From 10 to 14 August 2026, the “Future Creators AI × Blender International Creative Summer Camp,” jointly organized by Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) and Krystal Institute, was successfully held on the HKMU campus. More than twenty outstanding secondary-school students from Mexico, Senegal, Hong Kong, and other regions gathered for an intensive five-day programme. Starting from zero prior experience, they used generative AI and the open-source 3D software Blender to create their own 3D artworks and AI-animated videos.
From Inspiration to Final Product: A Complete Five-Day Creative Journey
The summer camp curriculum covered the entire creative workflow—from idea generation and Blender fundamentals, through visual refinement and AI video generation, to the final presentation of completed works. The programme was led by international 3D artist Hector Alexander Galindo Escobar, who has worked on projects for Disney and Mattel. Over the five days, participants progressively mastered the core logic of 3D modelling and AI tools, transforming the images in their minds into concrete visual works.
The curriculum was closely aligned with the judging criteria of international creative competitions, including events such as the International Artificial Intelligence and Creativity Conference (IAICC). After the course, participants received additional support in organizing and refining their work, helping them turn their classroom projects into competitive entries for these contests.
Multicultural Exchange: Broadening International Horizons
In addition to rigorous technical training, the summer camp featured a range of cultural exchange activities, including visits to Digital Art Lab, screenings and discussions of animated films, and immersive experiences of Hong Kong’s local culture.
A dinner was held on 13 August at Hong Kong Metropolitan University, where we were honoured to welcome Dr. Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and former Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as the guest of honour. Dr. Leung had earlier helped facilitate connections that enabled students from schools in Senegal and Mexico to receive scholarships to come to Hong Kong and participate in the programme. At the dinner, representatives of the overseas students expressed their gratitude to Dr. Leung and shared what they had gained from the experience. Dr. Leung, together with HKMU President Dr. Lam Kwan-sing and other guests, engaged warmly with the students, offering encouragement in an atmosphere that was both heartening and inspiring.
On 14 August, an award ceremony and farewell tea gathering were held, bringing the five-day learning journey to a successful and satisfying conclusion.
University-Endorsed Certificate: Adding Value for the Future
Upon completing the course and presenting their final projects, participants received an official certificate of completion jointly issued by Hong Kong Metropolitan University and Krystal Institute. This certificate not only recognizes the students’ dedicated learning efforts, but also adds an authoritative credential to their future academic applications and creative portfolios.
Nurturing Creative Talent for the Digital Age
Krystal Institute is committed to advancing digital creative technologies and fostering innovation in education. This collaboration with Hong Kong Metropolitan University aims to provide young people aged 12 to 18 with a complete learning pathway—from concept to finished work—by combining Blender, a world-class, free, professional 3D creation tool, with cutting-edge generative AI technologies. As demonstrated by the 2025 Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature, Flow, which was created entirely in Blender, the software has become an essential tool across the global film, animation, and game industries.
Looking Ahead
With the successful conclusion of the summer camp, Krystal Institute will continue to partner with universities and organizations to broaden and deepen education in Blender and AI-driven creativity. In the years to come, we look forward to seeing more young creators step onto the international stage, using their creativity and technical skills to write their own remarkable stories.
About Krystal Institute
Krystal Institute engages in teaching, research, training, and certification to empower the people, provide upward mobility, and bridge the global digital divide. We deliver essential knowledge for excellence in the digital economy. We prepare students to fully utilize their knowledge, skills, and tools in the digital economy by fostering their creativity and providing open-source technologies.
Our Founders have decades of experience collaborating with educational institutions worldwide, such as Nanyang Technological University, Shenzhen University, and City University of Hong Kong. Founder Raymond Neoh produced China's first 3D CG animated feature film, Thru the Moebius Strip (2004). To date, the Institute of Digital Game Technology and Institute of Digital Media Technology have trained close to 10,000 media professionals for China's digital content creation industry.
In Hong Kong, we collaborate with training and industry partners to offer courses in over 40 different areas within the Digital Economy Core Technology (DECT) framework. We have established academic collaborations with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, driving our research and development.
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Email: info@krystal.institute
Phone: (852) 9510 0364
