On 2 October 2009, Icograda Education Network (IEN) Member Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU) was recognised by BusinessWeek as one of the top design schools around the world.

The final list of 30 schools  selected by BusinessWeek represents a diverse mix of international master's and MBA programs that teach both business and design, emphasise design's strategic role in business, and significantly bridge disciplines such as design, business, and technology. The magazine concluded that "these 30 programs have formally established hybrid curricula" and that emerging graduates were trained in "design thinking".

The Master's in Design programme at HKPU

Having been rated twice as one of the top 10 design schools in Asia by BusinessWeek in 2006 and 2007, HKPU's Master's in Design (Design Strategies), started in 2004 and hones strategic thinking skills and methods. The student body consists of about 20 full-time and 30 part-time students, who are mostly professional designers, entrepreneurs, and those interested in using design to develop business and to translate technology into compelling experiences. This program has business partnerships with Philips (PHG), Microsoft (MSFT) and Reebok China.

The truly international faculty and the fact that the school is located in the heart of Asia makes the design school so unique. One third of the professors are from other parts of the world and the other two-thirds of the Chinese professors have been mostly educated overseas as well at excellent design schools and programs.

"We practice applied innovation in a way that allows us to build knowledge about making things, understanding problems, finding opportunities and evaluating these products and services. Aesthetics and emotional appeal are important and appropriateness of sustainable materials and systems are as well. This is a lot to try to accomplish but we have begun to document our design research and work to help others who may work on similar issues." says Lorraine Justice, Swire Chair Professor of Design and Director of School of Design at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

In recent years, the school of design has scaled new heights under the direction of famous design educator Prof. Lorraine Justice, who was named as one of the Top 40 Designers in the world by New York-based ID Magazine in 2006. She is now spearheading design research "as fresh as any programme in the US, with multidisciplinary partnerships, sponsorship from global companies, and a focus on ethnographic research".

Looking to the future

The school is currently about to take one of the biggest steps in its history, that of moving into the new Innovation Tower designed by Zaha Hadid. The project will involve making the space amenable to providing the best culture for its design students. Also important is making the space to welcome the community and to industry.

In the past, the focus of the school was on building a graduate program that is now in demand. It started delivering a Design Strategies course years ago which is now well-attended by top students. Looking forward, HKPU plans to expand the Masters and PhD programs to make a contribution in the region for those industries who are seeking design thinkers as well as design makers. Its close ties to other parts of Asia allows it to continue welcoming students and companies from the West who want to learn about China and the region.

Links

Read more on BusinessWeek
Hong Kong Polytechnic University website

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For more information, please contact:

Miss Rennie Kan
Senior Marketing Manager
School of Design
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
T: +86 852 2766 5475
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