Embracing an open and inclusive approach, the School of Design at Hunan University is meticulously constructing a comprehensive international education system. By integrating global talent, joining authoritative networks, and hosting influential forums, the school is amplifying HNU's design wisdom on the world stage.
Cultivating a Global Faculty and Talent Pipeline
The school prioritizes the internationalization of its faculty through a dual strategy of "bringing in and sending out." In 2025, it appointed ten internationally renowned design experts as adjunct professors, including Dr. Thomas Garvey, President of the World Design Organization (WDO, 2023-2025). It also continues to invite leading scholars like Professor Roger Ball and Professor Nick Bryan-Kinns for short-term teaching, lectures, and collaborative workshops.
Concurrently, the school actively selects outstanding young faculty for overseas training. Currently, 80% of its full-time faculty have study or visiting experience at top international design institutions.
International Visiting Professor, School of Design
Group Photo - Final Presentation of the International Collaborative Course, School of Design
Integrating into Global Design Networks and Governance
The school has joined several authoritative international organizations, including the Cumulus International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media (CUMULUS), the World Design Organization (WDO), and the Design Research Society (DRS). This integration facilitates continuous dialogue and collaboration within the global design community. Actively responding to the national "Belt and Road" Initiative, the school continues to deepen design cooperation among BRICS countries.
At the 2025 World Design Congress in London, graduate student Zhang Jiechen and faculty members presented research on "Cultural Knowledge as a Circular Resource: Integrating GenAI and Boundary Objects to Empower Scalable ICH Innovation." This work explores using generative AI to revitalize intangible cultural heritage like Dong brocade, proposing a new paradigm for sustainable design.
Traditional Dong Brocade Handicraft
Dual-Spiral Human-AI Collaboration Framework for ICH Innovation
Hosting High-Impact International Conferences
Building on the success of DesignBRICS 1.0 international symposium in 2018, which led to the establishment of the BRICS Design Alliance, the school hosted the DesignBRICS 2.0 International Conference in November 2025. Under the theme "AI & Sustainability: Beyond the UN SDGs" the conference aimed to pool global design wisdom to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
DesignBRICS 1.0 international symposium was successfully held on January 15-16, 2018, at the Taozihu Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center of the School of Design, Hunan University in Changsha, China
DesignBRICS 2.0 International Conference was successfully held on Nov. 27-29,2025 at the Lushan Laboratory Lecture Hall, Hunan University, Changsha, China.
Steadfast Commitment to Global Excellence
Through persistent effort and a commitment to openness, the School of Design at Hunan University has established a robust framework for international education and collaboration. Looking ahead, it will continue to use "Design" as a bridge to spread the voice of HNU, contribute Chinese design solutions to global challenges, and showcase HNU's design wisdom on the international stage.
