Innovative Business Design (MDes)

The aims of this specialism are:

• to foster transdisciplinary knowledge through systematic integration;
• to impart an understanding of the essentials in design, business and technology;
• to progress practice-based research and integrative design thinking training;
• to incubate talents for Hong Kong industries' transformation; and
• to identify opportunities and resources for improving lives and economies at the local, regional and global levels.

Also: Employers of MDes Graduates

Targeting on meaning creation, IBD is the first postgraduate programme focusing on design-centred entrepreneurship in the world. A succeeding programme of the unique ID&BM (International Design and Business Management), IBD aims to foster transdisciplinary knowledge based on a systematic understanding of essentials in design, business, and technology, at the same time support practice-based research with the established history of SD and unique resources in Hong Kong and the GBA. IBD is a hub of innovation ecosystem through configuring resources and facilitating innovation for our students, alumni, industrial partners, government, and other key stakeholders as a catalyst for change.

The programme begins with subjects in which IBD students formulate a knowledge foundation in their focal domain, identify appropriate directions for their further development, and develop their skills in multidisciplinary collaborations.

In the second stage of the study, students will learn the core knowledge of Innovate with Lifestyle and Culture and Design for Transformation with a holistic view of design's value in the new business context created by human-centred design thinking and new technologies.

The final stage is for self-reflection and career preparation. Every student should have completed three projects by the end of this one-year programme, i.e. an interdisciplinary project, a theme-based project, and an entrepreneurial project.

To receive the award of Master of Design, students are required to attain a total of 36 credits from the subject categories below:

• 6 credits in "Compulsory Common" subjects;
• 15 cerdits in "Compulsory Specialism" subjects;
• 15 credits in Elective subjects (12 credits in Elective Pool A and 3 credits in Elective Pool B).

"Compulsory Common" subjects (6 credits)

SD5008 Research and Analysis for Design (3)
SD5009 Research and Academic Writing (3)

"Compulsory Specialism" subjects (15 credits)

Foundation subjects
SD5116 Design for Transformation (3)

Lab Studies subjects
SD5132 Lab Studies in Human Cyber-Physical Systems (3)

Specialism Project subjects
SD5138 Theme-Based Project (3)
SD5139 Entrepreneurship Project (6)

Elective subjects

Elective Pool A (12 credits)

Foundation subjects
SD5114^Design Methods (Advanced) (3)
SD5115^ Design Project Management (3)
SD5116 Design for Transformation (3)
SD5511 UX Design Fundamentals (3)
SD5512 Prototyping and Scripting (3)
SD5411 Designing Services (3)
SD5711 Design for the Biosphere (3)
SD5712 Design for Change (3)
SD5713 Design Systems Thinking (3)

Specialism Major subjects
SD5117 Innovate with Lifestyle and Culture (3)
SD5513 Theories in Interaction Design (3)
SD5514#Advanced Visualisation and Interaction (3)
SD5412 Advanced Service Design Methods and Tools (3)
SD5413 Socio-Technical Service Ecosystem (3)
SD5414 Systemic Innovation and Designing Future Services (3)
SD5716 Regenerative Ecosystems Design (3)
SD5717 Territories, Societies, and Spatial Complexes (3)

Elective Pool B (3 credits)

Interdisciplinary Studio / Project subjects
SD5131^Interdisciplinary Project (3)
SD5431 Interdisciplinary Studio (3)
SD5731 Regenerative Environments Design (3)

Lab Studies subjects
SD5132 Lab Studies in Human Cyber-Physical Systems (3)
SD5531 Lab Studies in Systems Design (3)
SD5532# Lab Studies in Intelligent Systems Construction (3)
SD5432 Lab Studies in Data-Driven Service Design (3)
SD5732 Lab Studies in Applied Technologies for Territorial Design (3)

For full-time students, the normal duration is 1 year; for part-time students, the normal duration is 3 years. A full-time study load is 36 credits in a year; a part-time study load is 6 – 9 credits in a compulsory semester (Semester 1 and 2).

Full-time and part-time students follow the same timetable and attend classes together. Classes are normally held during the daytime on weekdays. 

Sylvia Xihui Liu — Associate Professor, PhD

Dr Sylvia Liu has both academic and industrial experience. She obtained her PhD degree from PolyU in 2010 under the supervision of Prof. John Heskett and became visiting assistant professor in 2011. Before her PhD study, she was design manager at Nova Design. Her consultancy services ranged from product design, branding and design strategy and has earned several international design awards, such as IDEA, iF and Red Dot. Her research interest focuses on design management capability. The outcomes of her research include papers in top design journals, innovative business models and design policies. Since 2013, she has been invited as adviser for developing the national design policy of China related to Made in China 2025 and One-Belt-One-Road (OBOR). 

Kevin Denney — Professor of Practice (Social Innovation)

Kevin Denney is a Design Strategist. Kevin hails from Chicago where his did his graduate studies at the IIT, Institute of Design. Kevin’s focus is on designing cities for health and prosperity. In his work in industry and academia, Kevin emphasizes the importance of developing models and frameworks that enhance collaboration across domains.

• Jörn Bühring
• Gerhard Bruyns
• Scott Chin
• Kevin Denney
• Daniel Elkin
• Benny Ding Leong
• Sylvia Xihui Liu
• David Williams
• Elaine Wong

See also: Meet our staff