The "Beyond Boundaries & Synergy: Innovative Development of International Design in the Age of Intelligent Media" conference took place on Oct 30 at the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, alongside the inauguration of the International Design Education Alliance (IDEA).
Organized by the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication and the China Society of Image and Graphics, the event aimed to explore how design innovation can tackle key challenges in education, technology, society, and international cooperation in the era of intelligent media, and create an international platform for collaboration in design education.
The IDEA was launched at the conference. Chen Dan, vice-president of the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, outlined its mission to establish a new international design education ecosystem that is "open, collaborative and shared".
As media evolves, it is reshaping human perception, meaning-making, and connections, said Tian Zhongli, president of the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication. Design is becoming a systemic force that bridges people and the environment, links knowledge with industry, addresses societal needs, and guides lifestyles, he added.
With an open perspective, he hopes, "The IDEA will break down barriers between disciplines and industries, reorganize knowledge and resources across fields, and build a new ecosystem for collaborative development in design education, fostering global exploration with a symbiotic approach".
IDEA aims to unite universities, research institutions, industry organizations, and the creative industry around five key tasks: building cooperation mechanisms, promoting academic exchanges, fostering international collaborative education, developing faculty, and integrating industry with education.
Currently, 57 universities and institutions worldwide have agreed to join, positioning the alliance as a platform for collaborative education, academic exchange, and innovation in international design education.
Guest speakers shared their ideas about design education in the age of intelligent media in their keynote speeches.
Eija Salmi, founding secretary-general of the Cumulus Association, the Global Association of Art and Design Education and Research, said design education in today's digital age should focus on skills like complex problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and effective industry communication. She encouraged member institutions to share knowledge and address challenges collaboratively through professional conferences, student competitions and joint projects.
Zou You, president of the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, emphasized the need to recognize the limitations of human cognition and technology, and to focus on real-world applications and actual needs. He advocated for creating high-quality designs that are meaningful, distinctive and recognizable, even within constraints. He suggested this approach offers valuable insights for nurturing design students' innovative capabilities.
In her keynote speech, Wang Xiaomo, vice-dean of the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University, highlighted that the true value of design goes beyond just using technology. It involves cultural understanding, independent thinking and creating value.
She pointed out that as artificial intelligence technology advances, designers need to move beyond traditional limitations of using tools. Instead, they should focus on developing skills in creating meaning, rethinking problems, and making aesthetic judgments.
Meanwhile, Maja Ilic, an assistant professor at the University of Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina, explained the basics and components of spatial intelligence in her keynote address. She emphasized that spatial ability is crucial for predicting creative success and argued that AI cannot replace the unique spatial imagination that design talents possess. Therefore, design education should concentrate on identifying and nurturing this ability.
