End of August I was invited as a speaker for the 14th Conference of the International Advisory Group –  Summit Forum of Art and Design Education of Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts (SIVA). 

There were multiple reasons for attending this conference in Shanghai. I used the opportunity to also visit Tongji University to meet LOU Yonqui and his colleagues. In addition, I had the chance to have quick meeting at CAA Hangzhou talking with them about the new program focusing on Integrated Design – designing for Communities in specific regions and cities in China. In addition, I took the chance to attend the DeTao academy – closely related to SIVA at the same campus to better understand the way they work and make up my mind what it means to be  DeTao Master.

We started with a big welcome ceremony for the new student cohort at SIVA.

But talking about the conference of SIVA, it was really interesting and impressive. Since their foundation 14 years ago, SIVA invites every year designers from universities all over the world to share their practice and discuss experiences and future expectations. I had the pleasure to present five core questions I see emerging in future design education – and related that to the collaboration opportunities with China.

During the two days of the conference with a lot of faculty and staff attending there was enough time to go deeper into discussions about future collaborations between KISD and SIVA.  Based on a shared understanding with President Zhou Bin, we agreed to work in the future not only on based on student exchange, but also on the following topics:

• Collaborative research opportunities on specific themes to be defined
  特定主题的合作研究机会
• Academic and educational symposiums
  学术研讨
• Exchange and joint work on didactic issues and the development of
  new academic formats (e.g, seasonal schools, residencies)
  在教学方面的交流协作，开发新型学术形式（例如：季校、驻地计划等）
• Micro-certificates based on the developed formats
  基于双方合作基础上的微证书
• Cooperative design and cultural programs, study trips, joint academic events in Europe and China
  协同设计与文化项目、学术考察、欧洲与中国的联合学术活动
• Teacher and staff training in Europe
  教职员工在欧洲的培训

The last day ended with a three hour conversation I had together with Nick Rhodes from CSM (friend and partner in our GDI program) and more than 10 faculty members discussion emerging topics in design education and how we are dealing with that.

I am especially interested in the development of new formats that can blend with the existing curricular structure. As always, such a MOU helps to outline the possible opportunities. So I am looking forward to see what will happen!