Recently, Professor Clive Van Heerden, an internationally renowned expert in future design research, founder of London-based VHM Design Futures, and senior tutor in Innovation Design Engineering at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London, was invited to JAI for a two-day Design Master Workshop. Having previously established the "Reverse Futures" MasterWorkshopat JAI in 2024, where he introduced his pioneering "Nonlinear Future Forecasting Theory," Professor Clive returned to lead this advanced academic session.
As the third installment of the School of Designs flagship academic series, thisMaster Workshopwas integrated with the "Design Creative Thinking" curriculum, aiming to broaden the academic horizons of faculty and students while exploring cutting-edge directions in design. Dubbed a "disciplinary boundary-breaking storm of design inspiration," the event also marked the official upgrade of the "DesignMaster Workshop" to its 3.0 phase.
Professor Clive Van Heerden delivering the masterclass
Focused on "Paradigm Innovation and Practical Application in Design Methodology," the masterclass adopted a dual-track approach combining theoretical frameworks and hands-on project work. Professor Clive systematically deconstructed emerging global methodologies such as creative thinking, ecological design, and critical design. Centering on "10+ Year Future Scenario Projections," he analyzed real-world cases like fully circular indoor systems and emotional light-shadow expressions, demonstrating the strategic role of design thinking in addressing global challenges such as climate change and digital ethics. His introduction of the "Wheel of Futures" and "Weak Signal Tools" prompted faculty and students to reconsider the social responsibility of design disciplines.
Interactive discussion sessions
The masterclass adopted a "Faculty-Student Co-Creation Lab" format, with Professor Clive guiding six interdisciplinary teams in collaborative design projects around the theme of "Future Visions." Each team applied the newly acquired methodologies to create future scenario magazines, delving into thought-provoking topics such as human-machine interaction, AI misdiagnosis, and biohacking vulnerabilities.
This event not only delivered an academic feast in the field of design for JAI faculty and students but also injected new vitality into the university’s design education, fostering quality enhancement. Moving forward, JAI will continue to leverage its "Design Masterclass" series, bringing in top-tier industry intellectual resources to cultivate forward-thinking awareness among faculty and students, further elevating the institution’s design education standards.
