On the afternoon of May 29, the 2026 International Academic Conference on AI-Enabled Design Education was held at our university.

The conference focused on the theme: “Reconstruction, Collaboration, and Foresight — Innovative Paths and International Coexistence of AI-Enabled Design Education.”

Seven experts and scholars from China, Italy, South Korea, Brunei, Germany, and other countries delivered keynote reports. More than 20 universities at home and abroad, along with industry guests, faculty, and student representatives, participated in the exchange.

Professor Yuan Guanglin, Vice President of the university, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

Professor Yuan Guanglin stated that artificial intelligence has deeply entered the core logic of knowledge production and innovation, driving profound changes in design education at the level of metacognition.

He explained that “reconstruction” refers to re-examining the knowledge system of design education, “collaboration” focuses on human–machine symbiotic teaching and creative models, and “foresight” emphasizes maintaining critical thinking in the context of technological empowerment.

He said that guided by the university motto, “Integrating Chinese and Western Learning, Unifying Knowledge and Practice,” the university will continue to promote the interdisciplinary integration of design and artificial intelligence, and build a high-level, international, and innovation-oriented talent training base.

The keynote session was chaired by Professor Wang Qingbin, Dean of the School of Design and Art at Henan University of Technology. Seven domestic and international experts delivered academic presentations on AI-enabled design education in turn.

Professor Guo Xinsheng, Dean of the School of Art and Design at our university, gave a presentation titled “Digital Intelligence Empowerment and Integrated Innovation,” introducing the university’s “AI + X” reform practice and its experience in AI-driven educational innovation in private universities.

Dr. Davide Lombard from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University discussed AI collaborative creation in the algorithm era and the paradigm shift brought by blockchain technology to architecture education.

Associate Professor Zhang Dalu from Soochow University focused on the contemporary transformation of Jiangnan aesthetics, proposing methodological approaches for empowering regional culture in design innovation.

Industrial designer Huang Xiyuan from South Korea explained, through practical cases, the structured perception and application logic of AI in industrial design.

Professor Lu Jianzhu from Zhengzhou University of Light Industry explored pathways for integrating scientific literacy and humanistic literacy in cultivating design talent in the AI era.

Dr. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat from the University of Brunei Darussalam shared experience in integrating AI tools into interdisciplinary curricula.

Professor Marc Aurel Schnabel from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University delivered a video presentation, stating that the core of design education is to use AI to cultivate students’ critical thinking, creative expression, and responsible practice abilities

Representatives of design disciplines from more than 20 universities in Henan Province attended the conference, including Zhengzhou University, Henan University of Technology, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Henan University of Economics and Law, Zhengzhou University of Aeronautics and Industry Management, and Zhongyuan University of Technology.

Industry guests also participated, including representatives from the Henan Ceramic Society, the Zhengzhou Graphic Design Association, and the Zhengzhou Signage Industry Association.

In his concluding remarks, Professor Guo Xinsheng said that the conference combined theoretical depth, practical relevance, and an international perspective. It not only explored the macro-level restructuring of design education but also focused on concrete teaching innovation practices.

He added that the more technology advances, the more important it is to uphold humanistic care and cultural awareness, which is the core meaning of “Reconstruction, Collaboration, and Foresight.