On November 17, 2025, the School of Future Design (SFD) at Beijing Normal University hosted the “Design-Driven Development of STEAM Education Ecosystem – FAN 2025 Asian Maker Carnival” at the University’s Zhuhai Campus. As a key component of the 2025 FabLab Asia Network Conference, the event brought together FabLab network partners, experts, scholars, and students from over 10 countries and regions, including South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, India, and China Hong Kong.

Speeches and Forum Highlight Global Educational Vision

In his opening address, Professor Gao Peng, Dean of SFD, extended a warm welcome to the international guests. He highlighted the strong alignment between FabLab’s “idea, design, manufacture” cycle and the School’s project-based learning (PBL) model. The newly inaugurated FabLab workshop at SFD is set to become a key hub within the global network of over 1,300 FabLab nodes.

A keynote speech was delivered by Kate Armstrong, CEO of the Fab City Foundation, who presented the global “Fab City Learning Ecosystem” framework and its vision for cities to achieve localized production and a circular economy by 2054.

The event also featured talks by international educators. Professor Tony Brown, a Distinguished Professor at SFD, discussed a teaching framework for blending art and technology. Ms. Liao Liting, founder of Litchee Lab, shared insights on community challenge-driven innovation education. Mr. Saverio Silli, a lecturer from Tongji University, elaborated on FabLab’s role as a “learning by doing” platform.

A panel discussion on “Design-Driven Development of STEAM Education Ecosystem” followed, where experts engaged in a dialogue on contemporary educational challenges and the importance of hands-on learning in cultivating future creators.

Hands-On Workshops Engage International Participants

The practical spirit of the event was embodied in five concurrent workshops. Participants engaged in activities ranging from creating Braille labels from recycled cans and building DIY smartphone macro lenses, to exploring future city design with AI. These sessions showcased the event’s core themes of creativity, sustainability, and open collaboration.

Through this gathering, SFD reinforced its commitment to the mission of “Designing for a Better Future Life,” leveraging global networks to empower a new generation of innovators.