Design Trust Futures Studio is a flagship programme of the DESIGN TRUST, that makes visible the processes and positive role of design in the culture of contemporary design and production. The programme stems from a project-studio concept that promotes life-long collaborations through a mentor-mentee programme and workshop collaboration model. As a cross-disciplinary initiative created and conceptualised by Marisa Yiu, Co-founder and Executive Director of Design Trust, experts from different fields will contribute to the teams in the exploration of materials, production, and to put forth the positive value of design of public spaces, public/private assets and/or critical issues in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and its relationship globally.
Design Trust Futures Studio aims to make the role of the design process, visible in the creation of our cities, while transforming the ways in which designers participate, individually and collectively, in the production of urban space. For the last two editions, the programme has worked on public parks in Hong Kong through a collaborative and participatory model starting from a small initiative in 2017 as “SMALL IS MEANINGFUL” looking at the future of micro-parks to 2018 “PLAY IS FOR THE PEOPLE” where teams grew to involve larger stakeholder involvement as a community of projects developed by designers, working in public and private sectors and local communities to build and develop real micro-parks in Hong Kong. In 2019, the theme and concept is focused on "HERITAGE IS INNOVATION", exploring animated definitions of Hong Kong identity, shaping conversations on "Conversation", and finding new ways to open up heritage sites to build new narratives of the role and place of heritage - not as a static subject but a dynamic living and inspiring process.
For more details, please visit the Design Trust Futures Studio website here.