Anna Lai-yin Qin is an interdisciplinary designer and educator working at the intersection of design, technology, and social impact. Her applied research drives sustainnovation by translating human-centred design into tangible, accessible technologies that enhance societal wellbeing, with projects spanning healthcare wearables, rehabilitation devices, intelligent systems, and sustainable solutions. Trained in Product Design at Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London) and holding an MPhil in Biomedical Engineering from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, she brings more than fifteen years of practice across consultancy, manufacturing, enterprise, and the third sector in Europe, America, and Asia, supported by research grants, journal publications, and international patents. She also founded the HKBU start-up Hydroverse Company Limited to bring accessible design research into practical use.

Qin's teaching is research-informed, and her project-based, service-oriented approach centres on design thinking methods that guides students to design with empathy and technical fluency, to enrich objects with cultural and technological narratives, and to transform abstract ideas into tangible solutions that meet real-world and industry needs. In recognition of this teaching, she received the 2024 UGC Teaching Award (Early Career Faculty Members). 

SUSTAINNOVATION

• Commercial product & services solutions design
• Human-centered design (HCD) / Ergonomics
• Industrial manufacturing processes
• New materials
• UX & UI
• Branding & marketing
• Culture & Craftsmanship
• Entrepreneurship
• Social innovation
• Sustainable Design Thinking
• Design for Wellbeing