Two young faculty members from theSFDcaptivated audiences at two major industry events in March 2025, blending tradition with cutting-edge innovation. Associate Professor Xu Dongliang unveiled a fashion collection inspired by China’s intangible cultural heritage at the China International Fashion Week, while Associate Researcher Zhou Tiange reimagined soundscapes through digital-art fusion at the Music Tech Innovation Festival.

Cultural Revival Meets Modern Design at Fashion Week

Held in Beijing from March 20–28, the 2025 China International Fashion Week (Spring) spotlighted cultural confidence, sustainable practices, and the creative reinterpretation of traditional craftsmanship. Among 270 designers and 230 global brands, Xu Dongliang’s collection Rao Yan Ran Yu stood out, drawing from the Raojia people’s ancient Fengxiang   D yeing technique in Guizhou Province. By digitizing and reinterpreting this UNESCO-recognized craft, Xu’s designs harmonized Eastern aesthetics with contemporary silhouettes, transforming intricate patterns into wearable art. “Our goal is to bridge traditional artistry with modern lifestyles,” Xu explained, emphasizing how his team’s research integrates cultural preservation, digital innovation, and market-ready fashion.

Digital Soundscapes Redefine Artistic Boundaries

At Shanghai’s Music Tech Innovation Festival (March 13–22), Zhou Tiange, head of SFD’s Art and Technology Lab, pushed the envelope of auditory experiences. During the opening event, Zhou staged an immersiveHuman-Machine Improvisationperformance, where live brainwave data and AI algorithms generated real-time soundscapes. A highlight was her workshop From Dunhuang Code to Porcelain Resonance, which fused ancient artifacts—such as Tang Dynasty musical scores and Jingdezhen ceramics—with machine learning and motion-capture technology. Attendees became co-creators, using gesture recognition and neural interfaces to craft site-specific audio narratives.

Pioneering a Future Where Tradition and Innovation Converge

Both projects epitomize the Future Design School’s mission to drive innovation through interdisciplinary exploration. By transforming intangible heritage into modern design languages and merging art with emerging technologies, the school continues to forge pathways for cultural sustainability and creative expression. As these initiatives demonstrate, design is no longer confined to aesthetics—it is a dynamic force shaping how societies honor their past while inventing the future.

The SFD remains committed to cultivating visionary thinkers who redefine boundaries, ensuring that tradition and technology evolve hand in hand.