a global standard
high-level, innovative
practice-led design
institute

ABOUT

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.

Mission and Vision

The mission of SUSTech School of Design is to build a global creative community in which learning, research, and engagement are all part of the creative experience, to translate leading technologies into new design outcomes and industry advancement for social benefit, and to educate students in the enormous potentials and responsibilities of design.

 

The School of Design will:

  • Be a source of original design research
  • Drive translation of multidisciplinary knowledge
  • Develop innovative curricula and pedagogy
  • Nurture a design ecosystem in Shenzhen
  • Be a global preferred partner to access Shenzhen design potential
  • Act with empathy, aim at high standards, hold to professional ethics, and encourage creativity

The transition campus of the School of Design will be located in Nanshan I Park, south of Xueyuan Avenue in Xili, Nanshan District. I Park is strategically positioned to attract and support emerging industries including the internet, biomedicine, new energy, new materials, etc., and neighboring institutions of higher education including SUSTech University, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, etc. Benefited from this location, the School of Design will be able to establish close links to institutions and industries, in terms to bridge research, manufacturing, and creativity.

As the second step of the establishment of the Shenzhen Institute of Design and Innovation, the construction of the permanent campus, delivering over 300,000 square meters of space for academic purposes, will be completed in 2024. The permanent campus is located in the Greater Airport area in Bao’an District.

Dean's Message

Designers are brave, determined, and farseeing. There are many ways in which designers can contribute to conceptualizing and realizing better futures for all. Technological and scientific research is delivering great potentials but these need to be translated into experiences, processes, and objects with which we can all interact and engage before the benefits are realized. I invite you to join us in the School of Design at SUSTech in Shenzhen to be part of the most exciting design and production ecosystem, the one with the greatest potential. We are exploring some of the most interesting scientific research and advances in technology to create better outcomes. Work with some of the most exciting thinkers and practitioners. Come to the City of Design and join the most exciting and creative community that is making the future.

- Thomas Kvan