Hong Kong Polytechnic University — The online match to the school of design by Zaha Hadid
Hong Kong Polytechnic University is one of Asia’s leading centres for higher education. In 2014 the university’s School of Design, PolyU Design, opened a new landmark building: the Jockey Club Innovation Tower. Designed by Zaha Hadid, it is part of a broader initiative to promote Hong Kong’s status as an Asian design hub and, in doing so, attract more post-graduate students from around the world. Studio Dumbar/DEPT® was appointed to develop a new website for the design school.
Strategy
The primary focus of our strategy was to support and facilitate the spirit of innovation expressed by Hadid’s new building and in particular, the interiors, which are designed to encourage creative collaboration and transparency. Like the building, the digital concept was devised to create a new journey: an innovative and inspirational alternative to the university’s more traditional websites.
Design
We developed a simple, intuitive interface with a visual palette inspired by the serpentine lines of Hadid’s architecture. An integral part of the new fully responsive site is the PolyU Design newsfeed, which allows students to showcase their work on profile pages, while making it easier for the school and its departments to post news and info (all of which appears chronologically). Having completed the new site, we designed a series of posters to celebrate its launch and the opening of the Jockey Club Innovation Tower.
Results
The website was well received by students and faculty alike. The PolyU Design newsfeed has been particularly successful, encouraging students to share their ideas and projects, which continues to stimulate discussion and collaboration between different departments and disciplines.
