Lecturers lead the way and inspire new thinking

LecturerHe Zhisen

Lecture topic《Designing Back to Daily Life: Awareness, Observation, Discovery, and Action》

He Zhisen, an associate professor at the School of Architecture, South China University of Technology, shared his insights under the title "Design Returning to Daily Life: Perception, Observation, Discovery, and Action". As an architect, curator, and founder of the cross-disciplinary organization Mapping, He Zhisen has teaching experience in universities across multiple countries. The Mapping workshops he initiated have been held in over 100 universities worldwide, with more than 200 sessions. He directly pointed out the pain points of the domestic design industry, such as "high pressure and detachment from reality". He criticized issues such as the lack of research and utilitarian values in design education, emphasizing that design should return to its essence, pay attention to marginalized groups, and show humanistic care. Through cases such as tracking blind people in karst villages and campus planning for left-behind children, He Zhisen elaborated on Mapping methods such as 24-hour surveillance and participatory observation. He pointed out that design inspiration lies in daily details such as drying clothes and setting up stalls in wet markets, calling on designers to conduct in-depth field research and discover possibilities in the margins.

Lin Zhenzhong, founder of Tsinghua Life Lecture Hall, shared his theme of "New Bay Area, New Aesthetics, New Business". As a specially-appointed professor at several top art academies, Lin Zhenzhong interpreted the concept of "beauty is everywhere" based on the thoughts of Zhuangzi. He explained the core logic of aesthetic economy through a comparison between porcelain from the Song Dynasty and European Meissen porcelain, as well as case studies of multi-sensory aesthetic design in Suzhou's guesthouses. Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a framework, he analyzed the transformation from agricultural economy to aesthetic economy. He emphasized the importance of innovative thinking and cross-field cooperation through examples such as the upside-down tomato sauce bottle of Heinz and the NT$30 billion output value of Taiwan's tung flower season. In response to the theme of "Flowers Blooming in Guangzhou", Lin Zhenzhong suggested that participants combine Guangzhou cultural elements with high technology, integrate sustainable development concepts, and enhance the added value of projects through food, travel, check-ins, and other forms, creating creative works that combine natural flavor, cultural flavor, good taste, and human touch.

Guest speaker Yin Yue share on the theme of "Breaking Boundaries: Traditional Crafts, Contemporary Artists, and Mass Communication"

Yin Yue, a young fiber artist and chief designer of Fangji Kid, shared her creative journey under the theme "Breaking Boundaries: Traditional Craftsmanship, Contemporary Artists, and Mass Communication". Starting with the 8,000-year-old wool felt craft, Yin Yue recounted her exploration of transitioning from animation to handmade art, sharing the emotional expression and life reflections behind works such as the "Mushroom's Poetry" series and the "White Series". She elaborated on home furnishing products like the warm autumn bear sofa and white elk pillow collaborated with Fangji, as well as the hanging card design partnered with Pop Mart, emphasizing that the contemporary value of traditional craftsmanship lies in "human warmth". When answering questions from the students, Yin Yue shared her experience in balancing artistic creation and commercial demands, encouraging young designers to adhere to their core expressions and maintain creative sincerity in cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Three experts provided creative inspiration to the students from different perspectives: He Zhisen emphasized the original intention of "design for people", Lin Zhenzhong focused on the path of "empowering business with aesthetics", and Yin Yue interpreted the possibility of "contemporary transformation of traditional craftsmanship". The students said that the informative sharing gave them a more comprehensive understanding of the theme of "Guangzhou Blossoms", and they would integrate daily observations, humanistic care, and aesthetic innovation into their final works. The training will conclude on the 10th day with a review of the students' works. The students will interpret the contemporary vitality of Lingnan culture through creative practice, injecting youthful energy into the revitalization of cultural heritage and the development of creative industries in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.