Professor Fang Xiaofeng, Vice Dean of Tsinghua University’s Academy of Fine Arts and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Decoration, presented a lecture titled “Design Research in the Information Age” on November 18 at the invitation of TU’s School of Arts and Design. The session was hosted by Dean Ke Shenghai and attended by more than 40 faculty members from the Departments of Product Design, Visual Communication Design, and Fine Arts.

Professor Fang began by highlighting that design, as a relatively young discipline, is deeply influenced by other fields, particularly in research paradigms and academic writing. He stressed the importance of designers cultivating disciplinary confidence and developing distinctive research and management methodologies.

In discussing the essence of design, Prof. Fang proposed that design should serve competition—whether commercial or political—and be closely linked to real life by offering practical strategies for problem-solving. He traced the evolution of the definition of design, from focusing on product forms to emphasizing systemic and strategic approaches of problem-solving. He noted that in the information age, design practices and definitions must adapt to contemporary needs, especially with shifts in materials, tools, and processes.

Professor Fang also examined how the information age has impacted design, including the integration of information as a new material, the use of intelligent tools, and the virtualization of design products. He emphasized that design research should align with the commercial transformations brought about by the information age.

With regard to innovation in design thinking, he introduced task-oriented approaches, idea grafting, and problem definition methodologies, as well as the applications and limitations of artificial intelligence (AI) in design. While AI offers valuable tools, it cannot replace genuine creative design.

Concluding the lecture, Professor Fang underlined the importance of specificity and generality in design, advocating for attention to individual and local cultural characteristics as sources of design opportunities. His insights offered fresh perspectives for academic research and practice in the design discipline, leaving a lasting impression on attendees.