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Mission Statement
Rooted in the fusion of diverse cultures and integrated with modern technological innovation, the School of Design at IMNU is dedicated to serving regional development and cultivating innovative design leaders with a global perspective and deep social responsibility.
International Role
The School of Design at IMNU serves as a strategic international hub bridging ethnic cultural heritage with global design innovation. Our international role is characterized by:
- Strategic Partnerships: We maintain long-term collaborations with prestigious institutions, most notably our joint laboratory with Deakin University (Australia), focusing on ecological sustainability and smart design.
- Regional Leadership: As a key academic node on the northern route of the "Belt and Road" initiative, we lead a regional network of art and design colleges to foster credit recognition and cross-border research.
- Global Talent & Excellence: A significant portion of our faculty holds Masters and PhD degrees from overseas, driving our academic quality. This global perspective has enabled our students to consistently win top-tier honors, including the Red Dot and iF Design Awards.
- Unique Contributions: We contribute the unique logic of "In-situ Innovation" to the global community. Through initiatives like the "Busigui Action," we demonstrate how local design wisdom can effectively address universal challenges in rural revitalization and cultural preservation.
National Role
The School of Design at IMNU acts as a strategic pedagogical and research powerhouse in Northern China, serving as a vital bridge between nomadic cultural heritage and contemporary industrial transformation. Our role is defined by three key dimensions:
1. Regional & National Leadership We are the leading institution for design education in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Nationally, we are recognized for our "In-situ Innovation" model, which has been supported by over 20 national-level grants (National Art Fund, etc.). As the head of the "Belt and Road" Art and Design College Alliance, we coordinate academic standards and cultural exchange across Northern China and neighboring countries.
2. Impact on Home City & Region Based in Hohhot, we function as a think-tank for the regional government. We play a decisive role in "Rural Revitalization" and "Ecological Border Construction." A hallmark of our regional impact is the "Busigui Action," a design-led initiative that has successfully modernized traditional ethnic clothing, empowered thousands of female artisans, and integrated ethnic craftsmanship into the global fashion value chain.
3. Industrial & Business Connections We maintain a robust network of over 50 industrial partners. Utilizing our 12,000 sqm "North China Industrial Product Design Key Laboratory," we provide R&D and design strategy for manufacturing and textile enterprises. This collaboration ensures that our research is not academic-only but serves as a catalyst for regional economic growth and brand internationalization.
Main Focus
The School of Design at IMNU offers a comprehensive, multi-level educational framework that spans Bachelor (BA), Master (MA/MFA), and Doctoral (PhD/Professional Doctorate) levels. Our main focus is the intersection of Design, Art, and Research, with a specialized emphasis on "In-situ Innovation."
We cultivate a unique pedagogical environment where traditional ethnic crafts and nomadic cultural heritage are bridged with contemporary digital media, industrial product design, and sustainable environmental strategies. Our focus is not only on aesthetic excellence but also on research-driven design that addresses social governance, ecological protection, and regional industrial transformation. By integrating these diverse elements, we prepare students to be versatile innovators who can translate deep cultural intelligence into modern, sustainable solutions.
Faculties and Departments
Departments
- Visual Communication Design
- Digital Media Art
- Environmental Design
- Product Design
- Clothing and Apparel Design
- Animation
- Arts and Crafts
- Public Art
- Art and Technology
Bachelor Level Programs
- BA in Visual Communication Design – 4 years
- BA in Digital Media Art – 4 years
- BA in Environmental Design – 4 years
- BA in Product Design – 4 years
- BA in Clothing and Apparel Design – 4 years
- BA in Animation – 4 years
- BA in Arts and Crafts – 4 years
- BA in Public Art – 4 years
- BA in Art and Technology – 4 years
Master Level Programs
- MA in Design Science (Academic Master's Degree) – 3 years
- MFA in Design (Professional Master's Degree) – 3 years
Research Activity and Main Areas
Research Activity and Main Areas
Research is a core pillar of the School of Design at IMNU, driving our "In-situ Innovation" pedagogical model. Our research activities are characterized by a deep integration of traditional cultural intelligence with contemporary technological applications. Our main research areas include:
1. Visualizing Cultural Identity & Communication This area focuses on the visual construction and digital dissemination of the "Community for the Chinese Nation." We conduct extensive research on ethnic symbols, traditional patterns, and nomadic visual languages, translating these heritage elements into modern visual systems that promote social cohesion and cultural identity.
2. In-situ Design & Social Innovation Focused on the Northern border regions, this area explores design-led rural revitalization and the modernization of ethnic crafts. A key research output is the "Busigui Action" methodology, which studies how to transform intangible cultural heritage (ICH) into sustainable industrial ecosystems, empowering local communities and preserving cultural diversity.
3. Ecological & Sustainable Design Addressing our region's role as a vital ecological barrier, this research focuses on desertification control design, sustainable grassland management, and green packaging. We leverage our "North China Industrial Product Design Key Laboratory" to develop smart, eco-friendly solutions that balance industrial growth with environmental protection.
4. Design History and Nomadic Material Culture This area involves the systematic study of Northern nomadic design history and theory. We conduct field research and archival studies to document the evolution of nomadic craftsmanship, providing a theoretical foundation for contemporary design that respects historical continuity and regional logic.
Research Infrastructure and Achievements
- Infrastructure: We operate the North China Industrial Product Design Key Laboratory and maintain joint research labs with Tongji University and Deakin University (Australia). Our facilities cover 12,000+ sqm, equipped with advanced XR and eye-tracking research systems.
- Funding and Projects: In the past five years, we have secured 22 national-level and 124 provincial-level research projects. Our total research funding exceeds €5.77 million (45 million RMB), demonstrating a robust capacity for transforming academic research into social and industrial value.
Doctorate Level Programs
- PhD in Design Science (Academic Doctorate) – 4 years
- Professional Doctorate in Design (Professional Doctorate) – 4 years
