A visualisation project that aims to help people become less "numb" to Covid-19 figures and a device that can help parents track their baby's feeding behaviours are included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Also included is a project exploring the behaviours of children who play with dolls and a programme of activities designed to strengthen family relationships.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

School: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design.

School statement:

"The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has been an important hub of design education and research for Hong Kong since 1964. The school is leading in Asia and 20th globally on the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) art and design rankings.

"Academic programmes are offered at bachelor, master and doctoral levels in highly diverse design expertise including Product Design, Communication Design, Advertising Design, Digital Media, Interior Design, Environment Design, Social Design, Urban Design, International Design and Business Management, Design Strategies and Interaction Design.

"The school provides a well-equipped teaching and learning environment in the Jockey Club Innovation Tower, a landmark building designed by the late Zaha Hadid.

"Newly featured at the Polytechnic's Design Show this year are the interdisciplinary capstone projects, echoing the global trend in demand for multi-talented designers.

"Through the new interdisciplinary capstone projects, smart and creative minds from more than one programme are integrated to generate practical solutions on different topics from the design thinking perspective. These projects across both 2021 shows include ISOASIS, Never Be A Regular and Relationship in Action."

A Concrete Companion by Chan Lok Wai Novan

"Freeze Lifestyle is a brand specialising in concrete handicrafts. This campaign aims to connect human stories with the positive attributes of concrete. Here, audiences can discover the value of concrete. This new perception aims to give a deeper understanding of the material."

Student: Chan Lok Wai Novan
Course: BA(Hons) in Advertising Design
Tutor: Stefan Sonntag
Email: novanchan.design[at]gmail.com

The Island of Grief by Lai Yu Nga Katie

"The Island of Grief is a story about a girl who is in mourning and escapes to an imaginary space in her dreams.  Rooms are designed based on different stages of grief including denial, anger, depression and acceptance.

"Spaces emphasise the characteristics of each grief stage by manipulating and controlling light and shade. The design was defined through the analysis, exploration and consideration of how light passes through and illuminates spaces at a particular time of the day."

Student: Lai Yu Nga Kati
Course: BA(Hons) in Environment and Interior Design
Tutor: Anneli Giencke
Email: katielaiyunga[at]gmail.com

Objects of Abnormality | An experimental pinhole photography project by Sammi Ho

"In Objects of Abnormality, controversial objects are converted into pinhole cameras. Here they become the carrier of a moment in the history and culture of Hong Kong.

"The object itself is an artistic installation that satirises the current social chaos. Together with the produced pinhole imageries, the work aims to connect with the audience's memories and evoke their emotions, becoming a common language of this place.

"The images are rudimentary constructed to depict the emotional state of Hong Kong where uncertainty, oppression and absurdity are permeated."

Student: Sammi Ho
Course: BA(Hons) in Communication Design
Tutor: Fung Ho Yin
Email: hosumyi0906[at]gmail.com

Data Sense: Tracing COVID-19 by infographics and data visualisation by Cheung Lok Yi Louie

"People in Hong Kong have been receiving large amounts of information and data about the pandemic. They seem to have become numb to numbers and data, such as confirmed cases or even death cases.

"To avoid this situation, information design is one of the most effective ways of representing data. Through visualising data, readers can easily understand the real meaning behind it."

Student: Cheung Lok Yi Louie
Course: BA(Hons) in Communication Design
Tutor: Brian Kwok
Email: louiec.lokyi[at]gmail.com

Tape #001 by Chan Yat Sing, Kwok Wan Kiu, Tsui Man Hin and Wong Chi Sum

"Tape #001 is a story between a talented art student, Chin Yu, and an introverted sound enthusiast, Chor. Chin Yu has made achievements in the art industry with her outstanding skills. In a record store, she came across Chor, and a journey of art explorations and self-reflections began.

"The project provides an immersive emotional experience through detailed visual and audio design, creating a film that delivers more than the story itself."

Student: Chan Yat Sing, Kwok Wan Kiu, Tsui Man Hin and Wong Chi Sum
Course: BA(Hons) in Digital Media
Tutor: Heiward Mak
Email: yatsing1405[at]gmail.com, findingbridge724148[at]gmail.com, ivan.tsuimanhin[at]gmail.com and nelnel809[at]gmail.com

Relationships in Action: Get in Touch by Yiu Yat Pui, Choi Hoi Yan, Leung Chun Ting, Cheong Tsz Fung, Tse Ngo Ting

"Family conflict can be the cause of distress and depression, leading to family break-ups. A recent study conducted by Caritas Family Crisis Line and Education Centre found 50 per cent of Hong Kong parents and young adults living under a single roof clash at least once a week.

"Get in Touch is an integrated project by five students from social design, interactive media and digital media studies. We aim to strengthen family relationships and bonding through various designed activities assigned to young adults aged 20-30 and their family members."

Student: Yiu Yat Pui, Choi Hoi Yan, Leung Chun Ting, Cheong Tsz Fung and Tse Ngo Ting
Course: BA(Hons) in Social Design, BA(Hons) in Digital Media and BA(Hons) in Interactive Media
Tutor: Bruce Wan, Siu King Chung, Jonathan Yu and Amelie Chan
Email: waltery.y0852[at]gmail.com, susachoi6[at]gmail.com, ngoting1020[at]gmail.com, chris651917[at]hotmail.com, anthonyl.design[at]gmail.com

MeeTu (Mobile Puzzle Game) by Pang Wei, Chen Peiyu, Xiao Qiaoyin and Hao Yue

"The protagonist of this mobile puzzle game is a little rabbit. She needs to use balloons to pass levels in this 'sweet world'. At the end of each level, there is a lighthouse. After reaching the lighthouse, the screen will automatically light up, which means that the 'fog' in the rabbit's heart has been solved."

Student: Pang Wei, Chen Peiyu, Xiao Qiaoyin and Hao Yue
Course: MSc in Multimedia and Entertainment Technology
Tutor: Jacky Chou and Simon Yang
Email: 366196722[at]qq.com, fionachen1119[at]yahoo.com and qxiao910[at]sina.com

Milky Assistant by Leung Yee Ting, Zhu Wenjie and Hu Yuyang

"The two key components for a baby's growth and development are sleep and feeding. These create the foundation for a healthy life during infancy. Milky is a device that tracks your baby's feeding pattern anywhere and anytime.

"It is the world's first device and mobile app that lets you track your baby's feeding habits. Milky can reduce parent's anxiety and offers them peace of mind as they can remotely monitor their baby's feeding."

Student: Leung Yee Ting, Zhu Wenjie and Hu Yuyang
Course: MSc in Multimedia and Entertainment Technology
Tutor: William Liang
Email: elaineleungleung[at]gmail.com, natemla96[at]gmail.com and huiris86[at]gmail.com

Hold Doll Friend - A Sharing Platform for Doll Owners by Chan Wai Sheung Destiny

"Hold Doll Friend aims to show a new perspective of doll-playing through a series of experience designs. I collected 43 stories about children who love dolls and sorted their doll-playing approaches into four categories related to education, social interaction, commemoration and story continuation. These four kinds of doll-playing experiences or mentalities are familiar to most of my interviewees."

Student: Chan Wai Sheung Destiny
Course: BA(Hons) in Social Design
Tutor: Siu King Chung
Email: destinycws1024[at]gmail.com

Wecore: Placehacking and Placemaking via Tactical Interventions in lift by Wong Chun Ip

"The current pandemic has reduced transport through the Jockey Club Innovation Tower. This has reduced the connection between students from different design disciplines.

Wecore is a placemaking project, aiming to explore new possibilities in the common space by reconnecting people through various flash-mod activities and creative usage of lifts. It aims to change the everyday mindset and practice of students."

Student: Wong Chun Ip
Course: BA(Hons) in Social Design
Tutor: Kam Fai Chan
Email: w.chunip1112[at]gmail.com

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.