Norwich University of the Arts Strengthens Global Ties at ICADE 2024

The 2024 Tsinghua International Conference on Art & Design Education (ICADE) convened at the Tsinghua University Milan Institute of Art & Design in Milan, Italy, from November 15th to 16th, 2024.

Hosted by Tsinghua University and organised by its Academy of Arts & Design, the Tsinghua University Milan Institute of Art & Design, and the Sino-Italian Design Innovation Base, the conference centred on the theme “New Dimensions: Imagining Beyond Horizon.” It explored how art and design education in the era of artificial intelligence can stimulate students’ imagination and foster interdisciplinary innovation.

The prestigious event brought together the heads from over 50 globally renowned institutions such as the Royal College of Art, Central Saint Martins, Rhode Island School of Design, Parsons School of Design, and Norwich University of the Arts, alongside experts from institutions like Ars Electronica, ZKM (Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe), and the ADI Design Museum. Scholars from Tsinghua University and other art schools across the UK, USA, France, Singapore, and Korea added further depth to the discussions.

Participants engaged in dialogues around six critical themes:

• The Evolution of Aesthetic Paradigms
• The Wonders of Human-Machine Synergy
• The Formula for Diverse Environments
• The Shifting Boundary between Disciplines
• Shaping Talents for the Future
• Constructing an Academic Ecosystem

These discussions tackled the pressing question of how art and design education can inspire students to push the boundaries of imagination, embrace the possibilities of the unknown, and drive multidisciplinary innovation for the future.

Norwich University of the Arts’ Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Ben Stopher, took the stage as one of the distinguished speakers at the event to discuss ‘Creative agency in an age of AI’. Reflecting on the conference and the emerging opportunities in art and design education, Ben remarked:

“The convergence of art, design, science, and technology is reshaping the debate about creativity and arts education. Engaging with global leaders at ICADE has been an invaluable experience, providing fresh perspectives and insights from multiple viewpoints. Participation in ICADE reflects Norwich University of the Arts’ dedication to leading global conversations on creativity, innovation, and the transformative potential of art and design education to shape our world.”