In a historic venture reminiscent of Marco Polo's explorations, which blended cultures through trade and the exchange of knowledge, the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (AADTHU) hosted a key academic event in Milan, Italy, in November.

The opening of the 2024 Tsinghua International Conference on Art & Design Education (ICADE 2024) in Milan, Nov. 15, 2024. [Photo courtesy of AADTHU] 

The 2024 Tsinghua International Conference on Art & Design Education (ICADE 2024) was convened at the Tsinghua University Milan Institute of Art & Design in Milan from Nov. 15-16. The conference has successfully convened three editions since its inception in 2021.

Themed "New Dimensions: Imagination Beyond the Horizon," the conference sought to redefine educational paradigms through an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approach. Milan provided the perfect backdrop for the two-day dialogue among global academic leaders in art and design, with its rich legacy at the intersection of scientific innovation and artistic heritage.

Ma Sai, dean of AADTHU, spoke at the event, stating that the identity and mission of designers is to use innovative and technological means to solve complex social issues, promote the common development of humanity, and shape future talents with research, collaboration and leadership skills across interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives.

"We hope to cultivate students through interdisciplinary and cross-cultural methods, on one hand breaking down traditional disciplinary barriers, and on the other hand stimulating students' awareness of problem discovery and expanding their global horizons. The core is to use interdisciplinary and cross-cultural projects to better cultivate students' lifelong learning abilities," Ma said.

These overarching goals were reflected in every aspect of ICADE 2024, as it set out to prepare a new generation of creative professionals equipped to engage with both local particularities and global universals.

Attendees take part in a forum during ICADE 2024 in Milan, Nov. 15, 2024. [Photo courtesy of AADTHU]

Distinguished figures such as Qiu Yong, secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee and chairperson of the University Council, and Giuliano Noci, vice-rector for China at the Politecnico di Milano, highlighted the event's role as a crucial platform for global innovation in education — a real East-meets-West summit. 

Qiu emphasized the role of cultural and educational exchanges in strengthening the friendship between China and Italy. He underscored Tsinghua's commitment to advancing cutting-edge disciplines, using aesthetics as a medium to promote the integration of art, science, and technology. As an important platform for promoting cross-cultural and interdisciplinary dialogue and exchange in art and design, this conference in Milan plays a pivotal role in deepening cooperation between Western and Chinese art and design education while advancing the global development of these fields. He anticipates collaborative explorations on how the convergence of art and technology can spark creativity, contributing to innovations in both technology and culture.

ICADE 2024 was structured around six thematic forums, each representing major anticipated trends in art and design education. The themes of the forums were: "Tradition and Innovation: The Evolution of Aesthetic Paradigms," "Carbon and Silicon: The Wonders of Human-Machine Synergy," "Founding and Breaking: The Shifting Boundary Between Disciplines," "Constants and Variables: The Formula for Diverse Environments," "Identity and Mission: Shaping Talents for the Future," and "Intersection and Integration: Constructing an Academic Ecosystem." Additionally, three roundtable panels were held on the subjects of "The Education and Inheritance of Traditional Crafts in the Context of Globalization," "The Balance Between Physical and Digital Spaces" and "Images, Emotions, and Communication."

Professor Christoph Lindner, president of the Royal College of Art in London, discussed the integration of critical thinking with artificial intelligence (AI) in fostering sustainable designs and innovations. "Critical thinking is the process of deeply analyzing and evaluating things, and it is not intended to encourage people to reject AI, but rather to highlight the importance of innovation with the aid of AI," he said. "We envision these as future learning methods, exploring how our academic community can provide students with a more innovative learning environment to uncover other innovative potentials of AI."

Echoing this sentiment, professor Clement Valla, dean of Experimental and Foundation Studies at the Rhode Island School of Design, stated that human-machine collaboration is not only a new direction for art and design education, but also reveals the creative tension between humans and machines. "The clash between carbon-based and silicon-based entities is also a space worth exploring for art and design," he said. "This means adopting approaches from machine and material ecology, providing a perspective for exploring the applications of technology as a tool." He also advocated for integrating core computational principles into flexible curricula, using human-machine interfaces as bridges to explore the infinite possibilities of uncertainty and personalized symbiosis.

Participants pose for a group photo after a forum during ICADE 2024 in Milan, Nov. 16, 2024. [Photo courtesy of AADTHU]

Deepening the thematic discourse, professor Emmanuel Tibloux from the école nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD) explored the societal impact of art and design education. He emphasized the need to enhance designers' abilities to address regional challenges in ecological and societal contexts, shifting design education from classrooms to communities, and promoting sustainable development. "The core of art education is not simply to train designers to voice concerns for the education industry, but to enable real-world impact, helping local residents redesign and manage their regions to achieve transformative changes. This can also allow participating designers to develop their own design careers," he said. 

Cultural integration and the sharing of diverse perspectives formed another cornerstone of the conference. Professor Lorenzo Imbesi, president of the Cumulus Association, mentioned that design education connects multiculturalism, promotes knowledge sharing and innovation, and aims for sustainable development and global well-being, thereby shaping future-oriented design talents. "As designers, we possess an innovative spirit that allows us to integrate design into interpersonal communications, thus creating a more open environment for knowledge sharing," he said. "Knowledge is fluid and unbounded; it interconnects, holding immense value for everyone."

Professor Gordon Hush, head of the Innovation School at the Glasgow School of Art, expressed his interest in the intersection of sociology and design. He emphasized the importance of designers using sociological perspectives to consider their intentions, processes and the potential consequences of their creations. "When you're inventing new things, sometimes they're good, sometimes they're not so good, sometimes they come with consequences," he noted. 

Hush also argued that much of the current design discourse is focused on future implications rather than contemporary issues, making it crucial to integrate concepts from sociology and social philosophy to guide designers' thoughts and actions toward their goals.

Visitors attend an exhibition held during ICADE 2024 in Milan, Nov. 16, 2024. [Photo courtesy of AADTHU] 

Over the course of two days, the event brought together more than 150 university presidents, professors and experts from over 50 arts and design institutions and organizations across 14 countries, establishing a global platform for academic exchange in art and design. These world-renowned educational leaders jointly explored "new directions, new methods and new dimensions" for fostering art and design talent, thereby injecting fresh vitality into the field. The discussions not only guided the dialogue but also sparked meaningful engagement among participants, prompting them to consider how these focus areas could realistically reshape the global educational landscape.

Alistair Hudson, scientific-artistic chairman of the Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe (ZKM), said he was impressed by the variety of ideas and perspectives that came together at the event, and that the educational institution's eyes are open to so many different possibilities and perspectives.

Complementing these insights was the "New Dimensions: International Students' Work Exhibition," held from Nov. 15 to 18, featuring cutting-edge graduate projects from Tsinghua University along with notable international contributions. 

A visitor attends an exhibition held during ICADE 2024 in Milan, Nov. 16, 2024. [Photo courtesy of AADTHU] 

Encompassing six themes — "Form and Function," "Tradition and Innovation," "Sensation and Expression," "Micro and Macro," "Digital and Physical" and "Earth and Space" — the exhibition explored the vast potential of art and design education across different levels. From balancing form and function to innovating aesthetic paradigms, from extending sensory perception to considering environmental design, from micro to macro scales, and from merging digital and physical realms to envisioning deep space exploration, the students thoroughly examined the dynamic interplay between art and technology, tradition and modernity, and the individual and society from an interdisciplinary perspective. The works highlight the accomplishments of modern design education and offer reflections and inspirations on how future art and design can influence human lifestyles and promote social development.