On June 3rd, Tsinghua University distinguished professor and Director of Tsinghua University Art Museum, Lu Xiaobo, and Head of the Department of Industrial Design at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, Zhang Lei, engaged in an in-depth dialogue on “Oriental Design Aesthetics” with Xu Lingfeng, a Senior Designer at Great Wall Motor. Using automobiles as a medium, they explored the contemporary expression of Oriental aesthetics, showcasing the unique value of Chinese design in the global automotive industry’s transformation.

Lu Xiaobo (left), Zhang Lei (middle), Xu Lingfeng (right)

01 Five Thousand Years of Oriental Aesthetics: “Grandeur” as the Embodiment of Confidence

Lu Xiaobo:

·Oriental aesthetics centers on the concept of “unity of Heaven and humanity” and strives for the realm of “great simplicity.”

·Chinese aesthetics emphasizes a systemic approach to the relationship between nature and humanity. The simplicity of Song dynasty artifacts goes beyond mere form; it’s a fusion of lifestyle and philosophy.

·Chinese ink wash painting (Xieyi) expresses emotions with a harmonious interplay of “void and substance,” embodying the spiritual pursuit of “simplicity yet extraordinary.” “Great simplicity” is indeed the pinnacle of Oriental aesthetics.

Xu Lingfeng:

·We drew inspiration from the grandeur of the Forbidden City and the resilience of bamboo to convey the idea of “grandeur,” helping our foreign colleagues understand that Oriental aesthetics is not just visual but also a spiritual essence.

·The magnificent Leshan Giant Buddha and the solemn Hall of Supreme Harmony are concrete expressions of Oriental “grandeur.” Design requires this cultural confidence.

02 Technology Reshapes Design Boundaries: Art Enriches Spirit, Technology Forms Structure

Lu Xiaobo:

·Intelligence can deduce logic, but emotion remains uniquely human. AI excels at rules and judgments, yet it struggles to replace human distinctiveness in emotion, empathy, aesthetics, and spiritual experience. Design should use technology as its structure, imbue it with art as its soul, and build bridges with emotion.

Zhang Lei:

·Design isn’t about simply applying traditional patterns or reliefs. It’s about reinterpreting traditional culture using modern design language. The perforated patterns on the Asian Winter Games torch tower, for instance, use parametric design to express “harmony,” which is a contemporary expression of Oriental aesthetics.

·The accumulation of life experiences subtly influences aesthetic judgment. Even the everyday objects you encounter from childhood can impact your aesthetic sense. When one is exposed to and experiences beauty from a young age, the seeds of beauty take deep root and eventually blossom.

03 Design is the Expression of Emotion: Evoking User Empathy Through Feeling

Lu Xiaobo:

·Beauty is the resonance of emotion; design is a bridge between technology and humanity.

·The more technologically advanced we become, the greater the need for emotional resonance. Only by balancing technological rationality with human warmth, and achieving sustainable equilibrium between logic and emotion, can design pave the way for a sustainable future.

Xu Lingfeng:

·For designers, both exterior and interior design must be infused with emotion, combined with their aesthetic cultivation, and integrated into automotive design, so that users can understand, appreciate, remember, and resonate with it.

04 Good Design Comes with Its Own Manual: Instantly Understandable

Zhang Lei:

·Good design comes with its own manual. The understanding of design semantics comes from a long-term accumulation of life experiences. Good design represents the optimal balance between visual appeal, usability, manufacturing feasibility, and industrial value.

Xu Lingfeng:

·Building emotional resonance with consumers in an unconventional way is a unique ability. Great Wall’s design has no rigid framework; its underlying logic is category innovation, focusing on the emotional demands of different user groups. The fundamental aspect of innovation in Oriental aesthetics is to focus on users’ new lifestyle scenarios and new emotional values, establishing emotional value distinctions through different categories, allowing the brand to grow dynamically.

Great Wall Motor’s visit to the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University provided a cutting-edge platform for students and young designers, promoting innovative practice. As more cultural genes are decoded and more innovative scenarios are activated, the “Grandeur from Nature” of Oriental aesthetics will integrate and shape contemporary design language.