The Unveiling Ceremony of Beijing Normal University School of Future Design and the International Frontier Forum on Design Education Held

On December 6, the Unveiling Ceremony of Beijing Normal University School of Future Design and the International Frontier Forum on Design Education was successfully held at Zhuhai. Sun Hongpei, Vice Chairman of the University Council of Beijing Normal University(BNU), Wang Shoujun, Vice President of Beijing Normal University and Director of the Administrative Committee of BNU Zhuhai, Zheng Guomin, Assistant to the BNU President and Provost of BNU Zhuhai and other officials attended the ceremony.

Guests jointly inaugurated the establishment of the School of Future Design

At the ceremony, Wang Shoujun read out the approval of the establishment of the School of Future Design and gave opening remarks. Wang Shoujun introduced the significance of establishing the School of Future Design in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the strategic perspective of the university. He stated the establishment of the School was a crucial initiative of Beijing Normal University to focus on the frontier of design discipline development, accelerate the interdisciplinary emerging, and serve national strategic demands as well as local economic and social development. He expressed his expectations and hoped the School of Future Design Institute could give full play to the advantages of the Greater Bay Area, innovate talent training mode and cultivate high-level innovative design talents.

Wei Wei, Chairperson of the University Council of BNU Zhuhai, hosting the ceremony

Remarks by Wang Shoujun, Vice President of Beijing Normal University and Director of the Administrative Committee of BNU Zhuhai

Sun Hongpei, Vice Chairman of the University Council of Beijing Normal University awarding the Appointment Certificate to Gao Peng, Dean of the School of Future Design.

Sun Hongpei, Vice Chairman of the University Council of Beijing Normal University announcing the appointment of the Dean of the School of Future Design

Gao Peng, Dean of the School of Future Design introduced the construction and development of the School. He stated that grounded at the cross-disciplinary research in arts, technology and education, SFD covers three research directions - Design and Future Production and Lifestyle, Art and Technology, Design and Education. By gathering a group of excellent scholars and experts in the design industry, SFD aims to cultivate students into leading design professionals with innovative design thinking and the courage to face the challenges in the future.

Remarks by Gao Peng, Dean of the School of Future Design

Zheng Guomin, Assistant to the BNU President and Provost of BNU Zhuhai, announced the member list of SFD First Academic Committee, appointing Tan Ping as the Chair of the Academic Committee and Wang Min, Xu Ping, Tony Brown, Li Qi and Miriam Mirolla as members of the Academic Committee.

Zheng Guomin, Assistant to the BNU President and Provost of BNU Zhuhai, announcing the member list of SFD First Academic Committee

Appointment certificates awarded to Wang Min, Xu Ping and Tony Brown, members of the SFD Academic Committee by university leaders

SFD Academic Committee member Wang Min said, “Beijing Normal University is a leading university of national education with impressive achievements. In this beautiful campus at Zhuhai, the School of Future Design will explore not only designs for the future but also design education practices facing the future. We believe that the School of Future Design will have a great impact on China’s education and contribute to the development of national education.”

Speech by Wang Min, Member of the SFD Academic Committee

Royal College of Art, UK, Politecnico di Milano, Italy, and University for the Creative Arts, UK extended their congratulations to the School of Future Design online and expected to establish deep and broad international cooperation with Beijing Normal University School of Future Design.

Congratulation VCR from POLI.design, Politecnico di Milano

At the end of the ceremony, a piece of good news was released by the School of Design: in early December, a cooperation agreement was signed by Beijing Normal University School of Future Design and Beijing National Sportswear Ltd. Company aiming to build a Joint Design Laboratory. “Beijing Normal University-TEAM CHINA” co-branded clothing accessories will be released during the 120th anniversary celebration of the Beijing Normal University, boosting national brand development and telling China’s stories.

The International Frontier Forum on Design Education, jointly organized by Beijing Normal University School of Future Design and Royal College of Art, UK successfully opened after the unveiling ceremony, lasting for five days. Naren Barfield, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost, Paul Anderson, Dean of the School of Design, Royal College of Art, Gao Peng, Dean of the School of Future Design, Wang Min, Xu Ping and Tony Brown, members of the SFD Academic Committee made keynote speeches on “What is the future for Design School?” at the forum. Beijing Normal University School of Future Design hopes to strengthen the connections and exchanges between experts and scholars on design education through a series of academic activities with international influence and contribute to the development of China’s design education. Leaders and guests from sister universities including Central Academy of Fine Arts, China Academy of Arts and Tongji University as well as representatives from enterprises attended the forum.

Keynote speeches by Naren Barfield, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost, and Paul Anderson, Dean of the School of Design, Royal College of Art

Keynote speeches by Wang Min, Xu Ping, Tony Brown, members of the academic committee of BNU School of Future Design and Gao Peng, Dean of the School of Future Design

Guests from over 30 universities and colleges attending the ceremony and the forum