About HKDI
The Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) is a leading design institution under the VTC Group. It provides high-quality education to cultivate knowledge and professionalism, and produces emerging talents who underpin the creative industries in Hong Kong.
With years of experience in design education, HKDI brings together the strengths of four design departments – Architecture, Interior and Product Design, Communication Design and Digital Media, Design Foundation Studies and Fashion and Image Design – to offer 20 design programmes. Highly flexible in articulation and advanced education, HKDI offer students a three-year university degree pathway from a Higher Diploma to Bachelor degrees offered by reputable universities in the UK.
HKDI adopts a “think-and-do” approach through its contemporary curriculum and active collaborations with local and international academic and industry partners. Students are given opportunities to acquire hands-on experience and participate in global exchange programmes to expand their horizons while enhancing their creative thinking and social sensitivity.
Professional Membership
Professional Organisations:
ICO-D
International Council of Design
IDA
International Design Alliance
IFFTI
International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes
IFI
International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers
IIID
International Institute of Information Design
TDAA
The Design Alliance Asia
WDO
World Design Organization
Academic Institutions:
CUMULUS
International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media
Research Organisation:
DESIS Network
Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability
Design ED Asia
Asian Design Education
Message from
VTC Executive Director
Welcome to the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) website. As a leading provider of design education in the region, the HKDI is committed to offering excellent learning opportunities to keep pace with the growing demand of the creative industries.
A Dynamic Learning Environment
The HKDI commenced the 2010/11 academic year in its award-winning new campus in Tiu Keng Leng. The campus is dedicated to providing the most dynamic learning environment for quality design education.
Creativity in Action
The HKDI’s comprehensive design programmes include activities to nurture your creative thinking and decision-making skills, cultural sensitivity and global perspective. The HKDI experience is based on a “think-and-do” approach that will allow you to develop your passion for design while imparting the skills and knowledge needed for success.
Quality Programmes and Student Support
Our curriculum is designed with input from industry leaders to ensure its relevance and responsiveness to industry developments. HKDI programmes are quality assured by the Hong Kong Council for the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications.
Our students and alumni are provided with career development advisory and support services. Through articulation arrangements with renowned overseas universities, HKDI Higher Diploma graduates can pursue Top-up Degree courses locally and attain degree qualifications within one or two years.
A Valued Choice to Success
Design can offer you a rewarding and fulfilling career. We look forward to having you as a member of the HKDI family.
Mrs Carrie Yau, GBS, JP
Executive Director
Vocational Training Council
Design Concept
The HKDI campus is designed to provide an open and dynamic environment conducive to learning and innovative exploration. It is equipped with state-of-the-art workshops, galleries, fabrication facilities and a learning resources centre dedicated to creating the most dynamic learning environment for quality design education in the region.
Themed as the White Sheet, the campus design by French architects Coldéfy & Associés was the award-winning project in the HKDI International Architectural Design Competition in 2006/2007.
The White Sheet is a metaphorical presentation of creativity. It floats in the air and connects all other parts of the campus, expressing HKDI’s multidisciplinarity and objectives. The radical, light and transparent architectural design encourages reflection on the combination of multiple and opposite situations, allowing each functional element to be read immediately from the exterior.
The entire composition, created by interpenetration between the interlinked elements, including the building base, the podium, the “sky city”, the towers and the landscaped roof, defines the Institute as a timeless building and reveals its objectives of promoting synergy, publicity and interactivity. Its enlightening design stimulates and inspires future designers.
Education Facilities
HKDI houses over a hundred workshops and studios to cater for design students’ needs across disciplines. Four knowledge centres also advocate cross-disciplinary design education and encourage students’ participation in innovative and social research projects to push forward their design thinking.
Centre for Independent Language Learning (CILL)
The Centre for Independent Language Learning creates an inviting and comfortable atmosphere for students to improve their language skills. It provides independent learning materials such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, books, magazines and board games, together with a flexible setting for hosting activities ranging from workshops and parties to performances and competitions.
Media Lab
The Media Lab nurtures and enhances the integration of innovative ideas and media technologies, as well as interactions between education, applied research, professional training and industry application.
Centre for Innovative Material and Technology (CIMT)
CIMT is a comprehensive material archive and interactive learning platform designed to facilitate the exchange of material knowledge and associated applications amongst students, faculty, designers and manufacturers.
Learning Resources Centre (LRC)
Far more than just a library, the Learning Resources Centre houses over 75,000 books, periodicals and audio-visual materials, and is a place of reflection and interaction where students are encouraged to openly discuss what they have been learning. Zone 24, a dedicated area supported by the Learning Resources Centre, is an always-open area where students can study, hold discussions and collaborate on projects.
Fashion Archive
The HKDI Fashion Archive supports the use of real fashion products as teaching and learning tools, boasting a newly renovated 360 square metre space that houses around 1,500 historical fashion items. Visitors can access the iconoclastic fashion items to understand the design, culture and history behind them via the interactive platform made available by the HKDI Fashion Archive.
Sport Facilities
Swimming Pool
Due to repair works on campus, the swimming pool will be closed from 23 October 2019.
Opens every Tuesday to Sunday between April to October.
Charging Session for Public:
Tue – Fri | 1800 – 2100
Sat, Sun, Public Holidays | 0800 – 1100; 1300 – 1600; 1800 – 2100
Admission Fee: Adult at HK$20 | Children under 12 or senior citizens above 60 at HK$10
Enquiry: 3928 2222 / 3928 2000 (office hours) 3928 2999 (non-office hours and in case of adverse weather)
Basketball Court
Due to repair works on campus, the basketball court will be closed from 23 October 2019.
Mon – Fri | 1900 – 2100
Sat | 1300 – 2100
Sun and Public Holidays | 0900 – 2100
Hire Charges: HK$80 per hour
Enquiry: 3928 2222 / 3928 2000 (office hours) 3928 2999 (non-office hours and in case of adverse weather)
Badminton Court (Multi-purpose Hall)
Due to repair works on campus, the badminton court will be closed from 23 October 2019.
Sat | 1400 – 1800
Sun | 0900 – 1800
Hire Charges: HK$90 per hour
Enquiry: 3928 2222 / 3928 2000 (office hours) 3928 2999 (non-office hours and in case of adverse weather)
Tennis Court
Due to repair works on campus, the tennis court will be closed from 23 October 2019.
Sat | 1200 – 1800
Sun | 0900 – 1800
Hire Charges: HK$50 per hour
Enquiry: 3928 2222 / 3928 2000 (office hours) 3928 2999 (non-office hours and in case of adverse weather)
Other Venues
To facilitate students’ learning process and provide an all-inclusive environment for full experience, an array of venues is equipped in HKDI where students can get hands-on skills and knowledge from a professional setting, and from others teaching and learning events hosted in these venues, such as lectures and exhibitions. During non-teaching period, these venues are also available for hosting education related events.
VTC Auditorium
The VTC Auditorium accommodates over 700 people, with specially designed acoustics to enhance performances, conferences and other gatherings. This 963 square metre venue with disabled access is a focal point of HKDI’s interactions with the community.
Experience Centre
Experience Centre is a convertible area with up to 170 sqm for mini events or exhibitions.
HKDI Gallery
The HKDI Gallery provides up to 600 square metres of exhibition space to showcase the breadth of design generated by and associated with HKDI. Open to the public, the venue will host exhibition, trade- and industry-related events and displays of student work.
Design Boulevard
Completing the Podium, the Design Boulevard invites the public into the campus. Stretching over 125 m, this open area offers access to the auditorium, exhibition spaces and common facilities. Conceived as a “breathing space” for the campus, the Design Boulevard evokes the feeling of a party culture, with space for student activities and the interaction of creative minds.
d-mart
d-mart provides a 1,040 square metre venue for showcasing the breadth of design generated by or associated with HKDI. Open to the public, the venue hosts exhibition, trade- and industry-related events and displays of student work.
Multi-purpose Hall
Multi-purpose hall is a convertible venue on the ground floor of Hong Kong Design Institute with an area of 338.6 square metres. It is primarily used for institute’s teaching and learning purpose, and it also serves various types of seminars and workshops.
Booking Enquiry
Due to repair works on campus, the booking enquiry will be suspended from 23 October 2019 onwards.
HKDI produces publications to showcase work by our emerging design talents, report on the design research projects conducted by lecturers, visiting fellows and students, and publish programme details. Three times a year, HKDI also publishes a design magazine, SIGNED.
Programmes
SIGNED Magazine
#31 Nurturing The Future
#30 Cultural Heritage Innovation : DIGITAL HERITAGE
#29 Cultural Heritage Innovation : ART HERITAGE
#28 Cultural Heritage Innovation : LIFESTYLE HERITAGE
#27 Rethinking the Everyday: Material Non Material
#26 Rethinking the Everyday: Fungible NON Fungible
#25 Rethinking the Everyday: FOOD NON FOOD
#24 HUMAN VALUES-BASED, DESIGN IS THE KEY FOR WELL BEING
#23 DESIGNING WELLNESS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES ARE PEOPLE POWERED
#22 DESIGN SERVES THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL
#21 Muddied Oafs or Deep Design Thinkers
#20 How Design Thinking Made Tim a Champion
#19 Loneliness of the Long-distance cyclist/solo creator
#18 Humanity and Design
#17 Tesign & Live
#16 Tesign & Play
#15 Tesign & Watch
ISSUE No. 14
ISSUE No. 13
ISSUE No. 12
ISSUE No. 11
ISSUE No. 10
ISSUE No. 9
ISSUE No. 8
ISSUE No. 7
ISSUE No. 6
ISSUE No. 5
ISSUE No. 4
ISSUE No. 3
ISSUE No. 2
ISSUE No. 1
Academic/ Research
Student Work Showcase
Secondary school students can participate in a tailor-made schedule of activities to give them a better understanding of design education at HKDI and possible careers in the design industry.
Campus Tour
Guided campus tours allow students to experience the atmosphere in this educational environment and learn more about the campus. Visiting students are shown the campus facilities, including the Learning Resources Centre and Knowledge Centres, the workshops and studios of different design departments, showcase displays and seasonal exhibitions in collaboration with international partners.
Each tour for 20-25 students accompanied by at least one teacher or staff member lasts 45 minutes. A tailor-made itinerary highlighting particular workshops or design programmes can be arranged with at least 3 weeks’ notice.
Taster Programme
Each design department provides a unique taster programme for students to gain a taste of learning at HKDI, with a focus on different design processes. Communication Design and Digital Media introduces 3D printing or 360° video shooting; Design Foundation Studies demonstrates how to create art using everyday electronic devices; Fashion and Image Design lets students experience the fashion, image and brand design process; while Architecture, Interior and Product Design teaches students about interior and exterior product design using 3D spatial design knowledge.
Each taster programme for 18-25 students accompanied by at least one teacher or staff member lasts around 1.5 hours. Applications should be made one month in advance and activities are subject to workshop availability.
Career Talks
In these career talks, HKDI lecturers provide programme information and admission requirements and discuss career prospects in the design industry. Describing current student projects and industry collaborations, lecturers also share fun and interesting teaching methods and knowledge exchange programmes.
Interested schools are advised to indicate the academic programmes in which they are interested. Each talk lasts 45-60 minutes, subject to further negotiation. HKDI student work can be showcased, depending on availability.
Alumni Sharing
Outstanding alumni who have received academic and industry recognition participate in sharing and Q&A sessions with secondary school students. Through this interaction, students learn about the educational environment at HKDI, career prospects and solutions to career planning from experienced graduates not much older than themselves.
Interested schools are advised to indicate the academic programmes in which they are interested. Each sharing session of 40 minutes is followed by an open Q&A session. A maximum of two alumni can attend each activity. A moderator from the secondary school should lead the students in asking related and effective questions.
Interested teachers should fill out the form below and submit it three weeks before the proposed visit. Please read the Notes to Applicants carefully before submitting your application.