Dezeen School Shows: a virtual reality experience that aims to help bereaved individuals meditate and heal is included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Also included is a video strategy game based on a visual novel and an educational project that engages local communities.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Institution: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
School: School of Design
Courses: Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design), Master of Design (Smart Service Design), and MSc in Multimedia Entertainment Technology, BA (Hons) in Interactive Media, BA (Hons) in Product Design and BA (Hons) in Social Design
Tutors: Stephen Jia Wang, Shera Hyunyim Park, Aria Yang, Bow Yiying Wu, Rhys Jones, Giovanni Lion, David Williams, Simon Yeung, Jeffrey Ho, Jane Ngai, Scott Chin, Lee Chi Wing, Cheung Michael Chan, Kam Fai Chan, Sandy Ng and Jonathan Yu

School statement:

"PolyU Design has been an important hub of design education and research for Hong Kong since 1964.

"It is a place where East meets West, allowing students to develop their design expertise while gaining an in-depth understanding of industry and society, with a unique international and cultural perspective.

"PolyU Design attaches equal importance to design theory and application, integrates art with science, actively promotes interdisciplinary cooperation and learning, emphasises high-quality design education, conducts high-level research and provides consulting services.

"It is consistently among the top 20 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by subject 'art and design'. Academic programmes are offered at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels in highly diverse design expertise.

"Riding on massive creativity, many design projects of PolyU students are human-centric, cultural-driven and embrace the latest technologies.

"In this school show, ten amazing projects are selected from the postgraduate programmes of Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design), Master of Design (Smart Service Design) and MSc in Multimedia Entertainment Technology, and undergraduate programmes in interactive media, product design and social design. More projects can be found here."

Memento by Xiang Qi, Sanqi Yang, Xiang Li and Jingyi Yang

"Memento offers a unique service system for Gen Z to seamlessly integrate their online experiences with physical spaces, addressing their needs for social interaction and emotional connections in the digital age.

"Through a gamified approach, users can capture, upload and geographically organise digital memories, sharing them with friends and family to foster deeper connections and intimacy.

"Memento's innovative design allows Gen Z to maintain their online interactions while fully enjoying the emotional experiences found in real life, providing a richer and more diverse lifestyle.

"The innovative design also fosters engagement between brick-and-mortar retailers and consumers. Furthermore, Memento opens up new possibilities for research and development in the field of technology-enhanced social interactions."

Students: Xiang Qi, Sanqi Yang, Xiang Li and Jingyi Yang
Course: Master of Design (Smart Service Design)
Tutors: Shera Hyunyim Park, Aria Yang and Bow Yiying Wu

Inflorescences by Ng Hoi Ching Samantha, Shi Xueying Sherry, Qi Yaxuan Edith and Chau Tsz Kin Kenneth

"Inflorescences is a unique visual novel strategy game that combines the narrative depth of a traditional visual novel with the strategic gameplay mechanics of a strategy game.

"In this game, players take on the role of a shopkeeper in a mysterious flower shop, where they interact with customers and craft floral fragrances that will determine the direction of the storyline.

"The game seeks to revive the under-appreciated visual novel genre by introducing strategic gameplay mechanics that replace traditional text choices, which is balancing their interactions with customers and crafting floral fragrances.

"With its engaging narrative and strategic gameplay, Inflorescences has the potential to appeal to both visual novel enthusiasts and strategy game fans alike.

"The game aims to bring new life to the genre and provide players with an immersive and unique gaming experience."

Students: Ng Hoi Ching Samantha, Shi Xueying Sherry, Qi Yaxuan Edith and Chau Tsz Kin Kenneth
Course: MSc in Multimedia Entertainment Technology
Tutors: Rhys Jones and Giovanni Lion

Remember Me by Chen Yao Yoyo, Lu Yihang, Xu Yihua and Zhang Zhijie

"Grief refers to the psychological trauma caused by the loss of a loved one to death, which can result in a range of emotions and behaviours.

"We have developed a virtual reality experience aimed at supporting individuals who have experienced grief in emotional recovery and understanding life and death.

"The VR experience includes meditation, emotional recovery and listening to real-life stories. The product aims to provide individuals with additional support for their emotional recovery and the memorialisation process.

"Additionally, it aims to provide therapists and social organisations with a complementary method to help people cope with grief. VR demo is available."

Students: Chen Yao Yoyo, Lu Yihang, Xu Yihua and Zhang Zhijie
Course: MSc in Multimedia Entertainment Technology
Tutors: David Williams and Simon Yeung

PolarisMaps by Chan Cheuk Yin and Tin Wing Kam

"PolarisMaps aids independent travel for deaf-blind individuals through customisable indoor navigation apps. It targets to accommodate varying levels of deaf-blindness, enabling confident, comfortable and safe navigation in shopping malls.

"By providing an immersive experience, the project enhances target users' motivation and active engagement with the world. The project offers visual and auditory features, with a three-step solution for planning, virtual exploration and actual exploration.

"With voice commands and built-in voiceover capabilities, users are allowed to obtain shop lists, bookmark favourites and plan their travel.

"Virtual exploration includes 3D simulation and haptic feedback, creating a safe and immersive virtual reality experience of the mall environment.

"Actual exploration incorporates an indoor navigation app UI compatible with UWB sensing technology and a smart white cane with vibration function, assisting users in avoiding obstacles."

Students: Chan Cheuk Yin and Tin Wing Kam
Course: BA (Hons) in Interactive Media
Tutor: Jeffrey Ho

Requiescat by Tang Sin Ting and Yau Ho Yi

"Requiescat, derived from the Latin phrase meaning 'rest in peace' or a prayer for the repose of a deceased individual, carries the Chinese translation of 息止安所, which signifies finding rest, the cessation of a journey, and settling in a particular place.

"Requiescat is a comprehensive web platform that offers services for individuals to design a personalised end-of-life journey and provide emotional comfort to their loved ones.

"As supported by the service, users can plan for their pre-death arrangements, such as recording goodbye messages, creating wills, arranging legal authorisations and establishing medical instructions, including organ donation preferences.

"The platform collaborates with a local funeral company to assist in funeral arrangements. Family and friends are invited to join in completing the deceased's wish list, creating a meaningful and memorable activity.

"Requiescat aims to support individuals in planning for their own death journey while easing the emotional burden on their living loved ones.

"The services provide peace of mind and ensure that end-of-life wishes are respected and executed efficiently."

Students: Tang Sin Ting and Yau Ho Yi
Course: BA (Hons) in Interactive Media
Tutor: Jane Ngai

Quexa by Choi Wing Sing Foster

"Quexa is a versatile short-range public mobility system designed for future microcities in Hong Kong's New Territories. It meets the growing mobility demands of compact city structures.

"Quexa offers intuitive multi-user functionality, adaptable features and ample storage for deliveries. It harnesses green energy and provides convenient docking and battery-swapping stations.

"Quexa can operate autonomously and be redirected as needed. Additional features include mobile device connectivity and an assistive user mode for the elderly.

"It has a range of up to 30 km on a full charge, equivalent to approximately 15 medium round trips in future city towns."

Student: Choi Wing Sing Foster
Course: BA (Hons) in Product Design
Tutor: Scott Chin

WonderBlocks by Zhou Suiying Ann

"This project provides early emotional education support for children aged three to five, enhancing development and preventing emotional disorders.

"With limited resources, over 60 per cent of children lack necessary emotional skills. By improving accessibility, more children can benefit. Over 80 per cent of parents face challenges in their children's emotional education.

"The project aims to support children and parents in emotional management for widespread acceptance and utilisation of emotional education.

"This product includes Emotion Bells, enhancing sensory experiences and building an interactive emotional library.

"It also features story cards that improve the ability to express emotions through visible methods, showcasing varying levels of intensity. These accessories support emotional development and communication."

Student: Zhou Suiying Ann
Course: BA (Hons) in Product Design
Tutor: Lee Chi Wing

Breathing Taxi by Chiu Tsz Ching Crystal, Fu Hing Wan Nicole and Yu Hin Wa

"Frustration and anger come and go in urban life, so swiftly and frequently that a formal counselling or talk therapy session is too slow, too much and too expensive as a way out.

"Could we design a brand new service to fill the gap? What if the talkative and socially experienced taxi driver becomes a listener and mentor, the banal taxi trip a caring and supportive service?

"The project team identifies taxis throughout the city, along with their experienced drivers, as a valuable community resource, and explores whether the taxi service could extend beyond physical transportation and include emotional support.

"The team designs an innovative service through which passengers in emotional need can request a cruising, caring and breathing space, and have a casual, cheerful and meaningful conversation with a range of drivers of different backgrounds.

"The team also explores creative ways to prototype the service experience with taxi drivers and potential service users."

Students: Chiu Tsz Ching Crystal, Fu Hing Wan Nicole and Yu Hin Wa
Course: BA (Hons) in Social Design
Tutors: Cheung Michael Chan, Kam Fai Chan, Sandy Ng and Jonathan Yu

Community Dot Dot Dot by Ho Ka Chung, Simon Lam, Lau Ho Yin Oscar, Tang Chung Yin Sam and Wong Kin Hin Eric

"This project collaborates with Tsing Lam Alliance Church in Tsing Yi's St. Paul Village. It has two phases: 'social design trial' and 'innovation community practice'.

"The design team taught social design to teenagers through games and community engagement in phase one.

"They also co-created five small projects with the church teens to address the issues and insights they discovered from fieldwork and house visits, allowing them to serve and innovate from a social design perspective.

"This is an on-going project that has received a ten-month support from the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund), a fund backing many social entrepreneurs to develop innovations creating social impact in Hong Kong.

"The first phase was well received by the village and the church, and the second phase is expected to continue until early 2024."

Students: Ho Ka Chung, Simon Lam, Lau Ho Yin Oscar, Tang Chung Yin Sam and Wong Kin Hin Eric
Course: BA (Hons) in Social Design
Tutors: Cheung Michael Chan, Kam Fai Chan, Sandy Ng and Jonathan Yu

DJaytopia by Yue Wu, Liuxuan Ruan, Anran Qiu, Xuejie Li and Jinhao Sherlock Huang

"DJaytopia is an AI/ML-powered system designed to revolutionise music remixing for DJs. It provides a collaborative platform for novice DJs to create remixes effortlessly and offers experienced DJs a reliable partner to explore new styles and push creative boundaries.

"Users can refine their DJ skills and express their unique preferences through a virtual DJ console in virtual reality.

"Leveraging user feedback, the system develops a machine-learning model that translates into electrical signals, enabling precise manipulation of a robotic arm on the DJ console.

"This collaborative approach empowers users to collectively produce music mixes, fostering a dynamic and innovative DJing experience."

Students: Yue Wu, Liuxuan Ruan, Anran Qiu, Xuejie Li and Jinhao Sherlock Huang
Course: Master of Design (Intelligent Systems Design)
Tutor: Stephen Jia Wang

Partnership content

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