On the morning of August 30, 2024, the "Design Futures· Shared Vision" 2024 International Summer Program, hosted by the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, successfully concluded with a closing ceremony in the C528 Lecture Hall of the Academy. Professor MA Sai, Dean of the Academy of Arts & Design and Director of the 2024 International Summer Program, attended the ceremony and extended warm congratulations to the junior mentors and international students for their outstanding achievements during the program.

In his closing remarks, Dean MA Sai emphasized that this year's summer program, centered around the theme of "Design Futures·Shared Vision," attracted 33 exceptional international students from 10 renowned institutions, including the Royal College of Art, Politecnico di Milano, Musashino Art University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and University of Tsukuba. The program achieved remarkable results, aligning with the Academy's strategic goal of deepening internationalization. It fostered collaborations with leading global academic institutions and design enterprises, aiming to cultivate design leaders with both global perspectives and innovative capabilities. Dean MA expressed his gratitude to all guest speakers, industry experts, junior mentors, volunteers, and staff who contributed to the success of the program. He looks forward to future reunions and the creation of even more brilliant chapters together.

Professor MA Sai, Dean of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, delivered the closing summary

During the roadshow session of the closing ceremony, each group focused on one of three themes: "New Space," "New Cities," and "New Tourism." They presented their prototypes, developed over two weeks, which were designed for practical experience and use.

The first group introduced the MOOBIE wearable device, based on the principles of neurodiversity, pioneering a new emotion-driven cultural tourism model. The second group, combining IoT technology and material science, developed the FitFlora system, aimed at addressing food safety and community fitness issues in Beijing, thereby promoting urban ecological harmony. The third group presented the "Huo Zhong Project," which utilizing biomimicry design principles, developed the "Seed Pod" modular spacecraft, offering a novel approach to Mars exploration. The fourth group employed architectural informatics to explore innovative paths that combine digital technology with traditional craftsmanship, focusing on the recycling of discarded wood to promote urban sustainability. The fifth group created an immersive starry sky cultural experience platform using VR, data visualization, and human-computer interaction technologies, making scientific learning more engaging and accessible. The sixth group, inspired by Mars rovers, designed a "Mars Rover" targeted at young people, which combined fashion with practicality using advanced technology to envision life on Mars.

Group Project Presentations

Professor FU Zhiyong, Associate Director of the Department of Information Art and Design at Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University; Professor ZHENG Zhihong, Chief Researcher at the Future Laboratory of Tsinghua University; YU Cangbi, Executive Director of the Secretariat of The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Education Alliance of China; Professor PAN Yonghwan, Head of the Department of AI Design at the School of Design, Kookmin University, South Korea; Associate Professor YANG Yi from the Department of Electronic Engineering, Tsinghua University; and Associate Professor HE Siqian from the Department of Industrial Design, University of Science and Technology Beijing, participated in the evaluation as expert judges. HAO Juandi, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, also attended the closing ceremony.

In the subsequent award ceremony, Dean MA Sai and Professor FU Zhiyong presented certificates and prizes to the teams that won the Best Visionary Innovation Award, Best Applied Technology Award, and Best Social Impact Award.

Dean MA Sai and Professor FU Zhiyong presented awards to the winning teams

They also presented certificates and awards to the six junior mentors, nine dedicated volunteers, and three excellent volunteers.

Dean MA Sai and Professor FU Zhiyong took a group photo with the volunteer team

Dean MA Sai and Professor FU Zhiyong presented awards to the excellent volunteers (from left to right: ZHAO Changran, ZHANG Yuyao, and XU Jiaxuan)

The closing ceremony was hosted by LI Jiawei, a doctoral student at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University. With a round of applause from the audience, the ceremony successfully concluded, marking the perfect end to the "Design Futures· Shared Vision" 2024 International Summer Program.

The closing ceremony was hosted by LI Jiawei, a doctoral student at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

The two-week summer program provided students with the opportunity to expand their global perspectives and enhance their innovative design capabilities through a series of specialized lectures, practical guidance, company visits, team collaborations, and various cultural experience activities arranged by the International Summer Program Working Group of the Academy of Arts & Design. It is hoped that the students will carry this valuable experience and the knowledge they have gained into their future endeavors, continuing to excel in their respective fields and contributing to the advancement of global design futures.

Group Photo