On the morning of 11 December, the International Institute of Creative Design (IICD) signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine Literature. Jia Yang, Director of the Shanghai Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine Literature, Wang Haili, Deputy Director, Professor Gu Yi, Dean of IICD, Professor Fan Rong, Vice Dean of IICD, together with faculty and students from the Institute, attended the event.
Following the signing ceremony, Director Jia Yang delivered a lecture titled What Makes It Brilliant—The Communication of Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture. The lecture explored the inheritance and dissemination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) culture, particularly focusing on Shanghai-style (Haipai) TCM intangible cultural heritage. Director Jia discussed in depth several key aspects, including the historical origins and development of TCM culture, its dissemination and applications in contemporary society, as well as pathways and strategies for promoting TCM culture. He emphasised that TCM culture, as the crystallisation of thousands of years of Chinese wisdom, is more than just a healing art; it represents a philosophy and a way of life, deeply infused with cultural heritage and humanistic care.
After the lecture, Director Jia Yang engaged in a lively discussion with IICD faculty and students on modern innovative design approaches in TCM. Both parties agreed that the inheritance and development of TCM culture should evolve with the times, integrating contemporary design concepts to better reflect modern lifestyles and aesthetic preferences.
The signing of this cooperation agreement not only provides the Institute with an excellent opportunity to deeply understand and research TCM culture, but also offers valuable practical and innovative experiences for faculty and students. Through close collaboration with the Shanghai Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine Literature, the Institute aims to further integrate traditional TCM culture with contemporary design, nurture more design talents with innovative thinking and international perspectives, and contribute to promoting the internationalisation and modernisation of traditional Chinese medicine culture.
