Recently, the Sino-Foreign Cooperative Design Alliance was invited to Hangzhou Yungu School for a sharing session on innovation design methodology. The discussion focused on how international design awards, design thinking and education practice can support students in discovering problems, developing ideas and turning creative concepts into works that serve real life.

Innovation design methodology sharing at Hangzhou Yungu School
The sharing session focused on design evaluation, idea development and student creative growth.

Connecting awards with education

During the exchange, SFCDA shared practical methods for reading design award criteria, building project narratives, refining concepts and presenting outcomes. The session emphasized that a strong idea is not only an entry for a competition, but also a way for students to observe everyday life, respond to real needs and create value for people around them.

Sharing examples of design award works and evaluation methods
The session used design cases and award evaluation perspectives to explain how creative ideas can be shaped into stronger projects.

From methodology to award strategy

The workshop further unpacked how design methodology can be used in teaching. Students and teachers were encouraged to begin with problem discovery: observing everyday behavior, identifying friction points in campus and family life, reading cultural symbols, studying materials and processes, and connecting technology, sustainability and social value to a clear design proposition.

Presentation slide on international design awards and submission methodology
The training material focused on problem mining methods and international design award strategy.

A key concept in the sharing was methodological transfer: a method learned in one field can be moved into another field when its underlying logic is clear. For example, user research from product design can be transferred into learning-space improvement; service design journey mapping can help students rethink campus experiences; material experiments can become a way to explore sustainability, culture and emotional expression.

For award submission, SFCDA suggested that students should not treat the award as the starting point. A stronger path is to first define the problem, then form insight, prototype, testing evidence and final storytelling. When preparing a submission, students need to clarify the category, highlight the project’s originality and completion, provide process evidence, show real-use scenarios, and explain why the work matters to people rather than only presenting visual form.

The discussion also explored how educators can guide students from curiosity to research, from research to prototyping, and from prototyping to communication. In this process, design becomes a learning approach that activates imagination, collaboration, critical thinking and social awareness.

About Hangzhou Yungu School

Hangzhou Yungu School was co-founded in 2017 by Jack Ma and Alibaba partners, according to public reports. The school covers kindergarten, primary school, middle school and high school, and is widely associated with the exploration of future-oriented education in Hangzhou.

Yungu School states its vision as “Bring out the best in every child.” Its official materials emphasize nurturing happy, healthy and independent lifelong learners with social responsibility, global citizenship and the ability to translate knowledge into creative action.

Student works displayed at Hangzhou Yungu School
Student works on campus reflect the school’s emphasis on creative expression and project-based learning.

With international education resources, interdisciplinary learning and a future-facing teaching philosophy, Yungu School has continued to support students in project learning, creative practice and internationalized presentation. These efforts have helped students build broader perspectives and gain experience through competitions, exhibitions and learning outcomes.

More cooperation ahead

SFCDA will continue to work with schools and education partners to bring international design resources, award insights and project-based learning opportunities into more educational settings. Going forward, both sides look forward to exploring deeper cooperation in international education, youth design practice and creative talent development.

Roundtable discussion at Hangzhou Yungu School
Participants discussed how design methods can support student learning and creative confidence.

Official website: https://yungu.org/