Founded in 1964, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design (hereafter referred to as "PolyU Design" or "the School") has been an important hub for design education and research in Hong Kong, offering quality undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in design to nurture creative talent across a wide range of industries.
The School 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.
The research and academic programmes offered by PolyU Design are based on five central tenets: 1) Developing an Open Mind Frame; 2) Steering Positive Change; 3) Establishing Visionary Entrepreneurship; 4) Practising Authentic Expression; and 5) Designing Responsibly.
With close to 60 years of rich academic and research experience, PolyU Design is leading the way to a bright future in an increasingly dynamic Asia. Over the years, the College has received international recognition for its achievements, and was ranked 16th in the world in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject for Art and Design in 2022, ranking among the top institutions in Asia.
PolyU Design actively promotes cross-disciplinary learning and exchange, and works closely with industry and employers to help students meet the increasingly complex design needs of a wide range of industries. The School offers a wide range of disciplines, including: product design, interactive design, information design, advertising design, media design, interior and environmental design, social innovation design, service innovation design, urban design, business innovation design, intelligent systems design, intelligent services design, and multimedia entertainment technology. The School is home to over 900 undergraduate and postgraduate students annually, of which approximately 60 study at the doctoral level.
PolyU Design is committed to further contributing its expertise to the community through applied research and consultancy, providing forward-looking advice and support to the industry.
PolyU Design aims to be a leading transdisciplinary design school that nurtures responsible and open-minded creative talents and active learners; conducts practice-based research, covering: social design, design economy, and design making; and contributes to innovation in Hong Kong and Chinese mainland, while maintaining a global perspective. It boasts a number of research laboratories led by internationally renowned professors, covering a range of different areas, such as: Digital Entertainment, Information Design, Public Design, Asian Ergonomic Design, Interaction Design, Asian Lifestyle Design, Creativity and Design Education, and more.
The School's steady diversification in recent years has been made possible by a world-class environment and facilities. Designed by the late Zaha Hadid, the Jockey Club Innovation Tower forms the centerpiece of PolyU's design, with a variety of first-class student studios, design research laboratories, technical workshops, exhibition venues and other facilities, providing an excellent and comprehensive teaching and research environment.
Notable alumni include Raman Hui (Animation), Vivienne Tam (Fashion), Eric Chan (Product), Anthony Lo (Automotive), Yip Kam-tim (Film), Chu Chen-on (Film), Dennis Chan (Jewelry), and Freeman Lau (Branding and Art) among others.