Education Philosophy
In terms of educational philosophy, DS academy draws from the rich pedagogical traditions of both China and the West. We derive inspiration from 20th-century Chinese educator Cai Yuanpei and his advocacy for the crucial role of aesthetic education in society, as described in his “five types of education”. We are also influenced by the educational philosophy of John Dewey, who considered education to be “life itself” and viewed society as a form of schooling. By integrating the ideas of these two visionaries, we strive to harmonize Chinese and Western philosophies, embracing the nuanced and reserved Eastern approach alongside the pragmatic Western perspective.
We aim to place the education of design, art, and aesthetics within the modern context of technological development and contemporary media. Our approach involves assimilating global knowledge while respecting local cultural legacies. Through this synthesis, we will shape DS academy’s inclusive vision and diverse learning environment.
DS academy encourages exploration and innovation. Our goal is to cultivate a new generation of artists and designers who retain their individuality, think independently, possess refined taste, demonstrate creative thinking, express themselves effectively through art, and skillfully utilize modern technology.
Our Strengths
At DS academy, our motto is to foster creativity and embrace change – such is the goal achieved through an ideal design education. Our pedagogy respects each individual's learning needs, promoting mutual respect between teachers and students. Both parties are expected to be genuinely interested in the subject matter, paving the way for the identification of their distinct personality traits. This approach facilitates communication that transcends mere knowledge, enabling instructors to provide more meaningful professional advice.
DS academy’s diverse course offerings and skilled faculty cater to learners with varied personalities, providing them with greater possibilities. Our high-quality learning journey respects individuality, ensuring that students maintain their uniqueness and passion for design. This approach sets DS academy apart from traditional universities while maintaining a high standard of education.
When top professional designers become instructors, they can expose learners to the latest ideas and techniques. However, it is the professors specializing in the history of design and art who elevate design from mere skill instruction to a true academic discipline. History and theory classes will be mandatory for all learners, regardless of their specific study track, with the goal of cultivating a robust mindset in future designers. Delivered through lectures and dialogues, these theoretical courses will be seamlessly integrated with other fundamental courses.
Design education should strive to bridge the gap between design as a skill and design as an art. By advocating for in-person learning, hands-on training, and heartfelt craftsmanship, we sow the seeds of creativity. Our cross-disciplinary learning content prepares learners to explore various fields, fostering unity between art, design, and trades while providing a diverse knowledge base.
Academics
Focused on visual design, DS academy conducts classes in four directions:
① Visual Design Exploration
② Multilingual Type Design & Layout
③ Brand Identity & Information Design
④ Interactive Media
Course Structure
All courses in four directions consist of five parts:
masterclass (50%); design philosophy and history (10%); multidisciplinary lecture (10%);
design production and printing techniques (15%); elective subjects (15%).
Masterclass (50%)
Masterclasses are taught by leading experts from both East and West. The diversity in the backgrounds and design ideologies of the lecturers enable participants from different cultural backgrounds to experience the differences between Eastern and Western designs, the current state of the design industry, the connection between design and marketing, and the evolution of design styles, which possess international and professional characteristics.
Masterclass of Visual Design Exploration include:
graphic creative thinking
graphic presentation techniques
…
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ①:
Mirko Ilić (USA/New York), Prof. Fons Hickmann (Germany/Berlin), Sven Tillack (Germany/Stuttgart).
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ②:
Sven Lindhors-Emme (Germany/Berlin), Lizzy Onck (Netherlands/Berlin), Peter Bankov (Russia/Prague).
Masterclass of Multilingual Type Design & Layout include:
font design (Lattin letters + Chinese characters)
layout design
book design & publishing
multilingual layout design
…
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ①:
Sebastian Bissinger (Germany/Berlin), Pan Yanrong (China/Nanjing), Dan Solbach (Switzerland/Berlin).
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ②:
Florian Lamm (Germany/Berlin), Prof. Ingo Offermanns (Germany/Hamburg), Hannes Drissner (Germany/New York).
Masterclass of Brand Identity & Information Design include:
brand identity
typography and information design
signage system design
…
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ①:
Andrea Gassner (Austria/ Feldkirch), Prof. Sven Ingmar Thies (Austria/Vienna), Kakinokihara Masahiro (Japan/Tokyo).
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ②:
Shun Sasaki (Japan/Tokyo), Taku Satoh (Japan/Tokyo), Florian Lamm (Germany/Berlin),
Lin Shaobin (China/Shenzhen), Mao Yiting (China/Ningbo).
Masterclass of Interactive Media include:
graphics and motion
dynamic techniques
sound, color, visual memory
…
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ①:
Schultzschultz (Ole Schulte & Marc Schütz) (Germany/Frankfurt),
Prof. Markus Weisbeck & Vera Kunz (Germany/Frankfurt), Chimo (China/Xi’an).
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ②:
Nikita Iziev (UK/London), Nejc Prah (Slovenia/ Ljubljana), Nam Huynh (Germany/Stuttgart).
Design Philosophy & History (10%)
Design philosophy and history lectures are led by professionals such as historians of Eastern and Western art, scholars of design and art museums, collectors, and columnists. The course includes design history and design theory.
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ①:
Dr. René Grohnert (Germany/Essen).
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ②:
Dr. Yu Yuequn (China/Hangzhou).
Multidisciplinary Lecture (10%)
Multidisciplinary lectures are led by experts in contemporary art, design, film, curation, and other interdisciplinary fields, providing participants with multidimensional inspiration to cultivate artistic aesthetics and also bringing influences on design practices.
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ①:
Jiang Zhi (China/Beijing), Zhu Sha (China/Beijing), Li Zhenhua (China/Zurich),
Tutu Zhu (China/Shanghai), Liu Xiaodu (China/Shenzhen).
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ②:
Benny Au (China/Hong Kong), Li Binyuan (China/Hunan), Yang Wentao (China/Suzhou),
Ziyu Zhuang (China/Beijing), Chen Xiaoyun (China/Hangzhou).
Design Production & Printing Techniques (15%)
Courses are taught by experts in paper, printing, binding and related industries, bringing production theories, technologies, skills and experience. DS academy will provide a silk screen printing workshop (eco-friendly water-based pigments only), a Riso printing workshop, and a digital printing workshop.
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ①:
Arton Art Centre (China/Shanghai), George Chen (China/Shanghai; Amazing Team).
Lecturers of DSa 2024 ②:
Mu Zhenying (China/Shenzhen; International Color Printing), Shi Jingyu (China/Hangzhou; Lby Paper).
Elective Subjects (15%)
Elective subjects are supplementary activities of regular programs, conducted in the form of self-study or optional involvements. During the learning period, various arts, design and other humanities activities will be organized to provide participants with new perspectives.
Organization
hesign
Center for Visual Arts Berlin
Partnerships
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Berlin University of the Arts
Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw