Email: dammyrice@hotmail.com

Title

Tenured Associate Professor

Position

Deputy Director of the Department of Ceramic Art and Design

Party Branch Secretary of the Department of Ceramic Art and Design

Education Background

September 2018-Present: Doctoral Student in Ceramic Art and Design at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

October 2004-July 2006: Master’s Degree in Free Painting at the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Germany

October 2001-July 2004: Master’s Degree in Art and Practical Ceramics at the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, Germany

September 1995-July 1999: Bachelor’s Degree in Ceramic Art and Design at the Central Academy of Craft Art (now part of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University)

Work Experience

January 2020-Present: Tenured Associate Professor, Department of Ceramic Art and Design, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

December 2018-December 2019: Tenure-track Associate Professor, Department of Ceramic Art and Design, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

July 2017-November 2018: Assistant Professor, Department of Ceramic Art and Design, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

January 2011-June 2017: Lecturer, Department of Ceramic Art and Design, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

May 2008-December 2010: Teaching Assistant, Department of Ceramic Art and Design, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

Teaching Philosophy

In the era of network sharing today, teachers should consider what unique learning experiences traditional classroom teaching can offer students, and what makes it truly irreplaceable. Drawing on the insights of senior teachers and ongoing self-reflection, she has centered her course development on three core principles: structure, depth, and interaction. By adopting a teaching approach that blends exploration and guidance, she fosters an engaging learning environment that sparks curiosity and encourages students to pursue knowledge with initiative and enthusiasm. She has actively launched SRT (Student Research Training) projects, using flexible research topics to complement structured classroom instruction. With its innovative format and forward-thinking topics that resonate with the interests of today’s youth, the project has not only sparked strong enthusiasm among students in the field but also attracted active participation from those in other disciplines. This cross-disciplinary engagement has brought new energy and inspiration to ceramic creation.

She has pioneered a collaborative teaching model with internationally renowned ceramic brands, fostering a close integration between classroom learning and industry practice. This approach guides students to develop a broader design perspective during their studies, helping them build a holistic understanding of design and a strong sense of social responsibility.

Compared to undergraduate education, graduate teaching is more in-depth and focused. While the subject matter may appear similar, it requires the instructor to provide a more specialized and professional perspective, helping students expand their broad knowledge base into deeper, more critical understanding.

She embraces a “de-standardized” approach to teaching at the graduate level. The teacher plays more of a role in designing and inspiring the learning process, embracing students’ individuality, passion, and talent. By engaging in deep communication with students, the teacher identifies individual differences and proposes personalized learning plans. This helps establish a precise connection between systematic theoretical knowledge and the students, igniting their intrinsic motivation for deeper exploration. The approach creates a teaching environment that is more conducive to the development of creativity and artistic thinking.

Graduate education is a crucial stage for students’ personal growth and advancement. By respecting individual differences and encouraging uniqueness, it reduces the negative impacts of mass education, guiding students toward a path of creative and artistic freedom.

Academic Claims and Achievements

Focus on the forefront while being grounded in the local context

She focuses on the design and research of renowned European ceramic brands, particularly those from Germany, as well as the development of domestic Chinese ceramic brands.

Through her seven years of studying in Germany and subsequent regular exchanges, she can see beyond the complexities and uncover the underlying logic, gaining a deeper understanding of the design practices and philosophies of this modern industrial design powerhouse. Especially, Germany is home to several world-renowned ceramic brands. Through her interactions with them, she can analyze their brand-building strategies and behavior patterns, aiming to leverage their successful experiences to contribute to the development of domestic Chinese ceramic brands and fulfill her social responsibility.

It is essential to continuously compare and analyze the characteristics of the Chinese ceramic industry during the research. For the Chinese ceramic industry, which has evolved from traditional handcraft and is still in the process of industrialization, it is not advisable to simply replicate existing foreign models. Therefore, studying the current state and characteristics of Chinese ceramic production areas, as well as exploring the potential for integrating traditional craftsmanship into modern production, is a crucial area of research. The aim is to guide more societal forces in jointly exploring a path for ceramic brand development that is in line with China’s unique national context.

In addition, there is a focus on conducting in-depth research on classic brands and products, continuously introducing the development history of European ceramic brands to Chinese ceramic companies, and developing ceramic design concepts that align with Chinese characteristics. With the implementation of a series of collaborative exchange activities, the project titled “Ceramic Brand Design Thinking and Methods,” submitted as a vertical research project to the Ministry of Science and Technology, has sparked in-depth reflection and practical efforts among industry professionals on the development of domestic ceramic brands. Its academic and social value continues to grow.

Academic Contribution

1. Achieving the first cooperation with world-renowned ceramic brands

The emphasis on university-enterprise cooperation is a long-standing tradition in the Department of Ceramics. However, previous cooperations have largely focused on domestic ceramic production areas, and this marks the first cooperation with internationally renowned ceramic brands. The brand development history and brand position of Germany’s Rosenthal are classic examples in the history of ceramic design, making them worthy of in-depth exploration and study. The cooperation with it holds significant academic value.

2. Enhancing the visibility of Chinese ceramic culture

While the Internet has greatly accelerated the spread of information, nothing is more compelling than directly seeing a work of art. By exhibiting works by our faculty and students and organizing exchange activities, we offer European audiences a direct experience of the true capability of China’s leading art and design institution. This has not only reshaped their perception of the current state of Chinese ceramics but also highlighted the distinctive qualities of ceramic design in today’s China.

International Academic Conferences

1. 2019 ISCAEE International Society of Ceramics Art Education and Exchange, Dankook University, South Korea, invited paper presentation in English

2. Brilliant The 4th International Handicrafts Exhibition, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, invited speech in English

3. 2017 ISCAEE International Society of Ceramics Art Education and Exchange, University for the Creative Arts, the UK, invited speech in English

4. 2011 ISCAEE International Society of Ceramics Art Education and Exchange, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan, invited speech in English

5. 2009 ISCAEE International Society of Ceramics Art Education and Exchange, Yeoju-gun, South Korea, invited speech in English

Research Projects

1. Training Program for Inheritors of Traditional Beijing Folk Toys, Beijing Culture and Arts Fund, December 2019

2. Ceramic Brand Design Thinking and Methods, Ministry of Science and Technology, July 2019

3. Analysis and Research on Assistive Technologies for Public Transportation Services for People with Disabilities, China Disabled Persons’ Federation, June 2019

4. A Study on the Design of Cultural and Creative Products Based on Traditional Dehua Ceramic Sculpture, Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program, January 2018

5. International Emerging Artists Group Exhibition & Symposium, China National Arts Fund, April 2018

6. Wood Firing and Environmental Protection: Summit on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Traditional Chinese Ceramics, Beijing Culture and Arts Fund, September 2018

Awards

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) Outstanding Graduate Award, 2007

Peter Siemssen Award for Excellence in Ceramic Art, 2010

Through years of exploration and refinement, her course Ceramic Design, taught in collaboration with world-renowned ceramic brands, has yielded significant teaching results. She was also awarded the Second Prize of the Tsinghua University Undergraduate Teaching Achievement Award in 2019.

Teaching

Form Study-3D, Foundation of Traditional Ceramic, Ceramic Design