How design students at Jiangnan University envision a better future for the world
At Jiangnan University’s School of Design, students are encouraged to consider the role that design has in improving the world
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Renowned for its pioneering, industry-focused education, Jiangnan University’s School of Design has a history stretching back to the modelling department at Wuxi Institute of Light Industry, established in 1960. First to offer a design programme in China, the school continues to lead the field and is dedicated to nurturing responsible, research-focused talent that drives global innovation in design.
Having shaped the careers of more than a hundred deans and presidents of design schools in China, the school maintains deep collaborations with other institutions and industry. It addresses the evolving demands of a growing design industry and digital economy, offering solutions to socioeconomic issues and enhancing people’s well-being through innovative design.
Evidence of the university’s pioneering ethos is the fact that its School of Design was one of the earliest members of the Cumulus Association, a leading international association of art and design education and research. The school was selected as the organiser of the 2018 Cumulus Conference in Wuxi, China. Organised around the theme “diffused transition and design opportunities”, the conference examined globalisation with a critical eye, evaluating the role of socially responsible designers in the creation of environmentally, socially and economically viable futures.
In addition to taking a prominent role at global events, the School of Design was also an initiator of the DESIS Network, a not-for-profit association that focuses on promoting designs that embody social innovation. The school is highly active in international exchanges, partnering with over 50 prestigious design schools around the world.
Jiangnan University’s School of Design consists of over 3,300 students and 200 faculty members spread across seven departments. They are devoted to advancing design and artistic practices, with their work featuring at prestigious events such as the China International Bicycle Fair, the World Industrial Design Conference, Zhuhai Airshow, Dubai Design Week and the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in China.
Many of the designs created at the school have earned accolades, including the Red Dot Design Award, the iF Design Award and International Design Excellence Awards. Notably, the school’s alumni have contributed to the design of the 2008 Beijing Olympic medal, the 2022 Winter Olympics mascot, the branding for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, public artworks for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and visuals for the 2018 World Fencing Championships.
Having their designs showcased at important global events demonstrates the vision and innovation that underpin the work of students and graduates from the school. Many of the school’s graduates have taken important roles in organisations such as China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alibaba, Huawei and Baidu.
Every year, around 30 per cent of graduates from Jiangnan University’s School of Design receive offers from world-renowned universities and design schools to continue their studies through master’s and doctoral placements. By inculcating a solution-orientated approach to design in its students, the School of Design prepares them to take their innovative visions and share them with the world.
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