AI+Innovative Design Summer School<br/>-Fusion of Art, Music and Technology

Mr. Loïc Faulon (呂富龍) is a very approachable multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural designer and educator, with over 25 years’ experience in the creative industry and R&D for some of the world’s leading consumer brands and organizations (e.g. Nestlé, Rexam…) including 15 years teaching at university. He has been living and working in France, the UK, Germany and China (Macau SAR, Zhuhai, Hangzhou, Ningbo) currently holding an academic position at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). He fervently believes that design education, for all ages, must encompass and bridge cultural contexts with sustainability while promoting an iterative and practical approach, as well as new technologies that define professional practice nowadays.

 

Dr. Xu Sun (孙煦) is a Professor in Product Design and Manufacture at University of Nottingham Ningbo China. She is a Chartered Technological Product Designer of the Institute of Engineering Designers (iED, UK). She obtained her Doctorate degrees from Loughborough University and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Leicester University and University of Nottingham. Her research in ‘Human-Centred Design’ has produced new products on the market, over 20 patents, and over 70 peer-reviewed publications. She has secured over RMB5 million in funding from various high-level funding bodies (NSFC, AHRC) and industries. Her development of sustainable working relationships with industry has created opportunities for students to showcase their designs to a broader audience and to businesses. Over 30 of her supervised students’ designs have been recognised by the world’s largest, most prestigious and influential design accolades, such as iF Design, A ‘Design Award, International Design Awards, and European Product Design Award.

 

Dr. Yoke Chin Lai, who received her PhD from Aalborg University, is an experienced cross-disciplinary educator with a background in Mechanical Engineering, specialising in Problem-Based Learning in higher education for over 18 years. Committed to promoting sustainability, Dr. Lai has extensive experience in facilitating Sustainable Design workshops for engineers and product designers. Drawing on past collaborations with major Danish industry professionals, her work covers LCA, Systems Thinking, System Dynamics, Human-Centred Design, and Renewable Energy. With experience mentoring students to achieve success in prestigious international design competitions, Dr. Lai is renowned for her balanced approach to the integration of technical functionality, sustainable feasibility, and practical usability in the supervision of student projects. Her current research explores the use of sustainable living labs for climate solutions, while also exploring the cultural implications and challenges of implementing Autonomous Vehicles (AV).

 

Mr. Hengchong Yu (俞恒翀) is the Founder of CH_LAB Design Studio, based in Hangzhou and Ningbo. He holds a master’s degree from the University of the Arts London (Central Saint Martins). Influenced by his father, he developed an early and rational understanding of business and management. Combined with years of study and professional experience in London, this background has shaped a design approach that balances an international perspective with pragmatic judgment and continues to inform his work in commercial collaboration and team leadership. His work has received numerous international and regional design awards, including the iF Design Award, Red Dot Award, International Design Awards (IDA, USA), Golden Pin Design Award (Taiwan), Macau Design Award, Founder Type Design Award, among others. His projects have been widely featured in leading professional publications and media such as the Asia-Pacific Design Yearbook (APD), Wallpaper, Design 360, and beyond.

Mr. Philip Leung is a distinguished educator and innovator with over 40 years of experience spanning education, corporate training, and youth development. He holds a degree in Education from the University of Nottingham, and qualifications in Design & Craft Teaching and Mechanical Engineering. His career highlights include roles as a secondary school teacher, principal, university guest lecturer, and Curriculum Director for a project that trained 30,000 teachers in IT integration. In 2004, he founded the DEEP Drumming system, introducing African hand drumming as a transformative tool for wellbeing and learning. He established a professional certification program, qualifying over 1,200 instructors across the Greater Bay Area. His eco-friendly drums won a Green Award, and he led the world’s largest African drumming gathering. Mr. Leung research with leading universities shows drumming enhances memory and mood in seniors, including those with cognitive impairment. His charity holds UN SDGs certification, and he is now developing smart drums for elderly care and stroke rehabilitation.

 

Ms. Ningning Xu is currently an Assistant Lecturer at Zhejiang Wanli University, and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Nottingham, Ningbo. She received her master's degree at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. Her research interests focus on AR, VR, InfoVis, and GenAI. Her work has been published and recognized at top-tier venues in human-computer interaction (HCI), such as IJHCI, CHI, IEEEVR, ISMAR, JOCCH and so on. She has led more than 20 student research projects in the past three years, with over 50 competition awards, publications, funding support, and patent submissions in total.

(*Subject to Change as needed)