On the morning of May 30, the opening ceremony of the “Transboundary Weaving” 2026 Graduation Design Exhibition of the School of Design and Art, Jiangsu University was held at the Xijindu Exhibition Hall of Zhenjiang Art Museum. Yang Daojian, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Jiangsu University Committee; Distinguished Professor Stephen; Professor Dong Rongcan; Professor Chun Hyun Jin; Ding Chao, Director of Zhenjiang Art Museum; Ren Zezhong, Director of the Student Affairs Office of Jiangsu University; Zhang Yongqiang, Secretary of the Communist Youth League Committee of Jiangsu University; Zhu Lingping, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jiangsu University; Wu Yi, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of Jiangsu University; Ji Liuyang, Deputy Director of the Academic Affairs Office of Jiangsu University; and representatives of the faculty of the School of Design and Art attended the opening ceremony. The ceremony was chaired by Han Rong, Dean of the School of Design and Art.
At the opening ceremony, Distinguished Professor Stephen delivered the opening remarks. Drawing on his own experiences in artistic creation and public service, he noted that artistic creation should move beyond individual expression, actively respond to social needs, and fulfill its value in serving society. He encouraged students to maintain their passion for artistic creation, remain grounded in everyday life, and explore new possibilities in art.
Wang Yu, representing the faculty, extended her congratulations on the successful opening of the exhibition. She encouraged the graduates to remain committed to their original aspirations in art, continuously strengthen their professional capabilities, and shoulder the mission and responsibilities of young art professionals in the new era.
Gao Yueting, representing the graduate students, and Xie Hao, representing the undergraduate students, delivered speeches in succession. The students shared their thoughts, growth, and reflections throughout the process of creating their graduation projects, expressed their gratitude for the dedicated education and guidance provided by the University and their teachers, and discussed future directions for the development of the art and design industry in light of emerging trends in digital technology and artificial intelligence. Their remarks demonstrated the innovative thinking and sense of responsibility of young students.
Yang Daojian, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Jiangsu University Committee, delivered the concluding remarks. He emphasized that the University will remain committed to the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education, deepen teaching reform, and continue cultivating art and design professionals equipped with innovative spirit, practical capabilities, and a strong sense of social responsibility, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of the arts and cultural undertakings and social cultural development.
Themed “Weaving Across Boundaries,” this year's graduation exhibition focuses on the interdisciplinary integration of art, design, technology, and society, presenting students' reflections and responses to contemporary issues and social needs. The exhibition features more than 500 outstanding graduation design works from seven undergraduate programs, including Industrial Design, Product Design, Environmental Design, Animation, Digital Media Art, Visual Communication Design, and Fine Arts (Teacher Education), as well as three master's degree programs in Fine Arts and Calligraphy, Design, and Industrial Design Engineering.
The exhibition areas of each program feature distinctive characteristics and highlights. Product Design and Industrial Design are grounded in everyday needs and aligned with industrial upgrading, while balancing aesthetics, functionality, and sustainable development. Environmental Design focuses on living spaces and urban and rural development, interpreting the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Fine Arts (Teacher Education) showcases diverse forms including Chinese painting, printmaking, and calligraphy, reflecting humanistic concerns and a commitment to education. Visual Communication Design integrates traditional culture with contemporary aesthetics. Digital Media Art and Animation explore the integration of technology and art, using digital media and animated narratives to convey the thoughts and perspectives of young people. The graduate works highlight the characteristics of interdisciplinary research while demonstrating both academic depth and an innovative perspective.
During the exhibition, experts, scholars, and professional faculty members visited the exhibition and provided on-site comments. They highly recognized the students' solid professional foundations, innovative awareness, and ability to explore across disciplines, while encouraging them to continue paying attention to real-world issues and further enhancing their professional capabilities.
The graduation design exhibition served not only as a comprehensive presentation of the educational achievements of the School of Design and Art, but also as an important platform for the exchange of ideas in art and design. It fully demonstrated the School's educational characteristics of interdisciplinary integration and practice-oriented talent cultivation, as well as the youthful spirit of its students, characterized by the courage to explore and the determination to innovate. Moving forward, the School will continue to deepen educational and teaching reform, further strengthen the cultivation of art and design talent, and contribute to the development of the cultural and creative industries and social creative development.
