SFD Hosts Academic Forum on "Chinese Design for the Future"

On December 11, the "Chinese Design for the Future" academic forum, organized by School of Future Design at Beijing Normal University, was successfully held at the Art Gallery of Beijing Normal University's Zhuhai Campus.

The forum featured nine practitioners in the field of design, including renowned designers Han Jiaying, Liu Xiaodu, Stanley Wong, Ding Nianzu, international curators Luo Yi, Song Tao, Fan Zhe, Li Xiaoxin, and luxury industry executive Yu Pei. They shared their creative concepts, design processes, and experiences in international design, providing an opportunity for students and colleagues in the design field to understand the latest trends in the international design arena and gain firsthand experiences on the international path of Chinese designers. The forum was hosted by Professor Zhou Tiange, Head of the Art and Technology Laboratory at the school.

The forum, conducted through a combination of online and offline modes, was divided into three themes: "China's Path," "Design Going West," and "Intersection of China and the West." Covering topics from an international perspective to the design industry chain, from design practice to international influence, the guests engaged in in-depth discussions on "how to maintain the uniqueness of Chinese design while absorbing advanced ideas from international design against the backdrop of globalization."

At the beginning of the forum, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing Normal University's Zhuhai Campus and Secretary of the Party Branch of School of Future Design, Ning Shaolin, and Gao Peng, Dean of School of Future Design at Beijing Normal University, delivered speeches. Independent curator, museum consultant, and responsible person for the "Chinese Design in European and American Museums" project of the Future Design Seed Fund at Beijing Normal University, Luo Yi, delivered a speech on the theme "Research on Chinese Contemporary Design in Overseas Museums Since 1989."

The "China's Path" sub-forum, started with the perspective of active Chinese figures in the international design community, it explored the activation and reconstruction of traditional Chinese culture on the international stage. During the forum, ceramic designer Ding Nianzu and Hong Kong designer Stanley Wong shared their design concepts and practices, while Li Xiaoxin, curator of the Asian Department of the V&A Museum in the UK, shared the collection status of contemporary Chinese handicrafts and designs at the V&A Museum. The "Design Going West" sub-forum focused on sharing experiences of international promotion in the field of Chinese design and brands. Founder and curator of the Sino-French Design Center, Fan Zhe, Yuan Museum Director and curator Song Tao, and luxury industry executive and author Yu Pei shared their experiences as international promoters of Sino-French and Chinese design brands. The "Intersection of China and the West" sub-forum emphasized showcasing the career development of Chinese senior designers and the international impact of their design practices. Renowned designer and founder of Han Jiaying Design Company, Han Jiaying, and founding partner of URBANUS Urban Practice Architecture Design Firm and Director of the Ping Shan Art Museum in Shenzhen, Liu Xiaodu, shared their valuable experiences in the industry over the past 20-30 years, providing guidance for our students.

Gao Peng, Dean of Beijing Normal University's School of Future Design stated that the "Chinese Design for the Future" forum is not only a platform to showcase the works of Chinese designers and exchange design concepts but also an important occasion for in-depth discussions on how design can drive cultural innovation and social progress. The forum explores the development of Chinese design on the international stage and investigates the latest trends in the international design field. The event will contribute to cultivating students' design thinking and innovation capabilities, providing them with an opportunity to gain in-depth insights into the forefront of the design industry's development.

Ning Shaolin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing Normal University's Zhuhai Campus and Secretary of the Party Branch of the School of Future Design, mentioned that the school regularly invites industry masters from the domestic and international to share their experiences. The aim is to provide students with future-oriented design education, stimulate creativity, and cultivate innovative design talents with the ability to analyze and predict future social development trends and gain the international perspective.

Forum Guest Panel Discussion

Forum Guests Group Photo