On December 21, 2023, Shirley Feng, Chairman of China Industrial Design Collaborative Innovation Platform and President of Shenzhen Industrial Design Profession Association,  delivered a report entitled "Review and Expectation of the Development of Shenzhen Industrial Design" for teachers and students of the School of Design, Southern University of Science and Technology. This DS Lecture was hosted by Professor Thomas Kvan, Founding Dean of the School of Design and Chair Professor at Southern University of Science and Technology.

Starting from her own experience, Shirley introduced in detail the general situation of the development of industrial design at home and abroad, how Chinese design went abroad, the transformation of Shenzhen industrial design and its importance, and the future outlook of Shenzhen industrial design. She shared many fascinating stories of witnessing and driving the development of industrial design in Shenzhen, as well as her thoughts and strategies on the challenges facing the design industry in the era of technological change. Shirley pointed out that design is a key factor in global economic development, but also the leadership of enterprise development, its importance is reflected in the innovation, competitiveness and brand power of design. Making the best of design will empower products, industries and cities. Based on the new historical starting point of the AI era, she stressed that the design industry is facing great changes, and the drive of new technologies is both an opportunity and a challenge for designers. Chinese industrial designers need to summarize the experience of rapid development in the past decade, participate in the whole process of products, improve irreplaceability, and jointly open the design 5.0 era with global design forces.

In the interactive session, Shirley shared her personal views on the capabilities required for design professionals and the digital transformation of manufacturing industry, and had in-depth exchanges with teachers and students.

Introduction of the Presenter

Shirley Feng is Member of the 12th CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) of Guangdong Province, member of the 5th and 6th CPPCC of Shenzhen Municipality, Chairman of China Industrial Design Collaborative Innovation Platform, President of Shenzhen Industrial Design Profession Association, Founder of Sino-Finnish Design Park, Director of Hebei Industrial Design Innovation Center, Chief Executive Officer of Xiongan Future Industrial Design Institute and Director of Harbin Design Center.

She has led the team and cooperate with more than 30 cities around the world for organizing and hosting many international activities, such as the main venue of the National Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week, Shenzhen International Industrial Design Fair, National Industrial Design Vocational Skills Competition, National Industrial and Information Technology Skills Competition, Hebei International Industrial Design Week, Goldreed Industrial Design Award, FabLab Shenzhen, China Pavilion at 100% Design London, Shenzhen International Maker Week, China (Shenzhen) International Industrial Design Festival, UNLEASH 2019 etc., which attracted the world's top design resources to China and connected Chinese design to the world.