Design Trust Graphic Archive Research Fellowship examines the origins, emergence, and development of the graphic design profession in Hong Kong and the region between 1945 and 1985. Design Trust proudly partners with HKDI to support this fellowship which will culminate in an exhibition planned for 2028. 

From 2024 to 2026, three fellowships will be awarded consecutively to conduct a portion of the research project under an overarching theme, focusing on the different aspects of or sub-themes of graphic design. Attached to HKDI’s Graphic Archive for six months, each Fellow will work independently on their assigned sub-theme, but also with HKDI staff and students, with opportunities to be mentored by a panel of world-renowned experts on the subject.

Applicants are required to have attained the following qualifications:

• a degree qualification in communication design, graphic design, visual communication, design history, design culture and theory, art history, curatorial practices or a related discipline, preferably with a post-graduate qualification;

• at least three years of working experience in a related area including a combination of design practice, teaching, research, and/or exhibitions;

• excellent research and writing skills;

• demonstrated experience in at least one of these areas: (1) graphic design (2) exhibition design (3) curatorial work (4) teaching; and,

• legal status (citizenship or visa) to base in Hong Kong for the whole fellowship period.

The project budget for each Fellow is a total of HKD400,000 including stipend for the six-month fellowship period and a production fee for a publication, a small-scale display, and the production of a teaching and learning package.

At the end of the Fellowship period, each Fellow is required to deliver:

• A text of minimum 5,000 words for exhibition purposes. (format: a coherent juxtaposition of images and text presented in book format)

• A small-scale display of artefacts juxtaposed coherently with didactic texts, in collaboration with Design Trust’s public programmes.

• A collection of artefacts catalogued. (format: a digital database with scanned images, metadata and textual descriptions shared on a cloud service)

• A teaching and learning package at higher diploma level (format: at QF level 4; open; as printed worksheets/kit, webpages, videos, slide decks, as the fellow sees fit)

• A public presentation and talk

The fellowship will be awarded on a competitive basis by a selection panel chaired by Hong Kong Design Institute comprising representatives from Design Trust, Hong Kong Design Institute as well as invited experts. After the initial screening process, shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview.

Interested applicants please submit the following items via email to Ms Kiki Yau at hkdi-ccd@vtc.edu.hk  with the email subject “Application for Research Fellow” by 5 September 2025:

1. A one-page letter of intent 

2. A full curriculum vitae showing education background, employment history, publications and exhibition record

3. Two academic references from previous teachers or employers

4. A portfolio of previous research, writing, graphic design, or curatorial work

5. A 1,000-word research outline on your proposed research topic that falls within the overarching research theme (i.e. packaging, advertising or publishing)

Please prepare the above documents in English. Use of Traditional Chinese for supplementary purposes is welcomed.  

----------------

Submit as five separate PDF documents named in this format:
Surname_GivenName_1_letter
Surname_GivenName_2_cv
Surname_GivenName_3_references
Surname_GivenName_4_portfolio
Surname_GivenName_5_outline

Interviews will be held during September 2025. Results will be announced by October 2025. Applicants not notified within four weeks from the application deadline may consider their application unsuccessful. Design Trust and Hong Kong Design Institute reserve the right not to fill the post. 

*Please note that the appointed Fellow will not be considered a full-time employee of Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) nor the Vocational Training Council (VTC).

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Ms Kiki Yau at hkdi-ccd@vtc.edu.hk