Q: Is there a design category for the 2025 edition? How can participants approach their submissions?
A: For the 2025 edition of the PolyU Design Hatch Awards, we have moved away from the predefined categories used in 2024. This year, there is a single, unified theme: 'Hong Kong’s Rural Culture.' We encourage participants to embrace the multidisciplinary nature of design. Submissions can span a wide range of fields, including landscape and environmental design, graphic design, service design, product design, UI/UX and app design, AI, or any other medium. Let your creativity explore and interpret this theme through any design discipline.
Q: What will the shortlisted students do in the 2-day Hatch Programme?
A: We will offer various activities for the students to broaden their horizons. Activities include ideation sessions, lectures and sharing from the speakers in design industry. Students are able to meet our representatives in the School of Design and receive comments to improve their design.
Q: What do I need to submit in the first round submission?
A: Students are asked to submit 10 to 20 pages of PDF document to showcase their initial ideas, which may include the research process, sketches, drawings, images, mind-map, trial and errors etc. The materials should be able to communicate their ideas in an effective way. Besides, students can also upload a video as a supplementary document if they want (1-minute long, in MP4 format). No physical and tangible outcomes need to be sent.
Q: After the first round submission, when should I start working on my prototype?
A: The shortlisted students after the first round submission will be announced in early April via email and on official website. They may proceed to the next stage afterwards according to their schedule with comments from the judges. Within the 2-day Hatch Programme, students may prepare questions and small dummy to meet our tutors for advice. They can improve their design with the technical support from our tutors and design students. The final presentation will be on 24 May which students will present their work on that day at PolyU.
Q: Can I submit my previous work?
A: There is no limitation to the works that to be submitted. However, please be aware that the design should meet the theme and your target audience.
Tips: If you are working on projects related to Hong Kong local culture e.g. slangs, be aware of the context as some of our judges are not based in Hong Kong. You may need some explanation and background information in your submission.