AIGA China

A partnership with Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in support of design education in China

Building community

Chinese-language editions of AIGA’s Design Business and Ethics (top) and Mission.

AIGA China is represented on the web at www.aigachina.org, featuring a frequently updated selection of articles and resources in Chinese. The site translates content from AIGA’s website, provides a forum for original articles by Chinese designers and highlights AIGA China’s initiatives and activities.

Under the direction of Amy Gendler, AIGA China has been well received by Chinese design students, designers and academics from all over the country. Within the next year, AIGA China intends to add social networking to the website, enabling Chinese design students to upload portfolios of work for peer comment and serving as a resource for job seekers and employers.

Sharing information

Developing a network of educators and students within China and between Chinese designers and their American counterparts is paramount to AIGA China’s mission. The AIGA China Advisory Board, Design Bridge (linking U.S. institutions or studios with Chinese schools) and other initiatives all have been envisioned with this in mind. The first Chinese-language edition of AIGA’s “Design Business and Ethics” was published in June 2008. To date, over 32,000 copies have been distributed free of charge. More publishing projects are planned.

The AIGA Design Archives will be available as a teaching resource for instructors. This is part of an overall strategy to address the needs of students throughout China—reaching beyond the large, coastal cities to other locales where quality design programs are beginning to take hold. By sharing resources such as these with designers in China, AIGA can play an active role in bringing the next generation of China’s designers into the world design economy.

About AIGA China

AIGA China is a partnership with the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in support of design education in China. It officially opened its office in Beijing on November 2006. Leaders in design education from throughout China (representing 12 diverse regions) were invited to join the AIGA China Advisory Board. During the first national meeting of the board, material from “Next: AIGA Design Conference 2007” was presented to rave reviews.

Visit the AIGA China website for articles and resources in Chinese, and learn how your institution or studio can build a dedicated relationship with a school in China through AIGA China Design Bridge.