Design as a connective force, linking past and present

Curated by Eddy Yu and Hung Lam, co-founders of CoDesign, together with Vivienne Yu, founder of Story Lab, ‘Fading Out/In: Designed to Remember’ explores how collective memory can be sustained in an increasingly globalised and homogenised world. Through objects, practices and designs that embody Hong Kong's distinct identity, the exhibition reflects on what it means to remember, preserve and reinterpret cultural heritage, creating opportunities for the past and present to converse.

Exploring design as a force that connects traces of the past with lived experience, the exhibition is organised into two thematic zones, the Memory Zone and the Transformation Zone. Together, they showcase design in its many forms, from sound, visual communication and typography to installation, architecture, craft and fashion. Visitors are then encouraged to cast a vote for their favourite exhibit as they leave.

Memory Zone: Rediscovering Hong Kong’s Everyday Icons

The Memory Zone invites visitors to rediscover the familiar symbols that have shaped Hong Kong's cultural identity. From classic neon signage and the distinctive soundscape of mahjong parlours to kraft paper bags with their signature red-and-white string handles, seven groups of exhibits trace the enduring presence of design in everyday life. Through sound, installations, miniatures, and multimedia displays, visitors explore the city's historic shops, eateries, architecture, and language. Together, these works reveal how seemingly ordinary design objects can become powerful carriers of shared memory, safeguarding the intangible spirit of Hong Kong for generations.

Transformation Zone: Reimagining Heritage Through Contemporary Design

The Transformation Zone explores how design breathes new life into cultural heritage by reinterpreting traditions for contemporary living. From auspicious porcelain motifs reimagined through popular culture and lion dance traditions transformed through circular fashion, to the expressive forms of Hong Kong street calligraphy translated into digital design, the exhibits reveal how heritage can evolve while retaining its cultural significance. Featuring 12 groups of works inspired by Wishes Plates, galvanised iron craftsmanship, bamboo weaving, salted fish culture, the Camel vacuum flask, Red A products, bamboo scaffolding, and other iconic elements of Hong Kong culture, the zone demonstrates that tradition is not preserved unchanged but continuously renewed through creativity and innovation.

Exit Interactive Zone: Casting a Vote for Hong Kong's Living Heritage

The Exit Interactive Zone invites visitors to cast a vote for their favourite exhibit before concluding their journey through the exhibition. Upon entry, each visitor will receive a token to place in one of eight ballot boxes, representing the exhibition's key themes: Traditional Handicrafts, Local Language and City Sounds, Festive Customs, Local Leisure and Pastimes, Hong Kong Street Scenes, Historic Architectural Aesthetics, Made in Hong Kong, and Street Food Cultures.