Thinking Creatively Conference

The Thinking Creatively Conference is an annual event in both Wenzhou-Kean University and Kean USA. It consists of a global lecture series and workshops and brings together leading designers, architects, and professionals to discuss the ideas and trends that shape the contemporary discourse about design’s place in the wider world. The theme of the conference is unlimited, as long as it is related to creativity.

2024 Speakers

LIU Zhao

Founder and Creative Director of Another Design
Member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGl)
Vice President, Shenzhen Graphic Designers Association.

Zhao Qing

Member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI)

Deputy Director, Book Art Committee, the Publishers Association of China

Founder/Creative Director, Nanjing Hangingtang Design

Ahmet Can Özcan

Chair, Assistant Professor, Industrial Design department, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey

David Vardy

Distinguished Associate Professor, WKU

Erich Brechbühl

Founder of the graphic design studio Mixer
Co-founder of the Lucerne Poster Festival Weltformat
Member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI)

Gregory Kovacs

Design Director, BENOY

Holger Briel

Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University-United International College
Professor, Dean, Division of Culture and Creativity

Joeri Reynaert

Owner, Joeri Reynaert Studio

Luigi Bistagnino

Co-Founder, Systemic Design Research and Education Center

Former Founder and Coordinator of the Design School, Politecnico di Torino (1996-2015)

Manuel Divino

Lecturer, Program Coordinator, Interior Design, KU

Nasrin Seraji

Distinguished Professor, WKU
Professor of Architectural Design, University College Dublin, Ireland

Sevi Merter

Assistant Professor, Yaşar University

Stephanie Jin

Graduate teaching assistant & graphic designer, Central Saint Martins, UAL

2023 Speakers

Alessandro Antonicelli

Head of the Creative Art & Design at Shenzhen Nanshan Huitong School.

Danilo Trevisan

Italian licensed architect, Director and founder of ALEATEK GROUP

Felicity Louise Aylieff

Professor of Programme, Ceramics & Gloss, Royal College of Art

Judge of Europe contemporary ceramic committee Full Time Senior Tutor

Takeshi Yasuda

Professor of University of Belfast, UK

Doctor of Letters D. Litt., Bath Spa Bath University, UK

Nasrin Seraji

Distinguished Professor of Wenzhou-Kean University

Nuno Andre Gomes Bernardo

Associate Professor of Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University

American Institute of Architects

American Institute of Architects Shanghai Chapter

2022 Speakers

DanielleI Savage

Multidisciplinary Artist & Soun Artist

Frederic Eyl

Founder & Creative Director

Hongrui Shen & Fan Cao

Founder | Creative Director

Jacobe Pardoe

Creative Director

Pier Paolo Peruccio

Full Professor of Design

Yeohyun Ahn

Assistant Professor of Graphic Design and Interactive Media

Amy Moore

Founder Executive Creative Director

2021 Speakers

Eric Say

3D Animation & Creative Director of Gameday Creative

LUO Yifei

Professor, Art & Design Theory, Communication University of Zhejiang & Economics College of Art

Snow Fu Yunxue

Association professor, New Media, New York University, USA

Jonny Jensen

Director of Design Reebok

James Weike

AIA Architect, Founding Partner, Chiasmus, BJ & Seoul

Zhong Fang

ZHONG Fang

Deputy Director of the Eco-design Research Institute, Tsinghua University

HOU Ying

Lecturer of central Academy of Arts

Founder of INWA Design

2019 Speakers

KIM In Cheurl

Architect, Principal at Archium, Seoul, Korea

Patrick Burke

Architect, Partner of the Michael Graves Architecture and Design

Zheng Gu

Architectural Designer, MGA&D

HU Ke

Associate professor, Visual Communication, China Academy of Art

Derek FRIDAY

American Environmental Graphic Designer

Chris CHAN

AIA, LEED AP BD+C. The Principal of Moore Ruble Yudell of Shanghai Office

Aric CHEN

Curator, Architect, Chief Curator of Hong Kong M+

WANG Weijen

Andrew K F Lee Professor in Architecture Design. The University of Hong Kong

2018 Speakers

Xu Weili

CPO & Co-founder, BuildSimHub, Pittsburgh

Gail Anderson

The National Design Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Accolade, Chair of Advertising, SVA, USA

Brooke Roderick

Kean USA Alumna, Art Director, Big Spaceship NYC

Gil Kuruneri

Vice President, Global Creative Director, Edelman NYC

2017 Speakers

Matt Senna

Kean Alumni, Conceptual Artist and Designer based in LA

David Young

Fashion Designer & Coordinator of International Foundation Course in CAFA

Ricky Ng

Head of the Center for Learning and Teaching, Vocational Training Council, HK

Tommy Li

Brand Designer & Member of AGI