A Successful Lecture on “Creative Strategy – Finding a Grounded Approach of Design” by Professor Li Zhongyang

(Edited by Zhou Jiayu; photo by Gao Rong) At 3:00 p.m. on the afternoon of March 7, 2024, the 52nd lecture of the School of Arts and Communication on “Creative Strategy – Finding a Grounded Approach of Design” was held in the Lecture Hall 1104 of the Building of the School of Arts and Communication. The lecture was delivered by Prof. Li Zhongyang, Director of the Institute of Visual Design and Education, Capital Normal University.

The lecture by Prof. Li Zhongyang focused on finding a grounded approach of design, emphasizing the progression and conversion of multidimensional knowledge, the progression from one to four dimensions, understanding its functional characteristics, and advocating a cross-innovative learning approach from logical thinking to multidimensional knowledge. Taking the innovative course “Ink Design” as an example, he explored how to put creativity into practice in design by analyzing excellent creative thinking and design analysis, the wisdom of Chinese design, and the design team of the research institute. He emphasized the thinking of design education and industry in design research theory and methods, design topics and ideas, design discipline characteristics and the integration of industry and education, building important design platforms to form effective resource links, sustainable development and implementation of cultural creativity, and future development trends of design. Prof. Li Zhongyang emphasized many times in his lecture on considering design from a multi-dimensional perspective to improve comprehensive design and thinking abilities, which is of great help to the design thinking and methods of the students in this class.

Part1—Reinforce the progression and transformation of multidimensional knowledge

Prof. Li Zhongyang firstly introduced the theme through the graduation project of Central Academy of Fine Arts and the case study of the 2008 Olympic Games Sports Art Exhibition, and put forward the idea that in design, one should consider multiple aspects, from one dimension to four dimensions, to improve comprehensive design and thinking abilities. We should find an approach to interact and communicate with the audience in design, cross different disciplines and establish connections with them, and find the domain of design.

Prof. Li Zhongyang introduced the content, structure and program of his course “Ink Design”, which focused on ink concepts, experimental methods, techniques, materials, and processes in the process of ink typeface design to exercise students’ creative thinking and practical design skills. He pointed out that the concept of design is extremely important in design projects. 

Part2 — How to put creativity into practice in design

Through the analysis of excellent design works, Prof. Li Zhongyang pointed out that the relationship between character matching and icons in design, as well as the application of elements combining Chinese and Western elements, should be expressed accurately. In design practice, the concept of design, the maximization of information in elements, creative thinking, accurate expression, and final visual presentation are the principles that need to be contained in excellent design works.

Part3 — Summary

Finally, Prof. Li Zhongyang summarized the content from three aspects: design characteristics, design education and teaching, and traditional and modern design survival modes. He encouraged students to make full use of the region, advantages and resources to form design characteristics, and to follow the teaching laws of experimentation, practice, and practical experience in design teaching, to find a grounded approach of design to cultivate their empathy and personality abilities. It is hoped that the sharing of this lecture will help and inspire our teachers and students to explore new approaches and make new progress in design teaching and creative practice.