As the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (formerly the Central Academy of Arts & Design) approaches its 70th anniversary in 2026, the Academy officially launched its full 70th Anniversary Visual Identity System today, coinciding with the 100-day countdown milestone to the anniversary celebration.
The Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, originally founded as the Central Academy of Arts & Design, will mark its 70th anniversary in 2026. 100 days ahead of its official anniversary celebrations, the academy has formally launched a full, cohesive visual identity system to anchor the landmark commemorative events.
The Full Visual Identity System
Core Logo: “Walk Alongside Beauty”
Anchored by the Chinese character “美” (Měi, meaning “beauty”) as its visual nucleus, the anniversary logo ingeniously integrates both the numerical concept of “seventy” and the educational ethos of “nurturing talents” into the structure of the character itself, creating a primary visual image that balances distinct recognizability, commemorative weight, and profound symbolic meaning.
The subtle embedded structure of the Chinese character “人” (Rén, meaning “person”) at the logo’s base emphasizes the Academy’s unwavering fundamental mission of fostering virtue through education.
The top section of the character, shaped like both an open book and soaring wings, signifies continuous innovation and ascending progress in academic exploration.
The crisscrossing, mutually extending lines throughout the design embody the connection between art and science, humanities and engineering, symbolizing the Academy’s vision of advancing multidisciplinary integration under Tsinghua University’s comprehensive academic platform, and its longstanding commitment to “art and technology convergence”.
In the combined version of the logo, the embedded graphic elements representing the four dimensions of ”clothing, food, shelter, and transportation” carry forward the Academy’s founding legacy rooted in the Central Academy of Arts and Design: the educational philosophy of “art for life, design for people”. These elements reflect the Academy’s academic stance and practical spirit, grounding its work in the lives of the people, serving national development, leveraging design to engage with real-world challenges, and responding to the times through creative action.
Both vertical and horizontal layout versions of the complete logo have been released for flexible application across different scenarios.
Supporting Graphic System: Integration of Arts and Disciplines, Harmonious Co-existence of All Forms of Beauty
The supplementary visual language uses multi-dimensional design devices including generative patterns, blended color palettes, play of light and shadow, and material conversions, to interpret the Academy of Arts & Design’s distinctive core philosophy of “art and technology integration”.
Color and Thematic Narrative
The entire visual system unfolds through four complementary aesthetic dimensions:
The Beauty of Cross-Border Collaboration: Symbiosis of Art and Technology, Co-Creation for the Future
Promoting mutual inspiration and synergistic coexistence between art and science, the design converges collective knowledge from design, humanities, management, engineering, and diverse other disciplines. It embodies the expansion of cognitive and practical boundaries through open collaboration, and the co-creation of a brilliant shared future across disciplinary divides.
The Beauty of Heritage: Deep Cultural Roots and Contemporary Creative Transformation
Drawing nourishment from the enduring continuity of cultural traditions to cultivate generative awareness, and empowering creative thinking with profound cultural heritage, this dimension reflects the Academy’s leading development path, carrying forward legacy through orthodox inheritance while transcending existing limits through relentless inquiry.
The Beauty of People-Centered Purpose: National Mission and Humanistic Care
Uniting the mission of the times with deep humanistic values, this layer embodies the Academy’s identity both as a shaper of national image and a creator of a better quality of life for all.
The Beauty of Innovation: Artistic Creation and Pioneering Academic Exploration
Using artistic practice to expand the boundaries of perception and expression, while deepening methodologies for understanding and transforming the world through rigorous academic research, this dimension highlights the Academy’s endless driving force for continuously generating new ideas, new approaches, and new creative outcomes.
A comprehensive practical guide for scenario-specific application of the full visual system has also been released alongside the core design assets.
Design Team
The complete 70th Anniversary Visual Identity System was led by Professor Wang Hongwei, a faculty member from the Department of Visual Communication Design at Tsinghua University Academy of Arts & Design, who headed the core design team alongside members Feng Yunxi, Liu Siqi, and Yang Dongsheng.
Professor Wang Hongwei is a leading scholar in the fields of Chinese character graphic design and reading system design, whose works have won numerous major domestic and international awards. He currently also serves as Vice President of the Design Committee of the China Packaging Federation, Director of the Cultural and Creative Design Professional Committee of the Chinese National Folk Arts and Crafts Association, and Deputy Secretary-General of the Book Design Art Committee of the China Publishing Association.
Seven decades of journey, sailing forward on the river of beauty. The artistic road stretches far ahead, with every step taken side by side.
Looking to the future, the Academy will continue to hold high the academic banner of “art and technology integration”, adhere to its mission of serving the nation while using beauty as a bridge for connection. Drawing on Tsinghua University’s multidisciplinary comprehensive strengths, it will push forward cross-disciplinary collaboration, innovation, and breakthroughs, using art to observe social realities, design to engage with the defining issues of our era, and creativity to respond to the shared concerns of humanity. The Academy pledges to continue contributing Tsinghua’s unique strength to China’s artistic design and aesthetic education missions in the new era.
This 70th anniversary visual identity is exclusively permitted for use in official events and activities marking the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University’s 70th anniversary. All organizations and individuals must obtain official authorized permission prior to any usage of the assets.
The Academy extends sincere gratitude to all sectors of society for their longstanding care and support for its development.
