-week studio-based subject 'Socio-technical Service Ecosystem' providing multidisciplinary students with a hands-on opportunity to sense innovation opportunities, reconfigure organisational capabilities for new and redefined services, understand the benefits of the platform approach and multilevel nature of service design. Industry Partner: Cocoon Foundation Subject Leader: Dr Norah Wang (PolyU Design) Specialism Leader: Dr Shera Park (PolyU Design)

PolyU Design student shines in 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards Students Poster Design Competition

We are thrilled to announce that our year 4 student Mok Dick Ka, from Advertising Design, has been awarded the 1st runner-up in the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards Students Poster Design Competition.   The Hong Kong Film Awards, renowned as one of Asia's premier film award ceremonies, annually invites students in Hong Kong to showcase their creativity and talent through the poster design competition. This year, submissions were assessed by esteemed industry experts, including the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Hong Kong Designers Association, along with the Vice President and Executive Committee members of the Hong Kong Film Art Association. It is worth noting that Mok Dick Ka was the champion of last year's Design Competition, making this year's recognition even more impressive. Additionally, our student has achieved all three top awards in the previous year's competition. The continuous achievement is a testament to our students' remarkable creativity and skill in the field. About the previous year of Hong Kong Film Awards Students Poster Design Competition.   About the winning design: Brief: Stars 繁星 1st Runner Up: Mok Dick Ka (Advertising Design) 我利用一年的時投身於將金像獎獎座化為立體的藝術素材。透過不同的視角，展現出獎座的獨特之美，並與當屆的主題交相輝映，宛如星辰與夜空的交融。 長時間曝光攝影(Long exposure photography)，將繁星劃破長夜的瞬間捕捉在鏡頭之中，形成一道道璀璨的星軌。這些光影，彷彿映照出電影人在業界中的每一份心血，所有台前幕後，對電影業界的熱誠與追求，成就了香港電影的輝煌篇章。 夜空漫漫，定焦漆黑，尚有繁星閃爍。

PolyU Develops Ground-breaking Social Robot to Alleviate Community Mental Health Support Pressure

(中文版在此頁底)   The Hong Kong Polytechnic University officially launched a Theme-based Research Scheme project funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) to address the increasingly severe mental health issues in Hong Kong. The project, led by Professor Johan F. HOORN from the School of Design and the Department of Computing, has received HK$40.89 million in funding from the UGC and aims to develop a new paradigm for mental health support through the integration of robot technology and artificial intelligence. The UGC's "Theme-based Research Scheme" focuses on leveraging the academic research strengths of UGC-funded universities to investigate themes of strategic importance for Hong Kong's long-term development.   In recent years, the Hong Kong community has faced significant mental health challenges due to social unrest and the pandemic. Research indicates that approximately 12.8% of the population suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, while 61% are experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression. This has not only overwhelmed the mental health care system but has also resulted in billions of dollars in economic losses each year, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions.   The project, titled “Social Robots with Embedded Large Language Models Releasing Stress among the Hong Kong Population (T43-518/24-N),” will run for four years until the end of 2029. It aims to utilise localised, cultural, and personal data to train social robots equipped with large language models (LLMs) to provide services to those in need of mental support, particularly vulnerable local communities. These potential users might lack someone to confide in or suitable community support services due to social environment, personal issues, or economic reasons.   The project will employ human-like social robots as natural interaction partners, capable of assisting users with information searches, improving mental and physical health, and supporting educational tasks. The AI system will monitor and utilise topics of concern to citizens to enhance localised and humanised dialogue capabilities. Additionally, it will refine LLMs by strengthening logic, norms, and values to prevent inappropriate behaviour and misinformation. Professor HOORN noted that the team will engage with local communities for field research to assess performance and effectiveness, "we will consult various groups and citizens to inform our robots about cultural considerations and taboos relevant to Cantonese culture, as well as to oversee medical ethics."   These social robots will connect to the award-winning Hong Kong AI hub, HK CityNet, a 2020/21 Theme-based Research Scheme project, while also providing a new software architecture characterised by distributed computing, scalability, and privacy protection. On the hardware side, the team aims to develop affordable, small high-performance computers to run the robots' software at home; the robots will appear as virtual avatars on users' mobile phones, allowing continued communication even when they are out.   The project was announced at an event officiated by Professor Kun-pyo Lee, Dean of the PolyU School of Design, and Professor Qing Li, Head of the PolyU Department of Computing, on 28 February. During the event, Project Leader Professor Hoorn provided an overview of the project to the guests. Co-leaders and collaborators, including Professor Jiannong Cao (PolyU), Professor Sek Ying Chair (CUHK), Professor Song Guo (HKUST), Dr Paul Lo representing Professor Michael Siu (PolyU), Professor Maggie Li (PolyU), Dr Xiaojuan Ma (HKUST), and Professor Chris Webster (HKU) shared their respective approaches to this collaborative initiative. Official collaborators are Professor Bin Xiao (PolyU), Dr Jiayan Pan (Social Work), and Dr Ivy Yan Zhao (PolyU).         香港理工大學正式啟動一項獲大學教育資助委員會（教資會）資助的主題研究計劃，以緩解日益嚴峻的香港心理健康問題。該項目由設計學院及電子計算學系的洪約翰教授（Professor Johan F. HOORN）領導，獲教資會四千零八十九萬港元資助，旨在通過先進技術及人工智能的整合，開展心理健康支援的新格局。教資會的「主題研究計劃」旨在集中本港資助大學的學術研究力量，對香港長遠發展具策略重要性的主題進行研究。 香港社區過去數年經歷過社會事件及疫情，正面臨重大的心理健康挑戰。據研究*顯示，約百分之十二點八的人口患有創傷後壓力症候群，而百分之六十一的人正面對壓力、焦慮和抑鬱，除了導致精神護理系統負荷過重，亦造成每年數十億的經濟損失，因此突顯了創新解決方案的迫切需要。 該名為「香港社區壓力緩解：大型語言模型賦能社交機器人的戰略性研究（T43-518/24-N）」的項目為期四年，直至2029年底，將致力利用本地化、文化和個人數據，對嵌入大型語言模型（LLMs）的社交機械人進行訓練，以向本地有精神支援需要的人士，特別是本地弱勢社群提供服務。此類潛在用戶或受社交環境、個人問題、經濟原因等限制，而缺乏可傾訴的對象或合適的社區支援服務。 項目透過人性化的社交機械人扮演自然的互動夥伴，能夠協助用戶信息搜索、改善身心健康，亦可支援教育工作；其人工智能系統將監測並善用市民關心的話題，以增強本地化和人性化對話能力，同時通過強化邏輯、規範和價值觀來完善大型語言模型，以防止不當行為和虛構「事實」。洪約翰教授指出其團隊將走入本地社區，進行實地研究來評估性能和效果：「我們將諮詢不同的團體及市民，讓他們告訴我們的機械人與廣東文化有關的注意事項和禁忌，亦負責查核有關醫學倫理方面的工作。」 該社交機械人將連接到2020/21年度主題研究計劃項目獲獎的香港人工智能樞紐HK CityNet，同時提供一種新的軟件架構，具備分佈式計算、可擴展性及隱私保護的特點。硬件方面，團隊目標開發價格實惠的小型高性能電腦，用於在家運行機器人的軟件；而該機器人將以虛擬形象出現在用戶手機上，使他們即使外出也能繼續進行溝通。 該項目於2月28日的活動中啟動，由香港理工大學設計學院院長李健杓教授及電子計算學系系主任李青教授主持，而項目負責人洪約翰教授則向與會嘉賓介紹項目概況。出席者包括項目共同負責人包括曹建農教授（香港理工大學）、車錫英教授（香港中文大學）、郭嵩教授（香港科技大學）、盧智恒博士(代表邵健偉教授)（香港理工大學）、李文捷教授（香港理工大學）、麻曉娟博士（香港科技大學）及偉仕達教授（香港大學）。其他參與項目的成員包括肖斌教授（香港理工大學）、趙妍博士（香港理工大學），以及潘佳雁博士（社會工作)。  

PolyU Design Impact Report 2024: 60 Years Designing Time

Welcome to the 2024 Impact Report of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design, where we celebrate a year of creativity, innovation, and transformative design education and research. This report, themed "60 Years Designing Time", highlights our achievements, initiatives, and the profound impact our students and faculty have made in shaping the future of design. From groundbreaking projects to collaborations and community engagement, we are proud to share stories that reflect our commitment to excellence and social responsibility. We invite you to explore this report and discover how PolyU Design is not only fostering talent but also contributing to a better world through design. Your support and engagement are vital to our mission, and we look forward to sharing our journey with you.   READ ONLINE Download PDF version

MDes Innovative Business Design collaborates with German fastening technology brand and universities in Australia and Thailand on design contest

Explore the collaborative project of MDes Innovative Business Design (IBD) involving SD5131 Interdisciplinary Project, SD5115 Design Project Management, and SD5114 Design Method (Advanced) which brings together talents from different disciplines to participate in an internal design contest, fostering a rich environment for creative exploration. In partnership with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australia, and Thammasat University (TU), Thailand, and with FIDLOCK GmbH, Germany, and Lee Ing Global Ltd, Hong Kong, as project clients, our students are not only empowered to address real-world challenges with ingenuity and precision but also engage in interdisciplinary collaboration. Working alongside Product Design students from UTS and Design, Business & Technology Management (DBTM) students from TU, our students gain valuable experience, honing their design thinking skills through exposure to diverse perspectives. In this multifaceted project, students are required to devise relevant strategies and plans to conduct research from the perspectives of design, business, and technology. They also help tackle FIDLOCK's business challenges and expand its markets and business in Asia Pacific. This immersive experience enables students to work with real clients, exploring important societal issues and developing innovative solutions for positive change. The IBD project highlights the MDes programme's global, interdisciplinary approach and the School of Design's commitment to excellence in design education and industry partnerships. Congratulations to the award-winning teams: GROUP 8: Boot-Fit Fins (Bruce, Ely, Hammond (UTS), Tuwakhum (TU)) GROUP 3: Car Rack System (Yves, Joelle, Chilin, Hensel (UTS), Pisalchaiyong (TU)) GROUP 10: ‘PETMOD’ - Modular Dog Harness System (Moka, Vera, Wilson (UTS), Virakpong (TU)) GROUP 7: Silver Moment (Keya, Joshua, Rainbow, Sehgal (UTS), Harnvorrayothin (TU)) Learn more about the MDes Innovative Business Design (IBD)

Dr Jeffrey Ho and cross-disciplinary team shine at QS Global Teaching Innovation Awards with "Virtual Assistant TIMS"

As AI technology becomes more prevalent in recent years, its applications in education have also begun to emerge. PolyU Design is committed to fostering innovation for a brighter future. Our Associate Professor, Dr Jeffrey Ho, collaborated with members from BEEE, EEE, and EDC, led by Dr Rodney Chu from APSS, to develop the generative AI chatbot "Virtual Assistant TIMS."    This chatbot responds to student queries anytime, anywhere through instant messaging applications in text, voice, or video formats. The latest development, the "AI Conversational Podcast System," uses advanced natural language processing to transform complex academic content into lively podcasts, enhancing learning efficiency. Additionally, the project has established the intelligent assessment grading platform "AIReAS," offering feedback and guidance on students' uploaded written assignments, improving teaching quality while helping students understand and master the curriculum.   This project recently received recognition at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2024, where it was awarded both the Gold Award (Omnichannel -Smart Campus) and the Global Education Award. Often referred to as the "Oscars" of the education sector, these awards are co-organized by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a leading international university ranking agency, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. They honour higher education institutions that have developed and implemented outstanding and innovative teaching methods. Additionally, the project got nominated for the 2024 UGC Teaching Award in the Collaborative Teams category and received a merit in the Exemplary Teaching and Learning Award in the eLearning Forum Asia. The annual UGC Teaching Award organised by the University Grants Committee is highly prestigious in Hong Kong that honours those who excel in teaching in the UGC sector.   These achievements highlight PolyU's commitment to driving innovation in education and showcase the effectiveness of cross-disciplinary collaboration. Experts from various academic units at PolyU, including Dr Ho from PolyU Design, who specialises in virtual reality and interaction design, have come together to create unique solutions for real-world challenges. The PolyU’s cross-unit team is formed by: Dr Rodney Wai Chi CHU, Team Leader, Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) (In Alphabetical order)  Dr Hilda Hiu Dan CHEUNG, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) Dr Jeffrey Chun Fai HO, School of Design (PolyU Design) Dr Pauli Po Yan LAI, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) Dr Kai Pan MARK, Educational Development Centre (EDC) About the "Virtual Assistant TIMS”

Faculty and School Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2024

The Faculty/School Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2024, organized by the University, recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions of staff members in Teaching, Research and Scholarly Activities, Knowledge Transfer, and Services. We are pleased to announce that five academic staff members from PolyU Design have been honoured for their outstanding achievements. Congratulations!   Awarded academic staff: Categories Awardees Teaching (Outstanding Teacher) Prof. Henry Ma Research and Scholarly Activities (Outstanding Researcher) Prof. Johan F. Hoorn Research and Scholarly Activities (Outstanding Young Researcher) Prof. Junnan Yu Knowledge Transfer: Industry Prof. Stephen J. Wang Services Prof. Sylvia Xihui Liu

PolyU Design Showcases Design and AI Innovations at The Global AI Forum

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design extended a warm welcome to the guests from THE Global AI Forum hosted by the university. The Forum, bringing together academics, researchers, and thought leaders worldwide, focused on sharing and discussing the latest AI ethics developments on 29 November 2024.   During their stay in PolyU, the Forum’s attendees joined a guided tour of School of Design.  Our Associate Dean Prof. Yan Tina Luximon introduced the art tech and AI related design research projects of PolyU Design to the guests. These included a social robot embedded with a large language model designed to alleviate stress among the Hong Kong population by Prof. Johan H. Hoorn, AI-enhanced 3D head scanning technology and related product development by Prof. Luximon, and an empathetic navigation system design based on driver's emotion inference from traffic contextual data by Prof. Stephen Wang. The guests also had the opportunity to appreciate the works of this year's graduating students. In addition, Ms Margaret Lam, Associate Director of Campus Development also introduced the amazing architecture of Jockey Club Innovation Tower to the visitors.   Through this event, PolyU Design engaged in an in-depth exchange with AI experts from around the world, once again showcasing its forward-looking and significant position in design and Art tech research within the design field. We all look forward to receiving more academic peers and collaborators in the future.