Personal profile
Biography
Dr Sunny Sui-kwong Lam is a cross-disciplinary scholar and media artist serving as assessor and examiner of the Film and Media Arts Group of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, a member of the Hong Kong Designers Association, and a member of American Academy of Advertising and European Advertising Academy. He is Associate Professor of Advertising and Media Design at the Department of Creative Arts of the School of Arts and Social Sciences of the Hong Kong Metropolitan University. He co-organized the International Conference of Art, Design & Technology (ICADT) 2024 supported by the IIDS grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (UGC/IIDS16/E01/23). He served as the Digital Culture Research Centre Director of the Research Institute for Digital Culture and Humanities from 2015 to 2018. And then,he is Associate Editor of the Springer book series of Digital Culture and Humanities: Challenges and Developments in a Globalized Asia. He has published several articles in international academic books and journals.
Dr Lam has both practical and theoretical skills and knowledge to conduct in-depth academic and marketing research by means of diverse methodologies, especially ethnography and netnography, focus group, multimodal semiotics and discourse analysis, and experimental design. Triangulation and cross-referencing with different conceptual knowledge and empirical findings is the best means to achieve higher level of information and knowledge leading to wisdom. Dr Lam’s expertise in interdisciplinary research and cultural studies of advertising, consumer behavior, digital media, emotional branding, film and media arts, health communication, identity politics, participatory culture, and visual and mobile communication is significant to the rapidly changing development in contemporary creative media and cultural industries.
Research interests
- Advertising and cultural identities
- City branding and imaging
- Digital media and aesthetics
- Ethnography and netnography
- Film and television production
- Globalization and comparative studies
- Health communication and community studies
- Social media and digital communication
Qualifications
Appointments
2016-2020 Associate Professor and Programme Leader in Creative Advertising and Media Design, School of Arts and Social Sciences, The Open University of Hong Kong
2016-2018 Centre Director of Digital Culture Research Centre of the Research Institute for Digital Culture and Humanities (RIDCH) granted by the Research Grants Council of the HKSAR (UGC/IDS16/14), The Open University of Hong Kong
2013-2016 Assistant Professor and Programme Leader in Creative Advertising and Media Design, School of Arts and Social Sciences, The Open University of Hong Kong
2012-2013 Video Ethnographer (project-based consultant), Ipsos Ethnography Centre Of Excellence (ECE), Hong Kong
2011-2012 Visiting Senior Lecturer, Department of Communication Studies, School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University
2005-2006 Lecturer and Programme Leader in Applied and Media Arts, Hong Kong Art School, Hong Kong Arts Centre
2004 Senior Visual Producer, Central Imaging Department, Television Broadcasts Limited, Hong Kong
2000-2002 Executive Director and Founder, Opus Media Productions Limited, Hong Kong
1997-2002 Lecturer (part-time evening) in Design Studies, Institute of Vocational Education (Shatin and Kwun Tong) and Hong Kong Technical College (Tsing Yi), Hong Kong
1994-1999 Assistant Art Director, Chinese Television Network Limited, Hong Kong
1993-1994 Marketing Support Officer, Advanced Communication Equipment (International) Corporate Limited, Hong Kong
Memberships
- Member, Society For Hong Kong Studies
- Panel Member, THEi, VTC – Learning Programme Accreditation for Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Cinematic Arts and Technology, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications
- Reviewer, Gender and Communication Section of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Conference: Inhabiting the planet - Challenges for media, communication and beyond, Lyon, France, 9-13 July, 2023
- Panel Member, Chu Hai College of Higher Education – Learning Programme Re-accreditation for Master of Arts in Global Communication Programme, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications
- Panel Member, THEi, VTC – Learning Programme Re-accreditation for (i) BA (Hons) in Advertising, (ii) BA (Hons) in Product Design and (iii) BA (Hons) in Fashion Design, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications
- Specialist, Mass Media and Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations for Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications
- Journal Reviewer, Social Transformations in Chinese Societies
- Member, American Academy of Advertising
- Member, Community of Practice Group for teaching and learning of public relations and advertising (http://www.coms.hkbu.edu.hk/cop-pra/) initated by Professor Kara Chan of the School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University
- Member, Academic Advisory Board, Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Media Design and Immersive Technology, Department of Journalism and Communication, Hong Kong Shue Yan University
- Journal Reviewer, International Journal of Cultural Studies
- Reviewer, Philosophy Theory & Critique Division at the 69th Annual ICA Conference: Communication Beyond Boundaries, Washington D.C., USA, 24-28 May 2019
- External Examiner, PhD Oral Defense at the School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University
- External Academic Assessor, Postgraduate Diploma/ Postgraduate Certificate in Public Relations and Corporate Communications offered by SPACE, The University of Hong Kong
- Associate Editor, Digital Culture and Humanities: Challenges and Developments in a Globalized Asia (Series Editor: Tam, Kwok-kan), a Springer book series
- Judge, MTR Advertising: Best of the Best Awards 2016 and 2017
- Member, Scientific Advisory Board, AHFE Conference Track: Human Factors in Communication of Design
- Journal Reviewer, Journal of Communication & Education
- Journal Reviewer, Critical Studies in Television
- External Examiner, Bachelor (Hons) in Applied and Media Arts, College of Professional and Continuing Education, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Judge, Animation Commissioning Exercises, Radio and Television Hong Kong
- Panel Member, Pui Ching Academy’s Programme Validation, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications
- Journal Reviewer, New Media & Society
- Juror, Award for Best Artist and Award for Young Artist (Film and Media Arts Group, Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2007, 2009 and 2010
- Associate Member, Hong Kong Designers Association
- Art Advisor, Examiner and Assessor, Film and Media Arts Group of Hong Kong Arts Development Council
- Juror, Single Screen-based Interactive Media Category of IFVA 2005
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
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Elucidating the Contribution of Creative Communications and Social Media Uses to Older People’s Healthy and Active Ageing through Community-Based Interventions and Age-Friendly Interface Design of Mobile Instant Messaging Application
LAM, S.S.-K., 2025, Bridging Art and Design with Technology : Selected Proceedings of the International Conference of Art, Design and Technology (ICADT 2024). Ho, A. G. (ed.). p. 215-226 12 p. (Springer Proceedings in Humanities and Social Sciences).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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How to brand a city to appeal to young consumers: a qualitative study
LAM, S.S.-K., Aug 2025, In: Qualitative Market Research. 28, 4, p. 607-624 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Xinyuan Wang, Ageing with Smartphones in Urban China: From the Cultural to the Digital Revolution in Shanghai.
LAM, S.S.-K., 15 Jul 2025, In: International Journal of Communication Systems. 19, p. 2949-2952 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Self-regulated leisure sports for health and well-being: learning from Harbour Runners’ community-based interventions and motivations through Instagram communications during the COVID-19 pandemic
Lam, S. S. K., 2024, In: World Leisure Journal. 67, 2, p. 1 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Running Community Solidarity and Well-Being Motivated by Instagram Multimodal Communications Under the COVID-19 Pandemic
Lam, S. S. K., 2021, Advances in Creativity, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Communication of Design - Proceedings of the AHFE 2021 Virtual Conferences on Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Human Factors in Communication of Design, 2021. Markopoulos, E., Goonetilleke, R. S., Ho, A. G. & Luximon, Y. (eds.). p. 554-561 8 p. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems; vol. 276).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
Projects
- 1 Finished
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Ethnographic Research of Community Health and Well Being among City Runners
LAM, S. K. S. (PI)
1/02/20 → 31/01/21
Project: Research
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Visuality and performativity in The Sparring Partner: The ways of viewing justice through production design and performance utterances
LAM, S. K. S. (Speaker)
13 Jul 2025 → 17 Jul 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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The Impact of the Invisibility of Homosexual Identities in Mainstream Advertising on the Self and Identity Formation of LGBT Youth in Hong Kong
LAM, S. K. S. (Speaker)
26 Jun 2025 → 28 Jun 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Elucidating the Contribution of Creative Communications and Social Media Uses to Older People’s Healthy and Active Ageing through Community-Based Interventions and Age-Friendly Interface Design of Mobile Instant Messaging Application
LAM, S. K. S. (Speaker)
22 Jul 2024 → 25 Jul 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Sustainable City Branding and Imaging from Youth Perspectives of Local Culture and Identity
LAM, S. K. S. (Speaker)
27 Jun 2024 → 29 Jun 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Hong Kong City Branding - Trust on Youth Community
LAM, S. K. S. (Speaker)
16 Jun 2023 → 17 Jun 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation