On December 22, 2024, the “Seminar on the Development of the Design Discipline” was successfully held at the School of Fine Arts, Nanjing Normal University. The event focused on the current frontiers, future directions, and key issues in talent cultivation within the design discipline, aiming to inject new ideas and momentum into its academic development.

Professor Li Chaode, former Dean of the School of Arts at Soochow University, was invited as a guest speaker and delivered a keynote speech. Leaders and core faculty members from the School of Fine Arts also participated in the seminar. 

In his keynote, Professor Li conducted a thorough analysis of the present state of design studies, emphasizing the importance of forward-thinking strategies and long-term planning. He underscored the need for interdisciplinary integration while stressing that such integration must be approached with careful methodology rather than pursued blindly. Through specific examples, he illustrated how interdisciplinary collaboration can unlock innovation potential and nurture high-quality design talents equipped to meet social demands. He also emphasized the necessity for discipline development to be grounded in the unique strengths of each institution, advocating for the integration of superior resources to foster differentiated competitiveness.

The seminar concluded in a dynamic atmosphere of exchange. Professor Li’s insights offered valuable strategic guidance for the future development of the design discipline. Faculty attendees expressed their appreciation for the thoughtful discussion and agreed that his contributions would inspire meaningful progress in design education and research, ultimately helping to drive innovation across the industry and society at large.