“Homo Ex Data”: successful exhibition opening in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) and Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Lee Wai Lee) present in cooperation with the Red Dot Design Museum Essen (Germany) a new exhibition. Until 27 May 2018, visitors to the HKDI Gallery can explore “Homo Ex Data – The Natural of the Artificial”. It showcases Red Dot awarded products and innovations which illustrate the impact and challenges of digitisation, and demonstrate exemplarily with which solutions designers face them. The exhibition was officially unveiled on Friday, 24 November 2017.

Opening event with lecture by Professor Zec
The opening event began with a master lecture by Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of the Red Dot Award, who presented his insight and research on technology and design. This was followed by the opening ceremony and special guided tours for the attending personalities. Esteemed guests of the event were among others Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Thomas Walter, Consul (Administration) of Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Hong Kong, and Principal of HKDI & IVE (Lee Wai Lee) Dr. Ong Lay-lian.

“The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is committed to furthering the development of the creative industries, in particular the design sector. We believe that design thinking should become a problem-solving capability and a new way of thinking that promotes value adding and advocates inter-disciplinary collaboration. To this end, HKDI and IVE under VTC have played an important role in the promotion of professional design education.” said Matthew Cheung Kin-chung.

Homo Ex Data – The Natural of the Artificial
Professor Dr. Peter Zec explained: “Following Homo Sapiens and Homo Faber, a new type of human, which we call Homo Ex Data, is emerging. Fitted with and surrounded by sensors, Homo Ex Data becomes part of a systematically constructed ‘bio-artificial’ reality […] With Homo Ex Data, human evolution is entering a whole new phase. Unlike Homo Faber, this new type of human is no longer interested in having power over technology in order to control his environment. Instead, such humans themselves become part of a world that strives for absolute transparency, organised by universal data transfer. This world regenerates itself again and again by coupling artificial with natural systems.”

In the present digital age, data is almost inherently a part of our lives, which in turn has a great impact on the design industry. When developing smart products, designers have to take into account technical functioning and the growing significance of data in addition to the human natural experience of things, so as to create a new reality of life. Featuring over 150 Red Dot award-winning technology products, the exhibition explores how design creates a new reality by combining human factors and digital technology. Nowadays, we take ultra-sound examinations and prenatal diagnostics even before we are born. From the very beginning, human beings are already part of the data system. We are data-based humans – Homo Ex Data.

“Homo ex Data – The Natural of the Artificial”
An exhibition by Hong Kong Design Institute and Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Lee Wai Lee) in cooperation with the Red Dot Design Museum Essen (Germany)

Exhibition duration:
25 November 2017 – 27 May 2018

Exhibition venue:
HKDI Gallery
Hong Kong Design Institute & Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Lee Wai Lee)
3 King Ling Road, Tseung Kwan O,
New Territories, Hong Kong