Reflections on the Aesthetics of Technology: 'Father of Chinese Industrial Design' Liu Guanzhong to Speak at the 2026 Global New Brand AI Competitiveness Conference

On July 23, the 10th Global Cross-Border E-commerce Summit and the 2026 Global New Brand AI Competitiveness Conference, themed 'Leading the Way in Tech Aesthetics', will be held in Hangzhou. Professor Liu Guanzhong, a senior professor at Tsinghua University renowned as the 'Father of Chinese Industrial Design', has confirmed his attendance. He will deliver a speech titled 'Reflections on the "Aesthetics of Technology" in the Globalization of Chinese Brands'.

Professor Liu Guanzhong is a distinguished professor and doctoral supervisor at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and one of the university's first senior liberal arts professors. In 1984, he founded China's first Department of Industrial Design, establishing the theoretical foundation and pedagogical system for the discipline in China. He was the first Chinese visiting scholar to study in West Germany after the country's reform and opening-up and the first Chinese person to speak at the World Design Assembly, the highest-level forum of the global industrial design community organized by the World Design Organization.

Over his academic career spanning more than half a century, Professor Liu has developed theoretical frameworks such as 'Design as a Way of Life,' 'Design Methodology,' 'Design Culture,' and the 'Theory of Symbiotic Aesthetics.' Among these, 'Design Methodology' has provided a systematic methodological framework for China's design discipline, while the 'Theory of Symbiotic Aesthetics' offers a unique theoretical perspective on the integration of industrial design and aesthetics. His theories have been recognized and cited by academic circles in advanced countries worldwide, forming China's own theoretical system of design.

Professor Liu Guanzhong has received numerous accolades, including the Gold Medal of the Guanghua Longteng Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Design, the Top Ten Education and Promotion Awards in Chinese Industrial Design, the 'Outstanding Contribution Award for Returned Overseas Scholars' from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the State Education Commission, the Third National Award for Distinguished University Teachers, the title of 'Touching China Figure of the Year' in 2022, and a significant honor from the China Industrial Design Association in 2025.

Professor Liu has consistently emphasized that the original purpose of design is not to create flashy products but to address fundamental needs such as clothing, food, shelter, transportation, and communication. He has proposed that 'industrial design is not about designing a car, but about designing a mobility solution; not about designing furniture, but about designing a living environment.' In his view, the core of design is problem-solving, not the pursuit of luxury or singular forms. Facing globalization and the AI era, he advocates that Chinese brands should not merely focus on exporting products but should also export new concepts and lifestyles. He champions the idea of 'changing lanes to overtake'—replacing ownership-based consumption with shared usage models, which he sees as a contribution China can make to the world.

From founding China's first industrial design department to proposing influential theories like the 'Theory of Symbiotic Aesthetics' and 'Design Methodology,' Liu Guanzhong's design explorations over more than half a century have consistently resonated with the rise of Chinese industrial design. At this conference, he will offer profound intellectual insights into the globalization of Chinese brands from the perspective of the 'aesthetics of technology.'

The 10th Global Cross-Border E-commerce Summit and the 2026 Global New Brand AI Competitiveness Conference is organized by Ebrun, co-organized by Mati Club, Ebrun Think Tank, and the Global Cross-Border E-commerce Knowledge Service Center. It is an annual bellwether event in the fields of cross-border e-commerce and brand globalization. The conference will encompass case studies and experiences from brands across various categories, including consumer goods and industrial products. It has invited decision-makers from major B2C and B2B platforms, representatives from technology service sectors such as independent websites, marketing, logistics, and after-sales service, and specially invited renowned investors from institutions including the National Service Trade Fund, Sequoia China, Frees Fund, and China Renaissance. The event aims to present a new landscape for global, cross-channel, and cross-category brand expansion.

Conference Agenda