School of Future Design Makes Its Debut in 2021 Shanghai FutureLab Expo

From November 28 to December 5, the 3rd Art and Design Education: FutureLab Expo was held at the West Bund Dome in Shanghai. This year’s FutureLab features three major sections: exhibitions, forums and workshops. Universities, research institutions and enterprises were invited to participate in the discussion of art and design education. The School of Future Design of Beijing Normal University was invited to participate in the exhibition and forum sections.

Nearly 30 leading art and design schools from home and abroad participated in the exhibition section, including the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the School of Design in the Politecnico di Milano, Edinburgh College of Art at the University of Edinburgh, the School of Urban Design at Central Academy of Fine Arts, and the School of Intermedia Art at China Academy of Art.

The School of Future Design presented an exhibition entitled “Theatre of Tomorrow: Design, Technology, Aesthetic Education and Future”. The exhibition displayed the achievements of the three research directions of the school: design and future production and lifestyle, art and technology, and design and education, as well as the oral presentation of the understanding of future design education by teachers and students from different backgrounds of the school. The exhibition reflected the school’s philosophy of cultivating innovative talents with professional literacy, cutting-edge vision, comprehensive analytical skills, and scientific and humanistic concepts.

In addition, the exhibition also showcased the research achievements of the projects sponsored by Beijing Normal University Future Design Seed Fund. The works of “Design and Future Production and Lifestyle” reflect the understanding and interpretation of future design; the works of “Art and Technology” present the interdisciplinary integration of art, digital and technology; the works of “Design and Education” explore the innovative forms of aesthetic education for adolescents.

During the exhibition, the school faculty together with students introduced the curatorial concept and exhibits to the audience, shared the teaching and research achievements of the School, and exchanged ideas of the understanding of future design education with the audience.

Teachers and Students in the Exhibition: 
Xu Tengfei, Gong Shuai, Wang Xinyue, Liang Xu, Zhou Yangmengliu, Wang Yifei, Gao Guangli, Wang Yiwen

This exhibition was a successful attempt at project-based teaching of the School. Students learned about the culture and curatorial model of the School from the exhibition and participated in the whole process, which contributes to students’ deeper understanding of the three research directions of the School.

Art and Design Education: FutureLab Expo

Art and Design Education: FutureLab, founded in 2019, brings together the world’s outstanding art and design colleges and universities, focusing on the innovative practices and latest challenges of today’s education. FutureLab is an international exchange platform for teachers, students, scholars and institutions in the field of art and design. This year, the 3rd edition of FutureLab will run from November 28 to December 5, 2021 at West Bund Dome, Shanghai with several sections, including College Show, “Ambition!” Degree Show, Deans’ Talk, Themed Forum and Workshops. Not only displays the unique and innovative teaching scene, FutureLab also provides the audience with opportunities to communicate directly with the professors and students of worldwide prestigious universities.