Email: xinl@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn

Academic Title
Tenured Professor

Position
Associate Chair, Department of Industrial Design

Education

·1987: B.A. in Industrial Design, Beijing University of Technology School of Art & Design (formerly Beijing School of Arts & Crafts)

·1997: M.A. in Industrial Design, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (formerly Central Academy of Crafts & Arts)

·2006: Ph.D. in Industrial Design, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

Professional Experience

·1987–1994: Beijing Automotive & Motorcycle Manufacturing Corporation Automotive Research Institute

·1997–2001: Independent Designer

·2001–2003: System Design Studio, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

·2006–Present: Faculty, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

Professional Affiliations

·Director, Eco-Design Institute, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

·Deputy Director, Sustainable Design Institute, Tsinghua Art & Science Research Center

·Adjunct Researcher, Institute for National Governance and Global Governance, Tsinghua University

·Chair, Sustainable Design Committee, Beijing Industrial Design Promotion Association

·Expert, International Cooperation Committee, China Urban Environmental Sanitation Association

·Co-Director, DESIS Lab (Social Innovation & Sustainable Design Alliance), Tsinghua University

·Co-Founder & Coordinator, LeNS China (Sustainable Design Learning Network)

Research Focus
Sustainable Design, Circular Economy Design, Product-Service System Design, Social Innovation Design

Academic Philosophy
Design bears two critical missions: addressing present challenges and envisioning sustainable futures. From ancient craftsmanship to modern industrial design, humanity has purposefully reshaped the world. While design’s essence remains constant, its challenges grow increasingly complex—ecological crises, resource scarcity, public health, social equity, and aging populations demand systemic solutions. Concurrently, design must inspire visions of sustainable living.

Sustainable Design (Design for Sustainability) integrates social, economic, and environmental harmony through systemic methodologies. As China advances ecological civilization and sustainable transitions, this field holds profound significance for pedagogy, research, and practice.

Academic Output
Milestones

·2003–2006: Pioneered sustainable design research during doctoral studies; dissertation awarded Tsinghua Outstanding Doctoral Thesis (2006).

·2008: Co-founded LeNS (Asia-Link EU-funded project), developing cross-continental curricula on sustainable product-service systems.

·2009: Established DESIS-China (Social Innovation & Sustainable Design Alliance) with Tongji University and five leading institutions.

·2012: Launched LeNS-China to promote sustainable design education; named to MOE’s New Century Excellent Talents Program.

Publications

·50+ papers in international conferences and core journals.

·Authored: Sustainable Design, Good Design, Good Products: Industrial Design Evaluation.

·Translated: Environmentally Sustainable Design, Design Activism: Sustainable Design Strategies.

·Co-authored: Product-Service System Design for Sustainability (international collaboration).

Key Projects

·2020–2022: Subproject Lead, Key Technologies for Toilet Upgrades in Cold, Water-Scarce Regions (National Key R&D Program, MOST).

·2019–2020: Smart Bathroom Design for Elderly Housing (Tsinghua Research Fund).

·2017–2019: Service Design for Integrated Sanitation Systems (Beijing Key R&D Program).

·2017–2021: Subproject Lead, Design Morphology Studies (National Social Science Fund Major Project).

·2016–2018: Sustainable Design Assessment Framework for Chinese Contexts (Tsinghua Key Research Initiative).

Awards & Recognition

·2021: Rural Sustainable Community Building Product Design Award for Waterless Ecological Toilet System.

·2021: iF Design Award and Japan Good Design Award for Squat-Sit Integrated Toilet System; China Design Intelligence Award finalist.

·2018: China Red Star Design Award (Silver) for Construction Site Urinal; Design-Driven Poverty Alleviation Award (China Industrial Design Association).

·2016: WA China Architecture Award for Lettuce House: Sustainable Lifestyle Lab.

·2015: IAI Design Special Award (Asia-Pacific) for Lettuce House.

·2012: First China Design Exhibition selection for Innovative Food Network.

·2006: Tsinghua Outstanding Doctoral Graduate (Second Prize for Dissertation).

Teaching
Undergraduate Courses

·Three-Dimensional Form Fundamentals

·Comprehensive Form Fundamentals

·Design Engineering Basics I

·Transportation Vehicle Design Expression I & II

·Introduction to Sustainable Design (University Elective)

Graduate Courses

·Sustainable Design Theory & Practice

·The Theory & Practice of Design for Sustainability

Teaching Awards

·First Prize, Beijing Municipal Education Teaching Achievements

·Second Prize, National Education Teaching Achievements

·Special Prize, Higher Education Teaching Achievements (2021) for Global Innovation Design Graduate Program