On December 4, 2024, the annual OLYMP'ARTS awards ceremony of the International Olympic Arts Committee was held in grand style at the Gustave Eiffel lounge of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Themed "Beauty Will Save the World," the event aimed to promote the progress and harmony of human society through the power of art. Qian Fengying, a graduate student in Popular Science Creativity and Design Program at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, along with team members Huang Yalin and Huang Junming, won the Gold Award in the Interaction Design category of the OLYMP'ARTS China Design Award for their design work "Udo".

Main visual for the award ceremony

Award Ceremony

At the awards ceremony, during his opening address, Marc Verriere, the Founding President of the International Olympic Arts Committee, emphasized that the core mission of art is to break down cultural barriers and foster global understanding and cooperation. He pointed out that art serves not only as a tool to express the pursuit of a better world but also as a bridge for cooperation among nations worldwide, transcending the boundaries of language, culture, and geography to promote global cooperation and peace.

Address by Marc Verriere, Founding President of the International Olympic Arts Committee

Qian Fengying with team members Huang Yalin and Huang Junming have created Udo, a desktop clock inspired by cosmic principles such as universal gravitation, escape velocity, and black holes, masterfully fusing magnetic attraction technology with slow-rebound sponge. They posit that, much like how the escape velocity of the universe confines celestial bodies and life within it, time imposes similar constraints on humanity. The sensation of time mirrors the characteristics of slow-rebound material: one distinctly feels the "impression" of the present moment before it gradually fades, disappearing into the vast expanse of time. Each timing cycle signifies the completion of a task within its allotted timeframe, and the sound of the marble dropping marks not only the end of the timing period but also serves as a liberating escape from the confines of finite time. Through a simple interactive timing mechanism, this desktop clock is designed to help individuals appreciate the tangible beauty of time.

The award-winning work "Udo"

At the award ceremony, Qian Fengying, speaking as the team representative, expressed, "It is often the purest things that strike the deepest chords in our hearts. As designers, we ought to comprehend the genuine value embedded in the seemingly mundane aspects of life and convey it to the masses through our works. This exchange of beauty and art has the power to reshape people's attitudes towards life, renew their perception of the world, and potentially alter the future landscape."

Qian Fengying delivers a speech at the award ceremony

Qian Fengying receives the trophy

Qian Fengying's master's supervisor, Associate Professor Fu Zhiyong from the Department of Information Art and Design, AADTHU, was also invited to attend the ceremony and had exchanges with Marc Verriere, Chairman of the International Olympic Committee, and Qin Wen, Executive Chairman, during the award ceremony.

Group photo with Marc Verriere (center), the founding chairman of the International Olympic Art Committee, and others.

Group photo with Executive Chairman Qin Wen (center)   

OLYMP'ARTS, an artistic gala organized by the World OLYMP'ARTS Council, is dedicated to showcasing the pivotal role of art in building a better world and fulfilling its mission to illuminate the world with art. The World OLYMP'ARTS Council, abbreviated as the WOAC, is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its inaugural assembly was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, in 1995.

The OLYMP'ARTS China Design Award, jointly initiated by the WOAC, the Weiqiao Guoke Joint Laboratory of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Beijing Design Week, is an independent category established by the WOAC specifically for Chinese designers. The design works submitted for evaluation must embody shareability while showcasing cutting-edge Chinese design concepts, thereby facilitating the global reach of "Chinese Design."