Program overview
A graduate program in design is essentially about teaching you how to use design thinking to solve real-world problems. It's not just about drawing or styling—it's an interdisciplinary field that blends user research, technical implementation, and business strategy. Core courses include design thinking and methods, user research, interaction design, product design, service design, and information visualization. You'll learn how to start from user needs, conduct research, prototype, test, iterate, and ultimately produce feasible design solutions. This program is ideal for students who are curious about both people and technology, enjoy hands-on experimentation, and aren't afraid of failure. Chinese universities have a unique edge in design—for example, Tsinghua University's Academy of Arts & Design, Tongji University's College of Design and Innovation, and Jiangnan University's School of Design. They maintain close ties with industry, and many courses are directly linked to corporate projects, giving you exposure to real business challenges. Additionally, China is rapidly advancing in areas like smart hardware, mobile internet, and new energy vehicles, and the design program places special emphasis on applications in these cutting-edge fields.