On May 20, the 2024 graduates of the Fashion Department of the Division of Arts at Shenzhen University successfully presented their graduation works at the First Workshop of the 751D·PARK in Beijing during the China International College Students Fashion Week.This event featured a cross-disciplinary collaboration between the Fashion Design Department, Digital Media Art, and Creative Planning programs, in the form of integration of production and education, supported in part by the Yinger Art Creative Fund.
The event was graced by leaders from the China Fashion Designers Association, including Executive Chairman Yang Jian, Vice Chairpersons Zhu Shaofang, Xie Fangming, and Huang Ping;leaders from other universities included: Professor Zang Yingchun, Executive Dean of the Milan Academy of Art and Design at Tsinghua University, Professor at the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, Deputy Director of the Sino-Italian Design Innovation Hub, and Vice Chairman of the China Fashion Designers Association; Associate Professor Li Yingjun, Head of the Department of Textile and Fashion Design at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University; Professor Xiao Wenling, Professor at the Department of Textile and Fashion Design at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University; Professor Wu Hong, Professor at Shenzhen University, PhD supervisor, Professor at South China Normal University’s School of Creative Design, leading academic, Chairman of the China Artists Association’s Fashion Art Committee, Vice Chairman of the China Fashion Designers Association, and Chairman of the Shenzhen Fashion Design Association; Professor Xiong Zhaofei, Vice Chairman of the China Fashion Designers Association, Director of the Advanced Custom Menswear Research Center, and Secretaryof the Arts Division at Wuhan Textile University’s College of International Economics and Trade; Dean Duan Zhiyi, and Associate Dean Gui Yu of the School of Fine Arts and Art Design at Kunming University; Professor Zhang Li, Dean of the School of Fashion at Shaanxi Fashion Engineering University; Associate Professor Wang Wen, Head of the Department of Fashion and Apparel Design at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts; Associate Professor Zheng Gaojie, Vice Dean of the School of Fashion and Art Design at Minnan University of Science and Technology, and Dean of the Provincial Modern Fashion and Accessories Industry Academy;the leadership from the Division of Arts of Shenzhen University attending the event included: Associate Professor He Qinyang, Deputy Director of the Division of Arts at Shenzhen University, Professor Luo Ying, Deputy Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Design, and Director Wang Zeyu, Office Director of the Division of Arts. From the Fashion Design Department, the event was attended by Associate Professor Zhang Lichuan, Head of the Department, Assistant Professor Zhao Yuanfang, Deputy Head, Professor Dai Geng, Associate Professor Chen Xiaosui, and Associate Professor Qi Ji, who served as mentor representatives for the showcase. Additionally, teachers He Weichen, He Jiawei, and Su Mingze from the Division of Arts participated as team leaders for the exhibition.
"3030 Tide & Attraction"
The theme "3030 Tide & Attraction" symbolizes three decades of relentless effort and innovation by the Fashion Design Department at Shenzhen University, while also highlighting the new strength and innovative spirit of its students. In this rapidly changing era, every natural cycle and tidal shift not only marks the passage of time but also represents new energy and innovation. Just as the tides continually surge, each generation of young artists drives cultural waves, unleashing boundless vitality and creativity. Attraction, the force between any two objects or particles, symbolizes the mutual attraction between Shenzhen University and its students, between the fashion design program and its students, and between mentors and their mentees. Centered on "attraction," this theme unfolds into an artistic tableau. Designers cleverly employ streamlined cuts and soft materials, blending their unique thoughts into the garments to create an unparalleled visual presentation, generating an attraction with the audience.
Educational Philosophy
The Fashion Department at the School of Fine Arts and Design, Division of Arts, Shenzhen University, established in 1994, is committed to nurturing innovative and entrepreneurial talents who are trusted by the nation and appreciated by the people. It mainly offers two professional directions: fashion and apparel design, and fashion brand planning and marketing. Leveraging the interdisciplinary background of a comprehensive university and the industrial advantages of Shenzhen as a "City of Design" and a women's fashion hub, the department’s educational philosophy consistently aligns with the industry in the Pearl River Delta region. It aims to supply the industry with versatile creative design talents who meet the needs of original brands in product planning, brand image creation, and modern marketing strategies. In recent years, the Fashion Design Department has adapted to the evolving needs of the industry, capitalizing on the development of Shenzhen's "20+8" fashion creative industry clusters. It drives its initiatives with digital technology, utilizing new media as a platform, and is dedicated to the inheritance and promotion of excellent Chinese traditional culture alongside international innovation and development. The department strives to enhance the teaching levels of its faculty and the comprehensive quality of its students. Simultaneously, it actively connects with fashion industry clusters, promoting industry-education integration with innovative thinking, implementing interdisciplinary talent cultivation concepts, and integrating courses and teaching practices with digital media art. It organizes a series of school-enterprise joint innovation design competitions focusing on keywords like AI, sustainable fashion, intangible cultural heritage, and parametric design, ensuring support for students' learning and growth at every stage of their education in fashion design, aiming to contribute more high-quality talents to the modern fashion industry.
Event Highlights
The grand exhibition of the Fashion Department, Division of Arts, Shenzhen University showcased the works of 25 graduating students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, featuring 88 sets of graduation designs. The event had four major highlights:
Highlight One: This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Fashion Department, Division of Arts, Shenzhen University. For the first time, high-level achievements were showcased in Beijing, with a promotional video and a special release event dedicated to celebrating the department’s 30-year milestone.
Highlight Two: the juxtaposition of 28 sets of digital virtual presentations with offline fashion shows. A team of ten students and faculty from the digital media and fashion design programs collaborated over three months to develop a virtual fashion show. By combining digital virtual scenes with outstanding fashion design works, they created a virtual digital show video release, marking a new exploration in extending the professional content and boundaries of the fashion design discipline and exploring interdisciplinary integration.
Highlight Three: The overall visual identity design, new media invitations, and a series of visual promotions for the Shenzhen special release at the Beijing International College Students Fashion Week incorporated digital technology. The digital backdrop design for the event was a significant highlight.
Highlight Four: Several students integrated AI, parametric design, digital fiber materials, and 3D printing technology into their physical clothing designs, exploring new spaces for innovative approaches and methods in fashion design.
Exhibition Highlights
