Design plays a fundamental and crucial role in creating and shaping our world. The intrinsic capacity of design enables it to serve as an agent of change and a source of transformation. Design links scientific and technology research to society by turning ideas into practical and attractive applications and services for users and industry. New design disciplines are emerging in response to the changing technological, cultural, economic, environmental, and social conditions.
The strategic importance of design is recognized in national and regional policies; Shenzhen, a major manufacturing center for the world, has identified design as a key pillar for future development. There is an urgent need for world-class designers in Shenzhen to contribute to innovation, growth, prosperity, and achieving enhanced quality of life everywhere.
Established in the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) as the first step towards the establishment of the Shenzhen Institute of Design and Innovation, the School of Design draws on the strengths of this vibrant university, namely its depth in research, its vigor for innovation and entrepreneurship, and its disciplinary diversity. Enhanced by the resources in Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area, the School of Design engages closely with the industry to establish a close, structured collaboration that fosters and realizes design for the greater common good. At the School of Design, students are learning to be the next generation of ethically responsible and socially engaged creative leaders.
The School of Design is anticipated to have 800 students by 2024, approximately 50% at the undergraduate level and the remainder at masters and doctoral levels. The student/faculty ratio is targeted to be 8 to 1. Faculty and students are recruited globally, complemented by adjunct appointments and industry partnerships.