Welcome to explore the proceedings documenting the main conference Cumulus Beijing CAFA 2023: Narratives of Love and parallel events!
Through the means of art and design, the conference aims to explore and interpret the ideas and forms of “Love” in multiple dimensions, including the individual, family, ethnic group, nation, world, nature, even the supernatural. It will delve into the realms of thoughts and thinking, discussing interdisciplinary topics such as culture and ecology, society and education, policy and economy, science and ethics, philosophy and faith. The conference seeks to gather cross-cultural wisdom to explore the future directions and methodologies of art and design.
CAFA Conference: Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing
Parallel Conference: Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Xi ‘an Academy of Fine Arts, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts, Nanjing University of the Arts, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Xiamen University
CAFA Conference: November 22-24, 2023
Beijing Cultural Tour: November 25-26, 2023
Parallel Conference: November 27-28, 2023 (November 29 Sichuan, Guangzhou, Xi’an, Nanjing, Jingdezhen, Xiamen Cultural Tour)
Cumulus conference proceedings series no. 11/2024
ISSN: 2490-046X
Editors: Yuqi Liu, Beike Li, Fangxingzi Chen, Musang Xu, Ninghui Hao, Tao Han, Xinrong Zhang, Hanhua Hu, Miaosen Gong
Volume I: CAFA Beijing 2023: Narratives of Love
ISBN: 978-952-7549-01-8
PDF: http://cumulusassociation.org/…/2023_Cumulus_Beijing…
Volume II: Parallel Beijing 2023: Narratives of Love
ISBN: 978-952-7549-04-9
PDF: https://cumulusassociation.org/…/Beijing-2024_Cumulus…

Cumulus Regional Seminar at XJTLU School of Design in China has just concluded, bringing together leading design educators and researchers to explore the topic “Design for Intercultural Innovation”. Held in collaboration with our esteemed member institution XJTLU School of Design, the seminar proved to be a vibrant platform for global dialogue and creative exchange.
Cumulus leadership team, including President Lorenzo Imbesi and Board member Miaosen Gong, engaged with brilliant minds from around the world, sparking meaningful conversations that transcend cultural boundaries. The event highlighted the critical role of design in fostering global understanding and driving innovative solutions.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to XJTLU University and Masha Zolotova for their exceptional organization and invitation, making this Regional Seminar a truly memorable and impactful gathering.
#DesignInnovation
#InterculturalDialogue
#CumulusSeminar
#InterculturalDialogue
#CumulusSeminar
#cumulus
#cumulusassociation
#CumulusRegionalMeets
#cumulusregionalseminar
#cumulusregionalmeeting
#DiiXJTLU24
#DesignInnovation

Tomorrow, as President of @cumulusassociation and together with our Secretary General @salmieija , I’m proud to launch our Regional Seminar on Design for Intercultural Innovation.
Can’t wait to connect with brilliant minds from around the world and spark some serious innovation!
Thank you to our Cumulus member institution @xjtlu University and Masha Zolotova for the great organization and the invitation!
#CumulusRegionalMeets

After three days rich of keynote speakers, working groups, paper sessions, workshops and cultural activities, we just ended the Cumulus Association Monterrey 2024 conference, thanks to our hosting institutions: Tecnologico de Monterrey and Universidad de Monterrey, the co-chairs Yadira Ornelas , Alessandra Perlatti and our VP Board member Roberto Iniguez Flores , our Secretary General Eija Salmi and our Coordinator Justyna Molik
People reached the conference from all around the world and we had an incredible lineup of speakers, among which: Don Norman , Alice Rawsthorn, Paula Scher , Stuart Candy , Ana Elena Mallet , Alberto Villareal, Cuauhtemoc Medina.
The topic of the conference was “Design Across Borders: United in Creativity”, to celebrate design’s power to unify across boundaries, fostering unity, collaboration, and innovation. It highlights design’s role as a catalyst for positive change, promoting creativity as a universal language that transcends borders. The event encouraged exploration of design’s potential to connect diverse cultures, drive social change, and enhance global understanding, while inquiring how design transcends barriers for positive impact, its role in social change, ensuring diversity in design projects, and promoting empathy and intercultural understanding for a more interconnected world.
@cumulusmonterrey @cumulusassociation @yadiraornelas @mw_2112 Escuela de Arquitectura, Arte y Diseño
Eija Salmi
Archana Surana
Natacha Lallemand
Roberto Iñiguez
Teresa Franqueira
Monica Di Ruvo
Anne Pikkov

@cumulusassociation Budapest 2024 conference just got to an end with the closing remarks: we had three fantastic days of paper sessions, keynotes, working groups, the general assembly and many cultural and social events, all dressed with fantastic friends and colleagues. Many thanks to the chairs Attila Bujdosó and @falvaigyorgyi and all the people working hard at @mome_budapest University. Thanks to our Secretary General @salmieija, our Cumulus Coordinator Justyna Molik and the Dream Team of our Cumulus Executive Board. I feel proud and honoured to have the chance to work with such fantastic people. Looking forward to meeting you soon again for the next Cumulus Monterrey conference in Mexico!

ReVeDA @cumulusassociation Working Group
Research Vectors in Design and Arts
The program of Reveda, the Cumulus Working Group about design research for the Cumulus Beijing CAFA 2023 included four speakers from different Chinese Universities, presenting a picture of research in their institution and then depicting a larger picture of Design Research in China
Invited Guests Speakers:
Shuxin Cheng
Director of Innovation Design
School of Design, Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Yuwen Wang
Professor of Social Design Department
School of Design, Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Qian Xiaobo
PhD, Associate Professor
Director of product design department
Head of international Joint Lab B-FED (Brand Future Experience Design)
School of Design, Jiangnan University
Enza Migliore
PhD, Assistent Professor and Researcher
SUSTech School of Design
#cumulusassociation
#cumulus
#research
#designresearch
#cumulusworkinggroup
#workinggroup

Today, I was honored to open the @cumulusassociation conference at CAFA 2023 China Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. This year, the title of the conference is Narratives of Love and I have been speaking about the international space of knowledge, sharing and caring, plurality and opennes.

@cumulusassociation Student Talent Design Camp at Jaipur. 6 Days , 7 Countries & 30 participants working on Social Design, Sustainable Design , Product Design & Communication Design challenges. Learning from Indigenous practices & crafts.

the first Cumulus Regional Seminar is just over in China.
The topic was ‘Internationalization in a new era” and it was hosted by Nanjing University of the Arts.
I was happy and honoured to open the event and I would like to thank Miaosen Gong for making this possible.
Next Cumulus Regional Seminar is taking place in Japan in July.
Please stay tuned!
Cumulus Association
#Cumulus
#cumulusassociation

Great experiences of Cumulus Antwerp Conference!
Looking forward to Cumulus Beijing soon!

Just back from Helsinki:
thanks to @salmieija, Justyna Molik, @satumiettinen , @yrjosotamaa and @tuauvinen for welcoming me.
After two days of meetings, I feel we have made a very important progress for @cumulusassociation ..

Memorandum of Understanding for Collaboration Between
中欧国际设计文化协会 China Europe International Design Culture Association (CEIDA) and Cumulus Association was signed in Central Academy of Fine Arts, China in 22 November.

CEIDA Beijing Representative Lijun Chen participated in the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement with Lorenzo Imbesi, President of Cumulus and Eija Salmi FRSA, Secretary General.

Special thanks to @Hanny Wijaya for her support of this collaboration.
— feeling fantastic.

Today a short visit to the new building of LCI in Barcellona, one of the Spanish members of @cumulusassociation. Thanks to Alessandro Manetti to take me back also to the Museu de Disseny de Barcelona

In the Spirit of Cumulus! Our Lorenzo, our president visited the team in Helsinki a couple of days ago. Thanks to Cumulus President Emeritus and Founder Yrjö Sotamaa, Dean of Aalto ARTS Tuomas Auvinen and attorney-at-law Lotta Uusitalo who helped us with our registration in Finland, all for welcoming. It was also so great to meet our SG, Eija. Technology is great to work from far away, but talking one each other in presence is something precious. Even better with a good coffee, Lorenzo smiled. Cumulusians do matter.

Just back from Helsinki Thanks to Eija Salmi, Tuomas Auvinen, Yrjö Sotamaa and Lotta Uusitalo for welcoming. Technology is great to work from far away, but talking one each other in presence is something precious. Even better with a good coffee! Happy holidays to Cumulus Association #cumulusassociation #cumulus

We just ended our Cumulus Association Executive Board InfoSession in Detroit.
After 3 years of pandemic, we are working to bring in presence the spirit of Cumulus
Thank you to our Secretary General and our Board
Eija Salmi
Roberto Iñiguez
Satu Miettinen
Archana Surana
Teresa Franqueira
Anne Pikkov
Miaosen Gong
Monica Di Ruvo
Nicola Morelli
Natacha Lallemand
Makoto Watanabe

1st Cumulus Executive Board 8 in Berlin during the reunification celebration.
It was deep and fun to get back (in person) with some new and old Cumulus friends..
Thank you to All!
Cumulus Association
Eija Salmi Justyna Molik Anna Malmström
Archana Surana Roberto Iñiguez Satu Miettinen Anne Pikkov Miaosen Gong Teresa Franqueira Nicola Morelli Monica Di Ruvo Natacha Lallemand Makoto Watanabe

Today first short getting together of some of our new board, elected last week 16 June 22. Some members already on holidays and the secretariat heading to Juhannus, the Midsummer in the Nordic countries. Thanks to Lorenzo, Satu, Roberto, Natacha, Miaosen, Teresa, Makoto and Nicola! We rock, also thanks to the past board. Go and see
https://cumulusassociation.org/…/cumulus-announces-new…/ More news to come😉.

From Singapore to Rome: Design Principles & Practices Conference 2026
The Design Principles and Practices Research Network Conference in Singapore has just concluded, and at the closing ceremony the baton was officially passed to Sapienza Università di Roma for the 2026 edition!
Our colleagues Angela Giambattista and Viktor Malakuczi, who joined me in Singapore, will chair next year’s conference at Sapienza. During the closing session, they announced and presented an exciting preview of their vision for continuing these vital design conversations in the eternal city.
The transition from LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore to Sapienza University represents the truly global nature of our design community and the ongoing collaboration between Design Principles & Practices and Cumulus Association.
It was especially meaningful to witness this handover after delivering the opening address at this year’s conference, reflecting on nearly two decades of collaboration with Phillip Kalantzis Cope and the evolution of this important forum for design discourse.
I look forward to welcoming the international design community to Rome in 2026, where we’ll continue exploring new dimensions of design thinking, learning, and practice under Angela and Viktor’s capable leadership.
#DesignPrinciples #DesignConference #SapienzaRome #DesignResearch #Rome2026 #Cumulus

Proud to open the FL | Fashion Sustainability International Conference at Universidade Lusófona! As Cumulus Association President, I’m inspired by the incredible dialogue on sustainable fashion bringing together academia, industry, and global perspectives.
Incredible insights from our Cumulus leadership – Teresa Franqueira’s introduction and Archana Surana’s keynote were truly enlightening. The conference beautifully highlighted the critical intersection of fashion, sustainability, and social responsibility.
A heartfelt thank you to Alexandra Cruchinho, the Conference Chair, whose extraordinary vision and meticulous organization made this event possible. Her dedication truly brought together the best minds in sustainable fashion.
From preserving artisan knowledge to addressing environmental challenges, this conference proves that the future of fashion is collaborative, conscious, and innovative.
Grateful to be part of this crucial conversation.
#FashionSustainability #DesignLeadership #SustainableInnovation #cumulus #Cumulusassociation

Thank you to the Academy of Arts and Design, @tsinghua_uni University (AADTHU), and to Dean Prof. Ma Sai for the invitation to speak at the 2024 Tsinghua International Conference on Art and Design Education (ICADE 2024), on behalf of @cumulusassociation The conference brought together top global academic leaders in design to reflect on the future of design education in the face of upcoming technological challenges.
My plenary session was part of the panel entitled ‘Identity and Mission: Shaping Talents for the Future,’ where I emphasized the importance of internationalization in design education during times of peace. Drawing inspiration from Marco Polo’s remarkable journey 700 years ago, I highlighted how he connected diverse cultures across the globe—from Venice, through Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan, and the Gobi Desert, ultimately reaching Cathay in northern China, the realm of the Great Khan of the Mongols. Today, such a journey on foot would be nearly impossible due to borders that cannot be crossed or regions afflicted by conflict.
My panel was including also @lindnerchristopher from Royal College of Art, @yvonnewatson_ from Parsons School of Design, @emmanueltibloux from Ecole National Superieure Des Arts Decoratifs. The conference also included @rathna_ramanathan from Central Saint Martins, Kun-Pyo Lee from Hong Kong PoyU, Gordon Hush from the Glasgow School of Art, @johnochsendorf from MIT, @zurlo_f and @anna.barbara.56829 from Politecnico di Milano, @andrea.cancellato from ADI, Juan Cruz from the Edimburgh College of Arts, @clmntvalla from Rhode Island School of Design.
Thank you to @salmieija for bridging!
@sapienzaroma @sapienzadesignresearch
#cumulus
#cumulusassociation
#sapienzauniversitàdiroma

Just about to take off from Shanghai Pudong airport after an amazing conference at Jangnan University in Wuxi. For me it was two very intense days when I have been speaking for two keynotes, two toundtables and two opening remarks in my role of @cumulusassociation President.
My first keynote was about the global and ethical responsibility of design towards building sustainable, open and creative societies. Taking back the words of the philosopher Hannah Arendt, I stressed on design as a collective action including a number of
individuals and the attitude to be open to the world at large.
My second keynote was titled ‘The International space of knowledge’ and I spoke about the importance of internationalization for design education and the challenges in a time of big conflicts. It is interesting to remind that Cumulus started at the time of Erasmus in Europe and the fall of the Berlin wall. Now we need to work to preserve the freedom to network and exchange globally for our students and faculty worldwide.
I have to thank you Miaosen Gong, Xiaobo , Sara Chen, Wei Jie .
It was good to meet back with Yongqi Lou @ezio.manzini @christianguellerin Kun Pyo Lee @francescavalsecchi_ and many more friends from around the world!
Sapienza Design Research
Sapienza Università di Roma
Master of Science in Product & Service Design – Sapienza, Rome

Today we started the conference @whats_around_design in Algarve with international speakers and design researchers to share knowledge and visions for the future. I was very glad and honored to give a keynote at the opening on behalf of @cumulusassociation
It was nice to meet again many friends from around the world. Thank you to Susana Leonor, @americo.guda , Gabriel Patrocinio , Carla Paoliello and @palmapaixao for bringing me back to Portugal for such an extraordinary event!

I am flying back from Shanghai, where I gave two keynotes and I was a panelist for two roundtables at WDCC 2024, World Design City Conference.
Co-organised by UNESCO and the Shanghai government, the goal of the conference is to explore and promote the ways in which design can influence urban development and industrial innovation.
The topic was “Design Reframing Growth”, and I have been speaking about Design and Complexity.
It was nice to meet the Chinese and global community of design, and some good old friends for three days.
Thank you to Yongqi Lou and Tongji University for inviting!
Cumulus Association
#cumulusassociation
#cumulus

Opening the XVIII conference on Design Principles and Practices at Universitat Politecnica de Valencia

A quick jump into the IASDR conference. Very nice closing keynote by @paulhekkert chaired by @l_collina and it was nice to meet the two Presidents Toshimasa Yamanaka and Peter Lloyd, and so many @cumulusassociation friends coming from all over the world during the gala dinner at ADI museum.
Congrats to the large team at Politecnico di Milano

Nice to get back in presence for the Seventeenth International Conference on Design Principles and Practices Research Network at the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, this time also in representation of Cumulus Association.
Thank you to my dear friend Phillip Kalantzis-Cope and Cátia Rijo for inviting!
#2023internationalconferenceondesignprinciplesandpractices
#DesignPrinciplesandPractices
#cumulusassociation

CFAD Research Forum (Part 2)
UST College of Fine Arts and Design
University of Santo Tomas (Manila, Philippines)
Thanks to Gemma L. Mendoza for inviting!
Cumulus Association

2022 International Conference on Reputation and Cultural Value in Design Soft Power
thank you to Shandong University for inviting to represent @cumulusassociation

I had the honor of participating as a keynote speaker at the Italian Design Day 2025 in Boston, representing both Cumulus Association and the Italian Society of Design (SID).
It was an extraordinary experience to engage on the theme Inequalities – How to Mend the Fractures of Humanity, alongside esteemed colleagues Valerie Fletcher, Mahesh Daas with David Manfredi FAIA, LEED AP moderating our discussion.
My sincere thanks to the Science and Technology Counselor Paolo Gaudenzi and Consul General Arnaldo Minuti for the invitation to this significant event organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Boston in partnership with the Boston Architectural College.
Our discussion explored design’s crucial role in addressing social disparities and creating more inclusive communities, themes central to both Cumulus and SID’s missions.
These international exchanges are essential for strengthening our vision of design as a powerful tool for building more equitable and sustainable futures.
The trip to Boston also gave me the wonderful opportunity to get back to Massachusetts Institute of Technology and reconnect with dear friends Sheng-Hung Lee and Safouan Azouzi 🍉
hashtag#ItalianDesignDay hashtag#DesignForSocialImpact hashtag#CumulusAssociation hashtag#SID hashtag#DesignResearch hashtag#BostonArchitecturalCollege

🎓 Speaking about the future of design education at ‘Design Habilis’
Sharing @cumulusassociation vision for international design education alongside Michele De Lucchi and leading design educators.
Proud to present our Cumulus Declaration and ongoing initiatives shaping the future of design education globally 🌍✨
#DesignEducation #Cumulus #CumulusAssociation #InternationalEducation #DesignInnovation #DesignCommunity

A Powerful Moment in Global Design 🌐
Last week, I experienced something truly extraordinary at the Tisdc TW 2024 awards ceremony in Taipei. Representing Cumulus Association, I was part of an unprecedented gathering of 21 design organizations from across the globe – each united by a singular vision of design’s transformative potential.
The event brought together remarkable design leaders like Pradyumna Vyas from WDO, Christina Melander from BEDA, and Felix Ofori Dartey from PADI. Our gracious hosts, Apex Lin and his exceptional TISDC TW team, created a platform that was nothing short of remarkable.
Through countless conversations with students, educators, and international design representatives, one message resonated crystal clear: Design is not just a way to solve problems – it is THE way to address the complex challenges of our time.
The students’ projects, centered on the theme of Equality, were a testament to design’s power to imagine, challenge, and transform. Each design was a vision of a more inclusive, empathetic world.
These young talents aren’t just designers. They are hope personified.
#DesignForChange #TISDC #CreativeInnovation #GlobalDesign #FutureOfDesign #cumulus #Cumulusassociation

Happy and honored to chair the jury of the 5th edition of DesignEuropa.
Today we awarded a selection of European designers in Riga, Latvia.
Organised by the EUIPO, the event celebrated some of Europe’s most talented designers and the companies that invest in design and protect it through intellectual property.
Thank you @euipo – European Union Intellectual Property Office and congrats to the winners!
@cumulusassociation

BEDA – The Bureau of European Design Associations and Cumulus Association together for the annual international jury panel of the 2024 DesignEuropa Awards to select the finalist designs that will be showcased at the upcoming awards ceremony.
Very happy to meet again Päivi Tahkokallio and Isabelle Vérilhac in Alicante
Please, stay tuned!
European Union Intellectual Property Office – EUIPO
#CumulusAssociation
#Beda
#EUIPO
#designcompetition
#intellectualproperty

ACCESSIBLE EU: building community, connecting stakeholders. Conference in Madrid
Proud to speak on behalf of @cumulusassociation and Sapienza Design Research and to make connections for future projects

@cumulusassociation meets WDO World Design Organization in Tokyo. Yesterday was the WDO General Assembly electing the new Board and President. Congrats to the Presidents @luisabocchietto, @srini_wdo , @davidkusuma.next , Thomas Garvey, and the new President @pradyumna_vyas , who has been just elected.
We look forward to work together for the next years and to strengthen the friendship between our organizations.

Barcelona Design Week
Awards Ceremony Human/AI Design Challenge
It was nice to be part of the jury and the final awards ceremony on behalf of @cumulusassociation
Congrats to the winners and all the participants!

Some pictures of the panel discussion between Design Organization Leaders at the WDCC 2023 in Shanghai, chaired by @srini_wdo
Thank you Yongqi Lou for inviting
I was happy to bring the voice of Cumulus Association Thank you Francesco Zurlo for the pictures!
#cumulus
#cumulusassociation
#sapienza
#sapienzauniversity
#research
#design

Last week I was invited to give a contribution to the conference on Ecodesign Competences Circularity at the Italian Chamber of Deputies, to bring the voice of @sapienzadesignresearch and @cumulusassociation .
Thank you to Tommaso Salvatori and Isia di Roma for inviting!
#cumulus
#cumulusassociation
#sapienza
#sapienzauniversity
#research
#design
#sustainability
#ecodesign

Happy to give a keynote for the opening of the Pordenone Design Week! 🍀
Thanks to Giuseppe Marinelli de Marco and Tommaso Salvatori for inviting!
Cumulus Association
Sapienza Design Research
#cumulus
#cumulusassociation

Happy to speak for the Ahmedabad Design Week 4.0 together with Pradyumna Vyas and David Kusuma
thank you to Surojit Bose for inviting!
https://ahmedabaddesignweek.com/
Cumulus Association
#cumulus

Proud to represent Cumulus at the award ceremony for 2022TISDC, the Taiwan International Student Design Competition, and to give a contribution to the International Organisation Collaboration Meeting
Thank you to Apex Lin for inviting!
Cumulus Association
#cumulus