V Sparkle

Community Map Design Illustrates Wan Chai's Local Shop Stories

CEU connected with teachers and students from the Diploma of Foundation Studies (Design) to collaborate with Viva Blue House of St James’ Settlement (Blue House) to conceive and design a 2.6m x 1.6m “Stone Nullah Lane Community Map”, which was officially unveiled at the Blue House Open Day in late December last year.

The collaboration spanned more than half a year. Around mid-2025, the Blue House team and Wan Chai residents led three Diploma of Foundation Studies (Design) students to visit key historical landmarks around Stone Nullah Lane, including the Blue House Cluster, Pak Tai Temple, the Old Wan Chai Post Office and the Old Wan Chai Market. The students also visited nearby shops and chat with shopkeepers and residents, learning about their daily lives to shape their first design drafts. After gathering different views, the students began the design process, refining the work through multiple rounds of revisions before completing the community map. A special feature of the map is that each shop is illustrated with the products it sells or the services it provides, such as croissants and tattoo services, visually documenting the neighbourhood’s small businesses.

At the sharing session during the Blue House Open Day, the students presented their design ideas to the public and followed the map to tour the Stone Nullah Lane community with local residents. Wan Chai elderly resident, May praised the students’ patience throughout the collaboration, noting how they repeatedly adjusted the design in response to residents’ suggestions. She also remarked that the lively portrayals of neighbourhood characters and pets make the map even more appealing and inject extra energy into the Wan Chai community. The map is still on display at Blue House, and we warmly welcome you to visit.

[Photo 1] Diploma of Foundation Studies (Design) students (from left) Angie PAK, Jin CHEUNG and Melody LAM introduce the design concept of the community map at the Blue House Open Day, explaining how they portray the buildings in a three-dimensional way and create the neighbourhood characters.

[Photo 2] The final version of the “Stone Nullah Lane Community Map”.

[Photo 3] Students explore the Wan Chai community with local residents, drawing inspiration from the streets and human stories.

[Photo 4] Students exchange ideas with the Blue House team and Wan Chai residents, gathering feedback to refine the map design.

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