Redefining Design and Aesthetics: Scholars Explore New Paradigms at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Forum, China

On April 19, the third Academic Forum on Design Aesthetics, co-organized by the Design Aesthetics Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Aesthetics and the School of Design at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, gathered over 100 experts from leading institutions including Beijing University, Nanjing University, Soochow University and the Central Academy of Fine Arts to examine post-visuality’s transformative effects on contemporary creative fields. Under the theme “Design Aesthetics and a Better Life,” participants showcased how cutting-edge design principles are being developed and implemented in China, particularly in addressing the shift from purely functional objects to multisensory, culturally embedded experiences. The forum highlighted China’s growing influence in shaping global design discourse, with discussions emphasizing the need for ethical awareness and human-centered innovation in today’s post-visual landscape.
The forum ultimately positioned design aesthetics as crucial to building China’s cultural identity while engaging with international perspectives, marking an important step in developing a more inclusive, thoughtful approach to contemporary design challenges.
One of the forum participants, Ani Margaryan, an Armenian researcher and postdoctoral fellow at Soochow University, School of Art, presented her research on Sino-Armenian interactions materialized in enamelware and porcelain.