C-IDEA Purdue Seminar Successfully Held, Focusing on International Design Education and Innovation

On February 14, 2025, the C-IDEA (International Design Education Association) Purdue Seminar was held in the Rueff meeting room at Purdue University, utilizing a hybrid online and offline format. This seminar attracted design education experts, scholars, and design industry practitioners from around the globe to discuss current trends in design education, innovative methodologies, and the importance of cross-cultural communication.

Event Highlights

The seminar was hosted by Professor Hyungjoo A. Kim from Purdue University and Professor Li Xu. The lineup of speakers was robust, featuring professors and industry experts from several renowned institutions, including:

• Prof. Petronio Bendito (Purdue University)
• Prof. Kok Cheow Yeoh (Indiana University Southeast)
• Prof. Keith Kitz (Suffolk University)
• Prof. Wes Haddad (New Jersey City University)
• Prof. Scott Laserow (Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University)
  
• Felicia Barrett (Purdue University)

These speakers delivered insightful presentations on various aspects of design education, covering topics from visual communication design to innovative educational methods and digital transformation, sparking in-depth discussions among scholars and attendees.

Global Perspectives on Design Education

During the seminar, Professors Li Zhang, Do Gyun Kim, and David Deal from the Visual Communication Design (VCD) program at Purdue University participated in a panel discussion. They shared their practical experiences in design education and engaged in lively exchanges and discussions with peers from different regions. This cross-border and interdisciplinary dialogue provided new perspectives and ideas for the field of design education.

Promoting Cross-Cultural Collaboration

In his opening address, Professor Hyungjoo A. Kim emphasized the importance of design education in the context of globalization, particularly in fostering understanding and exchange between different cultures. He noted that with technological advancements and global development, design education must continuously innovate to adapt to the rapidly changing demands of the times.

Professor Li Xu highlighted during the seminar that design education should not only focus on students’ technical skills but also cultivate their global perspective and cross-cultural communication abilities, which are crucial for future designers.

Summary and Outlook

The C-IDEA Purdue Seminar provided a valuable platform for exchange within the design education field, strengthened the connection between academia and the industry, and suggested new directions for future innovation in design education. Participants expressed that such events not only deepened their understanding of design education but also provided new inspiration and momentum for their future teaching and research work.

The “Peking Opera Poster Exhibition” was held at the Rueff West Gallery

Professor Li Xu attended the closing reception for the exhibition at Purdue University on February 13 and delivered two special lectures for the faculty and students of the Visual Communication Design (VCD) program. As part of the event, the “Peking Opera Poster Exhibition” was held at the Rueff West Gallery, Purdue University. The exhibition showcased 70 exquisite posters, aiming to celebrate and promote Peking Opera – a unique tradition of Chinese culture-through the art of poster design, presenting the artistic charm and profound cultural heritage of Peking Opera to the world.

At the opening ceremony, guests such as Associate Head Prof. Robert Sabol and Prof. Cheryl Zhenyu Qian, along with other distinguished guests, attended and delivered speeches.

Lecture

Professor Li Xu delivered two special lectures for the faculty and students of the Visual Communication Design (VCD) program.