Conclusions from the 2025 Future Design and AI Liangzhu Conference Highlighting Global Collaboration

Highlights from the 2025 Future Design and AI Liangzhu Conference

On October 19, 2025, the China Academy of Art (CAA) hosted the 2025 Future Design and Artificial Intelligence Liangzhu Conference at its Liangzhu Campus, marking a significant global congregation of design and technology experts. The conference's theme, "Deep Interaction and Paradigm Innovation," reflects a critical intersection of contemporary technological advances and traditional design principles.

Co-organized by key educational and design organizations, including the CAA School of Industrial Design and the Design-AI Lab, the conference examined evolving methodologies in design frameworks, where contributions from leaders in design education emphasized the collective goal of reshaping our understanding of technology in everyday life. The thematic journey of this conference aims to connect aspects from previous year’s discussions, progressing from "Design Leadership" in 2023 and "Design Resilience" in 2024 to the current focus on deep interaction.

International Participation and Insights

Esteemed speakers and industry professionals shared their insights on human-centered design principles in the AI age. Notable keynote speakers included Lou Yongqi, President of Shanghai University of Engineering Science, and Han Xu, Vice President of CAA. Their discussions explored essential alignments between data-driven technology and the historical foundations of industrial design, underscoring how innovation can enhance transformation capacity in various spheres.

The International Roundtable on Design, Intelligent Manufacturing, and Education held on November 1 was particularly noteworthy, with Jin Yibin, the CAA Party Committee Secretary, emphasizing the importance of collaborative dialogue among global design communities. Various professionals, including Zhang Linghao, President of Nanjing University of the Arts, and Paivi Tahkokallio, former President of the Bureau of European Design Associations, added to the wealth of knowledge shared during the event.

The Role of Design in the Intelligent Era

Professor Wang Yun, a central figure in conceptualizing the conference, posits an evolving view of design. He described it as transforming from a mere professional methodology to a comprehensive language structuring relationships between humanity, technology, and societal norms. This change positions Chinese design to explore significant breakthroughs, particularly at the ethical and foundational levels, heralding a new era where human-centered thinking in future design stays pivotal.

The CAA School of Industrial Design’s ongoing commitment includes preserving China's rich cultural heritage while integrating contemporary technological innovations, thereby enriching the humanistic dimensions of design. This center foresees an essential role in bridging academic learning with real-world applications, nurturing a generation of students equipped to address societal challenges.

Looking Ahead

In summary, the 2025 Future Design and AI Liangzhu Conference served as an essential gathering for design experts, offering a platform for interdisciplinary exchanges that advocate for a new paradigm of collaborative creation. As the Chinese design community integrates its extensive cultural legacy, global perspectives, and a robust industry-education partnership, it stands ready to provide innovative solutions that promote harmony between humanity and technology. With events like these, the future seems poised for groundbreaking initiatives in design, assuring that collaborative efforts will continue shaping a vision that resonates across borders.

This article was penned by Prof. Wang Yun and Prof. Wu Peiping, encapsulating the spirit and outcomes of the conference.