Design industry in Hong Kong covers a wide range of job areas and is mainly engaged in media, visual and graphic design, fashion and accessories design, and industrial design. According to the latest information from the Census and Statistics Department, the number of employees in the design sector is about 16,000. The continuous innovation of design works has promoted the development of the local commercial economy. In addition, Hong Kong Design Centre organises the “Design Business Week” every year to gather design experts from all over the world to provide a professional communication platform for the industry and promote the development of the industry.
Graphic Designer
Duties
The Graphic designer is mainly responsible for art and print design and uses multimedia images and animation to design and promote company and product images. Their main tasks are as follow:
- Responsible for designing books, magazines, posters, trademarks, packaging, promotional materials, web pages, etc.
- Conceive layout design, arrange text and illustrations
- Take pictures of portraits or landscape photos for design elements
- Responsible for the art design of audio-visual products, film or television
Working hours
About 45 hours a week
Working environment
Work in the office generally
Personality
- Good communication skills
- Attention to details
- Responsible
- Creative
Promotion and Reference Salary
Assistant Graphic Designer
Approximately $8,000-12,000
Experience 0-2 years
Graphic Designer
Approximately above $20,000
Experience 3 years or above
Senior Graphic Designer
Approximately above $30,000
Experience 5 years or above
Entry requirements
- A holder of a Higher Diploma / Associate Degree in any tertiary institutions or Diploma in any registered post-secondary colleges, or above
- Familiar with basic and related design software operations such as Photoshop and Illustrator
- Good Chinese and English language skills
Example of related training and courses
Higher Diploma / Associate Degree
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Associate in Design (Advertising Design)
- Hong Kong Design Institute – Higher Diploma in Publishing Design and Print Media
- Caritas Bianchi College of Careers – Higher Diploma in Design (Graphic Design)
Bachelor Degree
Fashion Designer
Duties
Fashion designers need a variety of abilities, from thinking of themes, styles, fabric selection, to tailoring and sewing, designing accessories and preparing makeup and hair styling for models. Their main tasks are as follow:
- Collect information of fashion trends such as fashion shows and magazines
- Conceive clothing design, design drawings, select colours, select fabrics, styles and other accessories, etc.
- Supervise sample production, arrange fitting and adjust sample design
- Consult with different departments, including buyers, production staff and buyers etc.
- Control garment production costs to ensure products can meet the quality requirements
Working hours
About 45 hours a week
Working environment
Generally work in the industrial and commercial building
Personality
- Good communication skills
- Attention to details
- Responsible
- Creative
Promotion and Reference Salary
Assistant Designer
Approximately $8,000-$12,000
Experience 0-2 years
Fashion Designer
Approximately above $18,000
Experience 3 years or above
Senior Fashion Designer
Approximately above $28,000
Experience 5 years or above
Entry requirements
- A holder of a Higher Diploma / Associate Degree in any tertiary institutions or Diploma in any registered post-secondary colleges, or above
- Familiar with basic and related design software operations
- Good Chinese and English language skills
Example of related training and courses
Higher Diploma / Associate Degree
- Vocational Training Council – Higher Diploma in Fashion Design
- Caritas Bianchi College of Careers – Higher Diploma in Design (Fashion Design)
Bachelor Degree
Interior Designer
Duties
Interior designers work in residential buildings, shops and commercial buildings, and provide professional interior design solutions as requested by customers. Their main tasks are as follow:
- Develop and design blueprints based on overall indoor environmental factors such as light, space specifications, electronic and ventilation systems, etc.
- Familiar with the application of various interior design materials such as wood, paint, glass and marble etc.
- Use computer or model-assisted programmes to design and create ideal space for customers and enhance the quality of the indoor environment
- Provide interior design consulting services, including design style, cost and construction period budget, etc.
- Supervise the progress of the renovation work and discuss details with the contractors and workers
Working hours
About 45 hours a week
Working environment
Generally work in the industrial and commercial building
Personality
- Good communication skills
- Attention to details
- Responsible
- Creative
Promotion and Reference Salary
Assistant Interior Designer
Approximately $8,000-$12,000
Experience 0-2 years
Interior Designer
Approximately above $18,000
Experience 3 years or above
Senior Interior Designer
Approximately above $30,000
Experience 5 years or above
Entry requirements
- A holder of a Higher Diploma / Associate Degree in any tertiary institutions or Diploma in any registered post-secondary colleges, or above
- Familiar with basic and related design software operations
- Good Chinese and English language skills
Example of related training and courses
Higher Diploma / Associate Degree
- LiPACE The Open University of Hong Kong – Higher Diploma in Interior Design
- Hong Kong Community College, Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Associate Degree in Design (Environment and Interior Design)
Bachelor Degree
Product Designer
Duties
Product designers are responsible for research, development and design of new products through market research. Their main tasks are as follow:
- Responsible for the development of product design, participate in design investigation, and ensure the production is in progress
- Develop a design blueprint for model or computer-aided design
- Discuss the design content, estimated cost and construction period with the customer
- Liaise with customers, salespersons and suppliers
- Understand market trends and create more new products
Working hours
About 45 hours a week
Working environment
Generally work in the industrial and commercial building
Personality
- Good communication skills
- Attention to details
- Responsible
- Creative
Promotion and Reference Salary
Assistant Product Designer
Approximately $8,000-$12,000
Experience 0-2 years
Product Designer
Approximately above $16,000
Experience 3 years or above
Senior Product Designer
Approximately above $26,000
Experience 5 years or above
Entry requirements
- A holder of a Higher Diploma / Associate Degree in any tertiary institutions or Diploma in any registered post-secondary colleges, or above
- Familiar with basic and related design software operations
Example of related training and courses
Higher Diploma / Associate Degree
- Hong Kong Design Institute – Higher Diploma in Product Design
- Hong Kong Design Institute – Higher Diploma in Product Design
Bachelor Degree
Advertising Designer
Duties
The forms of advertising design are becoming more diversified, from flat ads, 3D advertising, to different media. Therefore, it requires advertising designers to have good observation and creativity to cater to market changes and customer needs. Their main tasks are as follow:
- Collect data for markets and different media
- Analyse the number and types of people in communicating targets and evaluate the effectiveness of the ads in the promotion plan
- Choose correct media for the client to pass the message to audience in the most effective way
- Develop a schedule of advertisements, including media, audience, length, time of launch, cost, and other details
- Create the story structure of the advertisement and finish the production with the shooting crew
Working hours
About 45 hours a week, irregular working hours
Working environment
Generally work in the industrial and commercial building
Personality
- Good communication skills
- Attention to details
- Responsible
- Creative
Promotion and Reference Salary
Assistant Advertising Designer
Approximately $8,000-$12,000
Experience 0-2 years
Advertising Designer
Approximately above $18,000
Experience 3 years or above
Senior Advertising Designer
Approximately above $25,000
Experience 5 years or above
Entry requirements
- A holder of a Higher Diploma / Associate Degree in any tertiary institutions or Diploma in any registered post-secondary colleges, or above
- Familiar with basic and related design software operations
- Good Chinese and English language skills
Example of related training and courses
Higher Diploma / Associate Degree
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Associate in Design (Advertising Design)
- Vocational Training Council – Higher Diploma in Advertising Design
Bachelor Degree
Tailor
Duties
- Specialize in producing tailor made garment
- Discuss with customers on what is their preference of the garment
- Measure customers and fit garments
- Cut fabric and assemble garment parts
- Change the garment style
Working hours
About 45 hours a week
Working environment
Work indoors
Personality
- Attention to details
- Responsible
- Creative
Promotion and Reference Salary
Tailor
About $10,000 – 20,000
Assistant Apparel
About $20,000 – 40,000
Apparel Designer
About $30,000 – 70,000
Entry requirements
- Usually skills gained on the job
Example of related training and courses
Higher Diploma / Associate Degree