Email: degengli@yahoo.com.cn
Title
Tenured Associate Professor
Education Background
2013-2018: Doctor of Arts, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University
2001-2003: Master’s Degree, Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig
1999-2001: Master’s Degree, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology
1992-1996: Bachelor’s Degree, Central Academy of Arts & Design (now Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University)
Academic Services
2020-Present: Academic Committee Member, Shanxi Kaiyuan Cultural Heritage Protection Foundation
2019-Present: Visiting Professor, Cheung Kong School of Art & Design of Shantou University
2013-2014: Operation Advisor, Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art & Planning Exhibition
2010-2011: Art Director, FRAME China, MARK China, Design Management
2010-2011: Academic Director, Today Design Art Museum
2010: Exhibition Design Consultant, Shenzhen Case Pavilion, World Expo Shanghai
Academic Claims
He advocates for a simultaneous focus on teaching, theory, and practice in the new social environment, aiming to expand the boundaries of visual communication design. He focuses on the fusion of form and content, the integration of visual language with new media, and the application of visual communication design in cultural spaces. Particularly, he views “curating” as a creative tool that bridges cultural content and design, actively contributing to the social and cultural development of contemporary China.
Research Interests
Contemporary curatorial narrative design
Space visual design and the research and practice of urban cultural spaces
Academic Achievements
Works (including authored and translated works)
The Museum Without Exhibits, Li Degeng, Chongqing University Press, 2021
Liquid Museum, Li Degeng, Culture and Art Publishing House, 2020
Design Edge: Inside/Outside, Li Degeng, Luo Yi, Chongqing University Press, 2014
Helvetica Forever, Story of a Typeface, Chongqing University Press/Joint Publishing HK, translated by Li Degeng (Original: Las Muller), 2013
Is Graphic Design Dead, Li Degeng, Jiang Hua, and Luo Yi, Culture and Art Publishing House, 2011
Liberation of Ideas (Guan Nian Yue Yu), Gansu People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, Li Degeng, Guo Hongyu, 2008
Solid Reading (Gu Tai Yue Du), Gansu People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, Li Degeng, Guo Hongyu, 2008
Design Generation (She Ji Sheng Cheng), Gansu People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, Li Degeng, Guo Hongyu, 2008
Graphic City Building (Ping Mian Zhu Cheng), Gansu People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, Li Degeng, Guo Hongyu, 2008
Social Energy, Li Degeng, Jiang Hua, Printing Industry Press, 2008
Qwer Studio, Li Degeng, Wu Jiangong, Guo Hongyu, China Youth Publishing House, 2003
Cyan Studio, Li Degeng, Wu Jiangong, Guo Hongyu, China Youth Publishing House, 2003
Surface Studio, Li Degeng, Wu Jiangong, Guo Hongyu, China Youth Publishing House, 2003
Alessi, translated by Li Degeng (Original: Michelle Collins), Printing Industry Press, 2002
Academic Papers
“Retrospecting the Missing History, Activating the Contemporary Living: Practice & Thinking on the Narrative Space in Urban Renewals,” ZHUANSHI, 2021.9
“How to Build a Framework Understanding of the Profession: Reflections on Course Teaching of the Introduction to Visual Communication,” ZHUANSHI, 2021.5
“Cultural Reproduction of New Museum Exhibitions,” Art News of China, 2021.5.17
“From ‘Cultural Relics Display’ to ‘Historical Narrative’: Curatorial Design Concept Analysis in the Case of Museum of Zhang Zhidong in Wuhan,” Museum, 2021.4
“Change and Constancy: A Discussion on the Knowledge Structure Transition from Graphic Design to Visual Communication,” Art Panorama, 2020.12
“Li Degeng: The Significance of Schlemmer and Moholy-Nagy’s Concept of ‘Total Theatre’ to Museum Exhibition,” organized by Fine Arts Academy, Hunan Normal University, Design, Volume 32, 2019.12
“Museum and the Everyday Life,” New Arts, 2016.1
“Design Edge Inside/Outside: Contemporary International Design Research Projects,” ZHUANGSHI, 2014, Issue 2/250
“Design for the Future,” Art & Design Research, 2014.1
“Curatorial Notes on City of Interface - 2013 Shanghai Design Exhibition ‘Aesthetics City,’” New Arts, 2013.11
“The Construction of Content Space - My Books and My Exhibitions,” Book Design, Issue 11, China Youth Publishing House
“New Original - Reflections and Experiments on the Knockoff Creation System in the Design Industry,” Design360°, 2013.9, Issue 47
“Modernity Dilemma of Chinese Character Forms and the Postmodern Awakening,” Design360°, 2013.5, Issue 45
“Helvetica Forever, Story of a Typeface,” Design360°, 2013.1, Issue 43
“Crossing Boundaries is Both a Perspective and a Start,” Art and Design, 2012.12, Issue 253
“Good Guys,” ZHUANGSHI, special issue, 2011.9
“Active Imagination,” ZHUANGSHI, 2010.6
“Design in China,” ZHUANGSHI, 2010.5
“Simple Physics,” Design in China, 2010
“Designer’s Furniture or Yours?”, Design in China, 2010
“Homesickness,” Design in China, 2010
“Meet Literature,” Design in China, 2010
Curatorial Design
Chief Curator and Chief Designer, Diverse Homology Pavilion, Shenzhen, 2019–2021
Chief Curator and Chief Designer, Zhuhai Jinshan Museum, 2019–2021
Chief Curator and Chief Designer, “Diverse Homology - Four Historical Times and Spaces of the Pearl River Estuary,” 2020
Co-curator, “Documenta 2020-Windows in Pandemic,” Tsinghua University Art Museum, 2020
Co-curator, “Exhibition of National Image Design at the beginning of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China,” 2019
Head of Graphic Design, “Create for China, Create for People,” Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, 2019
Chief Curator and Chief Designer, Shenyang Taste Museum, 2019
Chief Curator, Shenzhen Urban Planning Museum, 2017-2019
Chief Curator and Chief Designer, Canal Innovative Center, Tianjin, 2018
Chief Curator and Chief Designer, Wuhan Real Estate Group Brand Hall, 2018
Chief Curator and Chief Designer, Longwan Hello City, Dongguan, 2018
Chief Curator and Chief Designer, Museum of Zhang Zhidong in Wuhan, 2015-2017
Chief Curator and Chief Designer, Documenta Vanke, 2016
Chief Curator and Advisor, Plant Pavilion of Beijing World Horticultural Exposition, 2016-2017
Curatorial Advisor, Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art & Planning Exhibition, 2016-2017
Project Advisor, Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art & Planning Exhibition, 2013-2016
Curator, Shanghai Design Exhibition “City of Interface,” 2013
Chief Curator, “Design Edge: Inside/Outside - Shenzhen OCAT Festival,” 2013
Curator, “New Original” Sino-Dutch Design Exhibition, 2013
Curator, First China Design Exhibition “Cross-over Design,” 2012
Curator, “Third UABB “A Catalyst Reaction of Our City-Shenzhen and Universiade Special Exhibition,” 2011
Curator, First Beijing International Design Triennial “Good Guys,” 2011
Curator, “Taking a Stance - 8 Critical Attitudes in Chinese and Dutch Architecture and Design,” 2010
Co-curator, Basel Cultural Festival “Coexistence of Typography” Exhibition, 2010
Curator, “Design in China” Exhibition, 2009
Curator, “Social Energy: Contemporary Communication Design from the Netherlands” China Exhibition Tour, 2008-2009
Other Design
2018: ZHUANGSHI 60th Anniversary Poster
2015: Visual Design for the Environmental Enhancement of Caochang Hutong in Beijing, Lead Designer
2013: Visual Planning and Design for Public Spaces in the Dawangjing Science and Technology Business Zone, Lead Designer
2013: Shenzhen Information Island Planning and Design
2011: Logo Design for the Beijing International Design Triennale
2011: Calendar Illustration Design for ZHUANGSHI Magazine
2010: Cover Design for 12 Issues of ZHUANGSHI Magazine
2010: Design for the Chinese Editions of FRAME and MARK Magazines (6 issues total)
2010: Overall Design for Design Management Magazine
2008: Poster Design for the “Social Energy Exhibition” (collaborated with Jiang Hua)
2006: Overall Design for the Contemporary Dutch Design Series (4 books)
2002: Overall Design for the Design Now Series (3 books)
Academic Lectures
“The Museum Without Exhibits,” April 2021, Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum
“The Museum Without Exhibits,” December 2020, Zhuhai International Convention and Exhibition Center
“Transforming Contemporary Design: Narrative and Application,” December 2020, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts
“The Museum Without Exhibits,” November 2020, Zhejiang Exhibition Hall
“Contemporaneity in Museum Curatorial Design,” October 2019, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
“From the Bauhaus Stage to Today’s Exhibition ‘Total Theatre,’” October 2019, International Academic Symposium Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Bauhaus, Hunan Normal University
“Thoughts of the Future,” October 2019, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology
“From the Bauhaus Stage to Today’s Exhibition ‘Total Theatre,’” November 2019, Art Museum of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
“Liquid Museum,” April 2019, Shantou University
“Liquid Museum,” April 2019, Shenzhen Design Week
“How Should We Reinterpret Museums Today,”
“Observe the City from the Museum - The New Trend in the Development of Urban Public Spaces,” January 2019
“Book as a Verb,” Phoenix Publishing House, October 2018
“Curatorial Design for the Museum of Zhang Zhidong,” Shenzhen Multimedia Association, June 2018
“Spatial Narrative Design,” National Agricultural Exhibition Center, Art Beijing Forum, October 2017
“Seven Non-Professional Design Fables,” Central Academy of Fine Arts, September 2017
“Seven Non-Professional Design Fables,” Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology/Shenzhen Graphic Design Association, September 2017
“Curatorial Design Report on Shenzhen Urban Planning Museum,” Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, April 2017
“Spatial Narrative Design,” Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Design Youth Forum, October 2016
“Reading in the Digital Museum,” World Book Conference, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Shenzhen, December 2014
“Thoughts on Contemporary Urban Brand Identity,” Beijing Design Week, September 2014
“Proposals to Reality,” Guangxi Arts University, September 2014
“My Approach to Design,” Cheung Kong School of Art & Design of Shantou University, November 2013
“Designer, Editor, Curator, Director, and I,” Phoenix International Industrial Park, Hangzhou, September 2013
Shenzhen Contemporary Art Museum Development Forum
“Book and ‘Book,’” Jingren’s Paperlogue, April 2013
“My ‘Design,’” School of Design, Central Academy of Fine Arts, April 2013
“Conflict of Words,” East Asia Book Exchange Symposium, Paju Book City, November 2012
“Contemporary Youth Design in China,” Victoria and Albert Museum, British Council, September 2012
“Design in Public Spaces,” Sanlian Lifeweek/UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, September 2012
“Design Communication or Communication Design,” Shanghai Creative Industry Week/Premsela Foundation, November 2011
“20 Questions,” Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University/Shenzhen Graphic Design Association, October 2011
“The Role and Attitude of Dutch Book Designers,” China International Exhibition Center, September 2011
“20 Questions,” OCT Art & Design Gallery, Shenzhen, April 2011
“Is Graphic Design Dead,” UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, March 2011
“Upload Design,” ACA Design Institute, South Korea, 2010
The Crisis and Future of Graphic Design, Cheung Kong School of Art & Design of Shantou University, 2010
“OMD Design,” World Design Congress Beijing, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Li Degeng, Jiang Hua, October 2009
Forums and Academic Events
“Curation 3: Objects and Places” 2021 Annual Seminar on Curatorial Studies and Practices, Hangzhou Museum, February 2022
“Cornell University China Center Academic Forum,” December 2020
“Documenta 2020-Windows in Pandemic” Forum, Tsinghua University Art Museum, May 18, 2020
“Narrative Design, New Challenge, New Strategy” Forum, Tsinghua Arts and Design Institute in Milan, June 23, 2020
2019 International Design Education Symposium, October 2019, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology
“Observe the City from the Museum - The New Trend in the Development of Urban Public Spaces,” January 2019
Design Sub-Forum of the International Conference on Arts Education, September 2018
Academic Seminar on Forty Years of Book Design by Lyu Jingren, November 2017
“Space, Narrative, Experience” International Design Forum, Beijing Design Week/Urban Visual Planning & Design Institute, Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University, and Environmental Art Consulting Institute, Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University
“Design Edge: Inside/Outside” Forum, December 2013
Academic Forum of Tommy Li’s Design Exhibition, Beijing 1+1 Art Center, July 2013
Academic Forum of Han Jiaying’s Design Exhibition, CAFA Art Museum, April 2013
“New Original” International Academic Forum, DROOG Design Foundation, Netherlands / Grandview Mall, Guangzhou, March 2013
National (Beijing) Academic Seminar on Regional Visual Design and Innovation, College of Fine Arts, Capital Normal University, February 2013
“China Design Exhibition ‘Cross-over Design,’” Shenzhen University, December 2012
Academic Forum of Han Jiaying’s Design Exhibition, OCT Art & Design Gallery, Shenzhen, December 2012
First Beijing International Design Triennial Conferences “Good Guys,” September 2011
GDC11 Judge Academic Forum, November 2011
GDC11 “Back to China” Forum, December 2011
Major Events and the “Imagined Shaping” of Cities - From the Olympics, Expo, Asian Games to the Universiade: The Dynamics of Urban “Shaping” in Chinese Cities Forum, December 2011
New Original, Today Art Museum, DROOG Design Foundation in Amsterdam, Netherlands, OCT Art & Design Gallery, Shenzhen, December 2011
“Regional Traditions in the Context of Globalization,” Netherlands Pavilion at the World Expo Shanghai, 2010
“Critical Approach to Design,” Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University, 2010
“The Initiative of Design,” OCT Art & Design Gallery, Shenzhen, 2010
Ningbo International Graphic Design Biennale, 2010
Exhibitions and Awards
“Shenyang Hongmei Taste Museum,” “Shenzhen Nantou Diverse Homology Pavilion,” “Diverse Homology Exhibition,” selected for the 4th China Design Exhibition
“Curatorial Design for the Museum of Zhang Zhidong” awarded Gold at the 2020 IDA Design Awards, USA
ZHUANGSHI 60th Anniversary Poster Exhibition, October 2018
“Design is Sweet,” “Visual Dialogue,” OCT Art & Design Gallery, Shenzhen, December 2014
“Li Degeng Book Design,” Judges’ Works Exhibition of the China Design Exhibition, December 2012
“Urban Catalyst” Visual Design, 2012 Exhibition of Works by Faculty of Visual Communication from Renowned Chinese Art Universities, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, 2012
GDC11 “Back to China” Invitation Exhibition/OCT-LOFT North Area A3+ Space, Shenzhen Graphic Design Association, December 2011
“Books - The Peerless Beauty” 2011 Shenzhen Books Design Forum and Shenzhen Books Design Invitation Exhibition, Shenzhen Book City, Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Press and Publication/Binding Art Working Committee, Publishers Association of China, November 2011
“Liberation of Ideas,” Second TYPOJANCHI/Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum, August 2011
“Installation Fonts,” “What’s Next” Creative Exhibition, Taikoo Place, Hong Kong, (Li Degeng, Jiang Hua), July 2011
“What‘s Next” Creative Exhibition/OCT Art & Design Gallery, Shenzhen, (Li Degeng, Jiang Hua), April 2011
Bilingual Texts, Basel Cultural Festival, Switzerland, 2010
Social Energy Exhibition Poster, Ningbo International Graphic Design Biennale, 2010
Design Review
2021: Review, United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) Yunnan Special Exhibition Design Project
2020: Head of the final review panel, Wuhan Urban Planning Museum Curatorial Design (Wuhan Urban Planning Bureau)
2020: Member of the review panel, Documenta 2020-Windows in Pandemic (Tsinghua University Art Museum)
2019: Member of the review panel, Shenzhen Luohu Jinwei Brewery Factory Architecture and Curatorial Renovation
2019: Member of the review panel, Guidelines for Outdoor Advertising Facilities and Signage in Xiong’an New Area.
2017: Member of the review panel, Tianhe Award (Central Academy of Fine Arts)
2016: Member of the review panel, Shenzhen Design Award for Young Talents (UNESCO)
2016: Member of the review panel, Tianhe Award (Central Academy of Fine Arts)
2013: Member of the review panel, KTK Design Award (Shantou University)
2012: Member of the review panel, First China Design Exhibition (Ministry of Culture)
2011: Member of the review panel, Graphic Design in China (Shenzhen Graphic Design Association)
Teaching
He focuses on both theoretical courses and cross-disciplinary practice. He teaches over ten undergraduate courses, including Introduction to Visual Communication, Design Observation and Criticism, Vision and Space, New Media Art Design, and Thesis Writing and Creation. Additionally, he offers a graduate course in Cross-Media Research in Visual Communication. In recent years, he has supervised 12 master's students (including 2 international students) and 1 doctoral student.
