Retrospective | Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Chuang Foundation: Gratitude for Walking Together, Building the Future

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Shenzhen Chuangxiang Public Welfare Foundation (Chuang Foundation), the School of Innovation and Creative Design at Southern University of Science and Technology (hereinafter referred to as “the School”) expresses its heartfelt gratitude. Over the past few years, the Chuang Foundation's generous support and collaboration have not only infused vitality into the School's development but also provided our students with the wings to realize their dreams.

 

The Shenzhen Chuangxiang Public Welfare Foundation, abbreviated as “Chuang Foundation,” was established in 2014 as China's first public welfare foundation initiated by designers from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. It was rated as a 4A-level non-publicly funded foundation in 2019. Since its establishment, the Chuang Foundation has launched multiple public welfare projects related to design education, contributing to the development of China's design education and design industry, with cumulative public welfare expenditures exceeding 50 million yuan.

In September 2021, the newly established college welcomed its first batch of faculty and students. On September 23 of the same year, Jiang Feng, a board member of the Creative Foundation, and Qin Danfeng, the foundation's secretary-general, represented the foundation in donating 500,000 yuan to the academy to establish the “Southern University of Science and Technology Innovation and Creative Design Academy Creative Foundation Scholarship and Grant Fund.” The fund aims to support students at the Southern University of Science and Technology Design Academy in their academic development, career advancement, entrepreneurial practices, and social responsibility. By providing financial support, the fund encourages students to actively participate in various academic and career development activities, fostering innovative spirit and a sense of social responsibility.

 

September 2021 Donation Ceremony and Design Education Symposium

 

As of November 2024, the school has allocated approximately 274,500 yuan, supporting a total of 58 students and 10 student teams participating in competitions, creating valuable opportunities for the comprehensive development of students at the school.

 

1. Scholarship Categories

The College's Innovation Fund Scholarship is divided into six categories, covering important stages such as studying, job hunting, and entrepreneurship:

 

Academic Development Scholarship

Aims to encourage students to participate in training, workshops, seminars, competitions, exhibitions, patent applications, overseas study, and other academic development opportunities.

Career Development Fund

Aims to encourage students to intern and work in the design industry to develop their careers.

Entrepreneurship Seed Fund  

Aimed at encouraging and supporting students' innovation and entrepreneurship, used for personal entrepreneurship funding  

Design Responsibility:  “Design for Good” Scholarship  

Aimed at encouraging students to design with a sustainable perspective, uphold design ethics, and use design to improve social life  

Design Excellence:  “Creative Design” Scholarship  

Aimed at encouraging and supporting students to turn creative ideas into reality, providing funding for creative practice.

Scholarship

Aimed at providing financial assistance to students from economically disadvantaged families to ensure their academic development is not affected

 

In addition to donating scholarships and grants, the Innovation Fund has collaborated with the College to host the China Design Innovation Forum in 2021, 2022, and 2023. In September 2024, the College joined the 4th Creative Fund Innovation Practice Camp, using two undergraduate courses—“Sound Design” and “Service Design”—as a platform. In collaboration with Shenzhen Yuanling Subdistrict, the College provided accessible solutions for the 2025 Greater Bay Area Paralympic Games, deeply integrating talent cultivation, real urban needs, and design education principles such as “designing for the real world,” “design for good,” and “sustainable development.”

 

The 7th Design Innovation Forum in 2021: “A Dialogue on Education”

 

The 8th Design Innovation Forum in 2022: “Exploring the Frontier”

 

The 9th Design Innovation Forum in 2023: “Unlocking the Future: Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration in Design Education”

 

The support program funding from the Innovation Fund is not only financial support for the academy but also spiritual encouragement and a resonance of shared values and ideals. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Innovation Fund, we sincerely thank the Innovation Fund for its generous support, which has helped the young academy to continuously cultivate and produce talent, develop the industry, and serve society. In the days to come, we look forward to continuing to work with the Innovation Fund to jointly cultivate future leaders and creators who can have a positive impact on society and the world. We wish the Innovation Fund continued success and prosperity for the development of design education in our country!

 

2. Comments from some of the students who received funding

Qiu Nuofan    2022 Graduate Student

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Chuang Foundation for awarding me this “Academic Development Scholarship.” This award has provided me with the opportunity to participate in an academic conference firsthand, allowing me to attend an international academic conference for the first time. It has enabled me to learn about many cutting-edge research areas, which has been of great assistance to my future academic pursuits. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Chuang Foundation for its recognition and encouragement. In my future studies and research, I will continue to strive for excellence and hope to conduct more practical and impactful research that contributes to the progress and development of society! Once again, thank you very much!

 

Zhang Luwen, 2021 Undergraduate Student

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Chuang Fund for recognizing and supporting me, as well as to all the teachers at the School of Design for their guidance and assistance, and to my outstanding classmates.

Receiving this award is a tremendous encouragement and support for my journey in design. The opportunity to transform design projects and outcomes into tangible results is something every designer should cherish. It is precisely such opportunities that motivate us to focus on improving our design projects and to boldly explore and create more outstanding design works.

In the future, I will continue to strive for excellence, constantly improving myself to live up to everyone’s expectations. I also hope this honor will inspire more students to boldly pursue their dreams.

Once again, I sincerely thank the Innovation Fund for its recognition. I will carry this support forward as I continue to strive in the field of design!

 

Jiang Zhoumingju, 2023 Graduate Student 

Participated in the Singapore University of Technology and Design Winter Camp with support from the Chuang Fund  

 

I am deeply grateful to my mentor, the School of Design, and the Chuang Fund for their long-term support, which has played a crucial role in the enriching development of my academic journey. Receiving the Chuang Fund scholarship has enabled me to seize valuable research opportunities and achieve meaningful outcomes. At the beginning of this year, I was honored to receive the Best Presentation Award at the Design Science Winter Camp organized by the Singapore Design Society. This honor fully reflects the positive impact of the Chuang Foundation scholarship, which motivates me to continue contributing to the academic field in the future. I look forward to continuing to contribute to our shared academic goals in the years to come.

 

Xue Chao, 2023 Graduate Student  

Participated in the Tsinghua Qingdao Academy of Arts and Sciences - International Design Federation International Design Education Laboratory Summer Program with support from the Chuang Fund (far right)  

I am deeply grateful for the support of the Chuang Fund Scholarship, which enabled me to participate in this international design week event. This was a vibrant gathering of design innovation and cultural exchange, where I collaborated with peers from China, India, the UK, South Korea, and Israel, sparking creative ideas through the collision of diverse cultural backgrounds and design philosophies. Through team collaboration, we completed creative design projects, incorporating our unique perspectives into the works. Additionally, I teamed up with an Israeli classmate in a basketball game, where we worked seamlessly on the court while exchanging creative ideas during design discussions. This experience deepened my understanding of design’s unique charm, which transcends language and cultural barriers to become a bridge connecting our hearts and minds. Thank you to the Chuang Fund for providing such a valuable learning and growth opportunity!

 

Deng Xixin, 2020 Undergraduate Student  

Received the Chuang Fund “Design for Good” Award at the College Graduation Ceremony for her graduation design project.  

 

I am deeply grateful to the college for its nurturing, which enabled me to produce a commendable graduation design project during my final year of undergraduate studies. “Design for Good” has always been the college's educational philosophy, and it was also the guiding principle throughout my graduation project, MicroMates. I hope my design can help more children grow up healthily. I am also honored that my graduation project received the “Design for Good” award from the Innovation Fund, bringing it to a perfect conclusion. In the future, I will carry this philosophy forward into broader horizons, always grateful for the education I received at the college, and continue to “Design for Good.”

 

Yan Siyuan, 2020 Undergraduate Student

Received the Chuang Fund “Design for Good” Award at the College Graduation Ceremony for her graduation design project.  
I am deeply grateful to the college for its nurturing, which enabled me to produce a commendable graduation design project during my final year of undergraduate studies. “Design for Good” has always been the college's educational philosophy, and it was also the guiding principle throughout my graduation project, MicroMates. I hope my design can help more children grow up healthily. I am also honored that my graduation project received the “Design for Good” award from the Innovation Fund, bringing it to a perfect conclusion. In the future, I will carry this philosophy forward into broader horizons, always grateful for the education I received at the college, and continue to “Design for Good.”

 

Zhong Bocheng, 2023 Graduate Student  

Guiding visitors through the college's exhibition works at the Nanshan District Museum Design Week event (far right)

 

Recalling the moment I received the notification of the Creative Fund scholarship, I am still filled with excitement. This scholarship not only acknowledges my past efforts but also provides tremendous support for my future research. It is like a gentle breeze, sweeping away the dust from my research journey, allowing me to focus more intently on my field of study.

The support from the Innovation Fund has enabled me to delve deeply into the study of human-computer interaction and sound. I once felt lost regarding the hardware production aspect of the project, but it was precisely the support from the Innovation Fund that allowed me to persevere, complete the project, and submit the paper to a prestigious conference in the field. This achievement is not only a personal honor but also contributes to the development of human-computer interaction.

In November 2024, I attended Chinese CHI. At the conference, I met many domestic and international experts and scholars, listened to their insightful presentations, and broadened my academic horizons. The funding provided by the Innovation Fund enabled me to actively participate in academic exchanges and discuss academic issues with peers, which not only enhanced my academic capabilities but also strengthened my academic confidence. In addition to academic gains, the Innovation Fund also provided me with opportunities to participate in various social practice activities. On May 2, 2024, I participated in an exhibition at the Nanshan Museum, where I saw many outstanding design works and met many talented designers, from whom I learned a great deal of professional knowledge. These experiences made me deeply realize that as a researcher, I must not only pursue academic excellence but also have a sense of social responsibility and contribute to society.

The support from the Innovation Fund has not only changed my life but also shaped my values. It has made me realize that research is not just a career but a mission. I will continue to uphold a rigorous and pragmatic scientific attitude, explore unknown fields, and contribute my efforts to the development of human society.

Here, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Innovation Fund! Thank you for providing me with valuable support and assistance. I will live up to your expectations, study diligently, and strive to achieve greater accomplishments in the field of scientific research, bringing honor to the Innovation Fund. At the same time, I also hope that the Innovation Fund will continue to grow and thrive, providing support to more students and making greater contributions to China's scientific and technological innovation endeavors.

 

Contributed by: Zhao Yue
Reviewed by: Li Xu