Professional Diploma in Advanced Typography

In this PC, you will learn practical principles for managing information through clear hierarchies and structures; discover how to thoughtfully integrate type, images and graphic elements to enhance the aesthetic and communicative value of messages; apply typographic structure and visual criteria creatively in Chinese typeface design; and create experimental typographic style derived from cultural and social themes.

Typography Forms and Aesthetics
DCD4040Y｜30 hours

• describe the anatomy of letterforms and the historical development of typefaces and typography;
• transform textual content into expressive and informative typographic communications; and
• evaluate the typographic problems of existing layout designs in order to provide creative and aesthetic solutions for better communication of a message.

Typography: Working with Grid
DCD4041Y｜30 hours

• manage complex information with clarity and hierarchy;
• organize type effectively using the structured grid systems and the exploration of breaking the systems;
• integrate graphic elements, colour and space to produce pleasing and effective typographic designs for print, web, product interface and interior and exterior spaces; and
• produce bilingual layouts with special attention to harmony, clarity and visual balance.

Experimental Chinese Typography
DCD4042Y｜30 hours

• analyse the expressive qualities of Chinese characters via research and study;
• apply typographic structure and visual criteria creatively in Chinese typeface design;
• generate innovative communication possibilities and visualization formats for Chinese typography; and
• create experimental typographic style derived from cultural and social themes.

Professional Trainer

Derak TAI (戴加蔭)

Derak is an acclaimed type designer and visual communicator with over 20 years of experience, celebrated for his innovative contributions to Chinese typography and visual design. Known for creating typefaces that blend traditional aesthetics with modern functionality, he has worked with leading cultural and commercial institutions in Hong Kong, enhancing the city’s typographic identity. Derak has served as a design consultant for various organizations and as a visiting lecturer at institutions like the Hong Kong Design Institute, inspiring students with his expertise in typography and branding. 

戴加蔭是香港傑出的字體及視覺傳意設計師，擁有超過20年專業經驗，以創新中文字體設計和視覺設計而聞名。他曾與香港多個文化及商業機構合作，提升城市字體形象。戴氏曾為多個機構擔任設計顧問或客席講師，以其字體設計與品牌塑造的專業知識啟發學生。

In this PC, you will learn how to design multipage publications with a complex structure of text and images; discover new possibilities in Chinese typeface design; and refine your analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities for typography projects. The learning contents include theory, aesthetic and digital craft skills, and typographic design practice.

Designing for Reading
DCD4037Y｜15 hours｜Lecture by Keith Tam

• describe typography and document design theories that make typography work for supporting reading;
• apply aesthetic and digital craft skills on character, paragraph, list, table, object and page levels using industry-standard page layout software;
• make appropriate and informed orthographic and typographic decisions when designing with complex text matter to support different modes of reading.

Multilingual Typography
DCD4038Y｜15 hours｜Lecture by Keith Tam

• describe the issues and theories related to Hanzi–Latin typography;
• devise effective spatial organisation and graphic cueing systems for multilingual information;
• make appropriate typographic design decisions for multilingual information based on communication goals, users’ needs and other contextual requirements; and
• apply aesthetic and digital craft skills related to multilingual typography for different applications using industry-standard software.

Publication Design
DCD4039Y｜30 hours｜Lecture by Chan Hei Shing

• apply the typographic and publication design principles that make complex multi-page publications usable;
• devise an effective organization structure for complex text matter using pagination, grids and styles; and
• apply aesthetic and digital craft skills related to typography and page layout using an industry-standard page layout application to fulfil communication goals, users’ needs and other contextual requirements.

Chinese Type Design
DCD4033Y｜30 hours｜Lecture by Sammy Or

• describe the anatomy of major styles of Chinese typefaces and their origins and circumstances of use;
• develop typeface design concepts based on a variety of methods including analogue and digital processes;
• design a coherent set of key Chinese characters that form the basis of a complete digital font using an industry-standard software package based on a pre-defined design brief; and
• demonstrate the design, rationale and intended applications for a Chinese typeface in the form of a type specimen through writing and graphic design.

Professional Trainers

Sammy OR (柯熾堅)

Sammy is a renowned Hong Kong type designer with over 30 years of experience, celebrated for modernizing Chinese typography. His iconic designs, including “Metro Sung,” and Apple’s LiHei and LiSong fonts, have shaped Hong Kong’s visual landscape, blending functionality with aesthetic elegance. Sammy has held key roles at Monotype, DynaLab, and Hong Kong’s MTR, and founded Visionmark Limited in 2002. Passionate about education, he is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of type designers. 

柯熾堅是香港著名字體設計師，擁有超過30年專業經驗，以現代化中文字體設計聞名。他設計的經典字體，包括「鐵宋」以及蘋果的儷黑和儷宋，融合功能與美學，深刻影響香港的視覺文化。他曾於蒙納（Monotype）、華康科技（DynaLab）及香港地鐵擔任要職，並於2002年創立域思瑪字體設計公司。同時他熱衷於教育及培育新一代字體設計人才。

CHAN Hei Shing (陳曦成)

Hei Shing is an acclaimed Hong Kong designer, celebrated for his specialized focus on book design and innovative typography. With over 15 years of experience, he founded Hei Shing Book Design in 2016, creating bespoke publications that blends cultural depth with creative innovation. A graduate of Camberwell College of Arts (MA Book Arts, Distinction, 2008), Hei Shing has earned numerous awards, including the YIC Young Design Talent Award, Swatch Young Illustrators Award (Book Art), and HKDA Global Design Awards. He has served as a lecturer at institutions like The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Hong Kong Design Institute, guiding students in crafting visually compelling typefaces.

陳曦成是香港專注書籍設計的設計師，以創新字體設計、書籍藝術及設計而聞名。他於2016年創立曦成製本，專注於度身訂造的書籍與出版設計，融合文化深度與革新。曦成於倫敦藝術大學坎伯韋藝術學院書籍藝術碩士課程（2008年一等榮譽）畢業，並曾榮獲多項獎項，包括YIC青年設計才俊大獎、Swatch Young Illustrators Award (Book Art)及香港設計師協會環球設計大獎。

PC in Typography Design and Application (DE424163C)

Intake	1
Commencement	22 Aug 2025
Target Completion	16 Jan 2026
Class Day	Tue & Fri
Class Time	19:00-22:00
Venue	HKDI
Early Bird Deadline	22 Jun 2025
Online Application

Chinese Type Design (DCD4033Y)

Intake	1
Commencement	4 Oct 2025
Target Completion	6 Dec 2025
Class Day	Sat
Class Time	14:00 – 17:00
Venue	HKDI
Early Bird Deadline	4 Aug 2025
Online Application

PC in Typography Design and Application (DE424163C)

PC in Typography Theory in Practice (DE424159C)

Financial Aids

Remark: Fees paid are non-refundable and non-transferable unless the course is cancelled.

Basic Qualification

Mature Applicants
Mature applicants, i.e. those aged 21 or above with at least two years’ relevant working experience, can be admitted. Where appropriate, the applicant may be required to pass an entrance assessment, which can be in an oral and/or written form.