New Book: City of Scripts – The Craftsmanship of Vernacular lettering in Hong Kong

Mr Brian Kwok, Associate Professor of PolyU Design recently published his third book ‘City of Scripts – The Craftsmanship of Vernacular lettering in Hong Kong’ 《字型城市— 香港造字匠》which sets another milestone of his research team of Information Design Lab’s work on conserving various forms of visual cultures in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a place filled with all kinds of type and lettering. They are the elements that strengthen our bond as a community, enrich our imagination towards places and construct the characters of our neighbourhood. There is a saying in Chinese: ‘Seeing one’s writing is like seeing them in person’. It can also reflect the details and cultivations of our city’s way of life. In this regard, Brian and his team visited local craftsmen to learn about their experience and lives working with vernacular lettering. Each of their craftsmanship has its own unique features, functions and different pursuits of aesthetics. Consider taking a closer look at them – the untold stories and thoughts shall be revealed behind the characters and figures of these humble craftsmen. Through this book, Brian wishes to provide more possibilities in understanding our city to those who are interested in lettering and type design as well as street culture.   The book is now available at bookstores in Hong Kong.          

MRC: Bamboo Uses and Benefits

Bamboo is our good partner in product design and architecture and is a sustainable and reliable material that we can apply in serving various design purposes! The PolyU Material Resource Centre will reveal the magnificent bamboo uses and benefits here to impress you. Click here to read (Source: MRC and CSO The Liberating Ideas)

Advertising Design's Co-op Project, 'Save Water – Mr Lee' won Kam Fan Gold

‘10L of water is wasted when you leave the tap on while brushing”.  A reflection of how we use every drop of water when brushing our teeth is brought to us through the online video commercial 'Save Water – Mr Lee' created for Colgate, a multinational brand that is known for its oral care products. Its products being used by two-thirds of all households worldwide.  The commercial was developed from a work-integrated Cooperative Project with Red Fuse Hong Kong led by Stefan Sonntag back in late 2015 and went on to win a Golden Kam Fan in the Digital & Social Category at the prestigious 2019 Kam Fan Awards.  Thanks for making us proud, team! Credits Agency: Red Fuse Hong Kong Students: CHEUNG Hoi Ki Joanne, HOPPE Christin, HUI Wa Sim Joyce, LEUNG King Sum, LEUNG Tze Ching Jeanie, MA Chareen, WONG Wai Fung Sam Tutor: Stefan Sonntag   Watch the videos

Watch Videos: Online Lecture Series on BA Programmes

Product Design Can a Product be Designed to Heal Relationships? 產品設計搞「醫」科? Mr Benny Leong, Assistant Professor, BA(Hons) in Product Design Programme Leader Digital Media Life is Motion 動態學 Ms Step Cheung, Teaching Fellow, BA(Hons) in Digital Media Deputy Programme Leader Environment and Interior Design Space with Emotion 空間與情感 Mr Michael Chan, Senior Teaching Fellow Communication Design Paper 2: Design 試卷二 設計 乙 部：設計創作? Mr Clive Ng, Teaching Fellow Social Design Designing with Community? 回到社群的設計故事 Mr Chan Kam Fai, Teaching Fellow Interactive Media Designing Interactive Media 互動媒體設計 Mr Alex Ho, Teaching Fellow Advertising Design Design Thinking and Advertising 設計思維與廣告 Mr Manto Yiu, Senior Teaching Fellow     Watch full series This lecture series is conducted in Cantonese supplemented with terms in English. Please like and share our videos! More videos in our Youtube Channel.

RTHK's Interviews with Award Winners

Four Advertising Design students, Cheng Tsz Yin, Cheung Chi Ho, Ng Wing Ki, Wong Chun Hei shared their wonderful learning experiences at PolyU and the design concepts of project ‘Meatless Meat Relocation’ which won them the 'Best of Show' award and a Gold from the prestige HK4As Students’ Award in the RTHK radio programme U秀幫. Click HERE and start listening to the interview (in Putonghua & Cantonese). Koko Tam, winner of many international awards with her final year project ‘S/ASH/IVING’, was also interviewed by the radio programme to share her life as a design student from her sub-degree study to the life in PolyU Design. Click HERE and find out what inspired her for doing amazing designs. (The programme is conducted in Putonghua and Cantonese.)

Micro movie of vanishing neon signs

Director of the award-winning short film ‘Horizon’ (地平說) Rony Kong (Digital Media, 2017) and his team recently launched a new work which talks about the vanishing beautiful neon signs in Hong Kong, as part of the promotion of our Assistant Professor Mr. Brian Kwok’s book 霓虹黯色 and his neon sign conservation project. Watch here.

MRC: Discover the materials and technologies for masks

  A summary prepared by the Material Resource Centre to talk about the materials and technologies applied in mask production.   

Welcoming new Programme Manager of MDes

We extend our warmest welcome to Ms Ling Lai, who joined as Programme Manager serving the Master of Design Scheme recently. Before working at PolyU Design, Ling worked for other academic departments of PolyU and supported academic programmes.  She loves connecting with people of different personalities and backgrounds, and believes that new things can be learned from talking and sharing with people.  At PolyU Design, Ling will work closely with the Scheme Leader, Specialism Leaders and the supporting team to provide administrative support and maintain the smooth running of the programme. She will facilitate collaborations with academic and industry partners, serve working groups and committees, as well as initiate and organise activities to provide all round learning experience to the students.  Contact Ling    

Message for JUPAS Applicants of BA (Hons) Scheme in Design (2020/21)

The School announces the cancellation of Aptitude Test for JUPAS applicants this year. Indication of Choice of will be scheduled within the period from 1 June to 7 June 2020. Interview arrangement will be announced later upon the latest arrangement of DSE. Applicants are advised to check on the system (http://www.sd.polyu.edu.hk/admission/jupas/) and/or emails for updates and details.

The Story of Hong Kong: Neon Sign

It starts from the night that Brian Kwok and Kiki Yau of the Information Design Lab went out to witness and capture the moment that an aged neon sign was torn down from where it has been for decades. The documentary ‘The Story of Hong Kong (香港故事 - 追尋人生：霓虹黯色)’ produced by RTHK followed the team from Hong Kong to Japan on how they conserved the disappearing Hong Kong’s neon signs, the meeting with different neon sign craftsmen and their exhibition of neon sign artworks and typography in Kyoto.