Hong Kong Design Centre

(Hong Kong, 20 Jul 2015) Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) welcomed the Class of 2015 in Design Incubation Programme (DIP) Graduation Ceremony 2015 cum Networking Event last Friday. The guest of honour, Mrs Janet Chu, Assistant Head of Create Hong Kong of HKSAR Government joined Dr Victor Lo, Chairman and Dr Roy Chung, Vice-Chairman of HKDC's Board of Directors; Dr Edmund Lee, HKDC Executive Director; Ms Elina Lee, Director of Partnership, Marketing & Communications; Dr John Lo, HKDC Senior Consultant and Chairman of DIP Design Admission Panel and attending partners and guests to celebrate with the latest batch of graduating companies in completing their two-year's fruitful journey.

Presenting the theme of "Talent, Business, Passion", DIP Graduation Ceremony concluded with the elements in design-preneurship. Mrs Janet Chu congratulated the graduates and highlighted Government's commitments to nurturing design start-ups, "Since its inception in 2006, the DIP has played an important role in nurturing design start-ups to help build up a design talent pool and design entrepreneurship. The Government is committed to providing an environment conducive to the development of high value-added and fast growing design industry through continuous funding support. We believe more design start-ups will be able to benefit from the DIP." Dr Edmund Lee remarked, "We are delighted to bring up a total of 164 passionate designer/ design companies in the past decade and best of all to witness their development and success of becoming internationally-renowned and award-winning design-preneurs. With the support of Create Hong Kong, it is our mission in nurturing local design start-ups and fostering value creation across professions."

Describing DIP as a process of polishing diamonds, Dr John Lo said, "I believe this two years' period has been a conducive learning opportunity for all twenty incubates; they can acquire many aspects of 'soft skills' in developing their design business, such as visual/spatial arts, media & communication, product and fashion design. Spanning knowledge exchange with design-preneur masters to reality check in front of potential clients, the all-round framework has assisted them to be prepared to shine on a bigger stage."

In the ceremony, graduate representatives expressed their sincere gratitude to CreateHK, HKDC and DIP team. Mandy Tsang of eMotionLab Limited recalled her achievement in the past two years, "DIP has groomed me into an entrepreneur with a stronger business mindset and a broader vision. After joining DIP, my video production business has grown from a one-person operation to a team of more than 10." Monica Tsang of Monica Tsang Designs added on, "In DIP, I know there is someone I can turn to for advice and help. I have also built up my business network, not to mention the wonderful experience meeting the executives from South Beach Hotel, Singapore." Monica's porcelain design has earned a contract from the hotel after the trip arranged by HKDC.

DIP networking event followed right after the graduation ceremony. Guests from industrial and business sectors have taken this opportunity to greet the fresh graduates and to explore business potential with them.

Event photos and captions

01/ DIP graduates enjoy their accomplishments in the company of guest of honour, executives and irectors of Hong Kong Design Centre (from left, front row): Dr John Lo, Senior Consultant, Hong Kong Design Centre and Chairman of DIP Design Admission Panel; Dr Roy Chung, Vice-Chairman of Board of Directors, Hong Kong Design Centre; Dr Victor Lo, Chairman of Board of Directors, Hong Kong Design Centre; Guest of Honour - Mrs Janet Chu, Assistant Head of Create Hong Kong of HKSAR Government; Ms Elina Lee, Director of Partnership, Marketing & Communications, Hong Kong Design Centre; Dr Edmund Lee, Executive Director, Hong Kong Design Centre.

02/ DIP panel members, VIP guest representatives along with all guests in the ceremony toast in honour of Design Incubation Programme Graduation Ceremony 2015.

The details of the 20 graduating companies of Design Incubation Programme 2015 are as below:

List of 20 graduating design incubation companies

English Names	Chinese Names	Design Disciplines
Aeternam Art Design Studio	-	Branding / packaging
Alchemist Creations Company Limited	-	Product
AniMotion Studio Limited	怪物動畫室有限公司	Visual / spatial arts
Contact Design Limited	-	Product
D'ART Consultancy Limited	-	Product
eMotionLab Limited	-	Media & communication
Eravolution Limited	-	Product
Intoxic Studio Limited	影陶士媒體創作有限公司	Media & communication
minimind studio Limited	小念頭製作有限公司	Media & communication
MIRO	-	Product
Mode Creation Limited	-	Fashion
Monica Tsang Designs	-	Product
My Fashion Design Company	-	Fashion
One Object Design Studio	一方水土設計工作室	Product
Parogames Limited	-	Product
TAKON Product Development Limited	徳翰產品開發有限公司	Product
Taupe Fashion Company	-	Fashion
Travelary Limited	-	Product
WE Associates	-	Others
Young Once Limited	-	Branding / packaging

Highlights of some graduating companies

Monica Tsang Designs (Product) Work: Swimming Fish Chopstick Rest	Monica Tsang Designs (Product) Work: Chinese Ink
eMotionLab Limited (Media & communication) Work: 180+ Shopping Mall Branding Project	eMotionLab Limited (Media & communication) Work: Abundant Whale
Eravolution Limited (Product) Work: Skeleton In The Closet	Eravolution Limited (Product) Work: Zpine Chair
My Fashion Design Company (Fashion) Work: 112 MOUNTAINYAM Handbag FW2015 collection	My Fashion Design Company (Fashion) Work: 112 MOUNTAINYAM Handbag FW2015 collection
Alchemist Creations Co Ltd (Product) Work: CAN-WATCH-S	Alchemist Creations Co Ltd (Product) Work: CAN-WATCH
Takon Product Development Ltd (Product) Work: POSTalk Pop Up Cards	Takon Product Development Ltd (Product) Work: POSTalk Light Model

Design disciplines of 164 successful  applicants   (From 2006 to end of June 2015)

Design disciplines	Percentage	No. of participants
Product Fashion Visual / Spatial Arts Branding /  packaging Media &  communication Interior /  architecture Jewelry Others	29% 23% 18% 9% － 6% － 5% － 5% 5%	47 38 29 17 － 9 － 8 － 8 8
Total	100%	164

About Hong Kong Design Centre

Design for Society is the major undertaking of Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC). HKDC is a non-profit organization and a strategic partner of the HKSAR Government in developing Hong Kong as an international design hub in Asia. Since 2002, HKDC has been on a public mission to (i) champion strategic and wider use of design for creating business value and community benefits; (ii) promote and celebrate design excellence; and (iii) educate the professions and the community to be resourceful champions for sustained developments through design and innovation.

www.hkdesigncentre.org

Design Incubation Programme

The Design Incubation Programme (DIP) is a 2-year non-profit making programme receiving funding support from the Hong Kong SAR Government. Throughout this 2-year incubation period, successful applicants (incubatees) will enjoy assistance in many areas including office premises, business development support, and a series of tailor-made training programmes and networking sessions with industrial organisations, academic institutes, professional bodies, and potential business partners.

DIP was first undertaken by Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation with the first incubatee’s move-in in 2006. Since 1 May 2012, Hong Kong Design Centre took over the administration and operation of DIP. After drawing on the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation’s experience, Hong Kong Design Centre aims to optimise the backup supports for the incubatees through the strong network of overseas and local design communities.

www.hkdesignincubation.org

Media Enquiries Wendy Wo Tel: (+852) 3793 8472 Email:   wendy.wo@hkdesigncentre.org

Programme Enquires Ms Tiffani Lai Tel: (+852) 3793 8412 Email:   tiffani.lai@hkdesigncentre.org