PhD, Professor

Vice President, Tongji University

Honorary Doctor, Royal College of Art

Fellow, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences

Prof. /Dr. Yongqi Lou is a vice president of Tongji University and the Chair ofthe China National Graduate Education Steering Committee for Design. Lou has been at the forefront of the education, research, and practice of design for social innovation and sustainability. He has played a crucial role in the success of the College of Design and Innovation (D&I) of Tongji University, since its inception in 2009 and through his deanship till 2022. Lou has served on various boards, including CUMLUS, ICSID/WDO, DESIS, and Angewandte (Vienna). He is the founding executive editor of She Ji: The Journal of Design, Innovation, and Economics (published by Elsevier) and serves as an editorial board member of Design Issues (MIT Press). He was the co-chair of IASDR 2021 and was invited as a keynote speaker at prestigious events such as BODW 2018, IFI 2017, IDSA 2016, and ACM SIGCHI 2015. His works have been exhibited in the Design Museum of Helsinki, the Triennale Design Museum in Milan, and other renowned institutions. Lou was elected as a fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) in 2019, and in 2023, he received an honorary doctorate from the Royal College of Art.

Contact

Email: louyongqi@tongji.edu.cn

Areas of Specialization

Sustainable Design

Environmental Design

Social Innovation Design

Interdisciplinary Design and Innovation

Social Interaction Design

Positions in Tongji

2021-present  Vice president，Tongji University

2017-present  Director and Principle Investigator, Shanghai International Institute of Design, Tongji University

2016-present  Dean, Shanghai International College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University

2013-2022.4   Dean, College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University

2014-present  Member, Academic Committee, Tongji University

2013-present  Member, Administration Committee, Tongji University

2010-present  Executive Vice Director, Sino-Finnish Center, Tongji University

Educational Background

1991-1995  Bachelor of Engineering, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University

1995-1998  Master of Engineering, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University

1998-2002  PhD, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University

Teaching Courses

Undergraduates: Frontier of Design

Graduates: Open Design, Social Innovation and Sustainable Design

Honors and Awards

2024  Annual Person of Shanghai Science and Innovation Education

2024  Second Prize of Shanghai Excellent Land Spatial Planning and Design Award (Xianqiao Village Rural Revitalization, Chongming, Shanghai)

2023  Honorary Doctorate, Royal College of Art, UK

2023  Second Prize for Excellent Demonstration Project of Urban Renewal in Shanghai (NICE2035 Living Line)

2022  Shanghai Best 100+ Design (The 4th China International Import Expo Shanghai Pavilion)

2021  China’s Top 10 Design Educator

2020  Good Design Gold Award, Chinese Academy of Engineering (Huo-Yan Inflatable Lab)

2020  Shanghai Best 100+ Design (NICE2035 Living Line)

2019  Golden Medal of "70th Anniversary of People's Republic of China" Special Award, Dragon Design Foundation

2019  Foreign Member of Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) 

2018  Special Award of  "Reform and Opening 40th Anniversary", Dragon Design Foundation

2017  Top 10 People of Chinese Interior Design Industry

2015  Golden Medal of China Design Contribution Award, Dragon Design Foundation Award

2014  Knight, First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland by the President of Finland

2014  China Top 10 Educators for Industrial Design Award

2012  China’s Top Ten Youth in the Design Industry, Dragon Design Foundation Award

2010  Top 10 Young Creative Elites, Shanghai

Professional Qualification

2005-present  Certificated Urban Planner of P. R. China

Academic and Social Services

Visiting Positions

2016-present  Visiting Professor, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

2014-present  Visiting Professor, Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy

2011-2015  Visiting Professor, Aalto University, Finland

Design Organization Duties

2023-present Chairman, the National Design Professional Degree Graduate Education Guidance Committee

2020-present Secretary General of the 8th State Council Design Discipline Evaluation Committee

2015-present  Vice President, China Industrial Design Association

2015-2019  Member of Board of Directors, WDO (formerly Icsid)

2013-2016  Vice President, CUMULUS International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media

2013-2016  Vice President, Shanghai Industrial Design Association

2010-2013  Executive Board Member, CUMULUS International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media

2009-present  Coordinator, DESIS-China (Design for Social Innovation and Sustainabilty) Network

Advisory Board Duties

2014-present  Chairman, International Advisory Broad, the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Austria

2013-2016  Member, International Advisory Board, PARSE - Platform for Artistic Research Sweden

2011-present  Member, International Advisory Board of Design, KONE Group, Finland

2009-present  Member, International Advisory Board, Designskolen Kolding, Denmark

2009-present  Scientific Commitee Member, ASP (Alta Scuola Politenica), Politecnico di Torino & Milano, Italy

Editorial Positions

2014-present  Executive Editor, She Ji: the Journal of Design, Economics and Innovation (Elsevier)

2014-present  Editorial Board Member, Journal of Visual Art Practice (Taylor & Francis)

2013-present  Editorial Board Member, PARSE (Journal of Artistic Research Sweden, University of Gothenburg)

2011-present  Editorial Board Member, Design Issues (MIT Press)

Research Projects

[1] 2022-2025  Investigator, Intergovernmental International Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation under the National Key Research and Development Program of China: Innovation in Times of Urban Transformation

[2] 2018-present Founder, NICE2035 Living Line

[3] 2017-2023  PI, Sub-topic III: “Study on Chinese Craftsman Culture Education”, “Research on Chinese Craftsman Culture System and its Legacy and Innovation” , Key Project of National Social Science Fund

[4] 2017-2018  PI, Sub-topic: Research on Innovation Design Competitiveness and Talent Cultivation Mode and System, Key Project of Chinese Academy of Engineering

[5] 2017-2020  PI, Research on the Evaluation System of Chinese and Foreign Design Competitiveness under the Perspective of Innovative Design, National Social Science Foundation of China (Art)

[6] 2015-2016  PI, Sub-topic: “Scientifically Constructing Design Competitiveness Evaluation Model”, Key Project of Chinese Academy of Engineering

[7] 2015-2016  PI, Sub-topic: “Innovative Design Development Advances and Supports the Research on the Road Map of Environmental Construction”, “Research on the Key Problems of Innovative Design Development Strategies”, Key Project of Chinese Academy of Engineering

[8] 2014-2015  PI “China’s Sustainable Urban Traffic”, Volvo Group (Sweden)

[9] 2012-2015  2nd PI, “Research on the Key Technology Cooperation in the Sino-Italian Digital Collaborative Design”, National International Technology Collaboration Project

[10] 2011-2012  PI, “Research on Future Design for School”, Philip Research (Netherlands)

[11] 2010-2013  PI, “Public Using Types of Remaining Space among Rural families in Yangtze River Delta”, Project of National Natural Science Fund

[12] 2010-2011  PI, “Research on the Mobile Facilities and Service Design based on Urban and Rural Interaction”, Nokia (Beijing) Research Center

[13] 2010-2011  PI, “Research on The Strategy of Integrated Design for Happy Life-style”, Haier Group

[14] 2008-present  Founder, “Design Harvest - Research on Design-driven Urban/Rural Interaction Strategy Design”

For more details: www.sustainx.com.cn

Design Projects

[1] 2022  Shanghai Pavilion for the 4th China International Import Expo 

[2] 2020  Huo-Yan Inflatable Lab

[3] 2010-2016  Wuzhen Calligraphy and Painting Academy, Jiashan, Zhejiang 

[4] 2013-2014  Tongji University Deep Sea Exploration Pavilion Exhibition

[5] 2011-2013  Qingdao World Horticultural Expo Flower Avenue

[6] 2011-2012  New Jindai Sustainable Primary School in Liangping Chongqing, China-US Center for Sustainable Development

[7] 2010-2011  Shijiazhuang City Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Hebei Province

[8] 2008-2010  Expo United Nations Pavilion, World EXPO Shanghai 2010

For more details: www.tektao.com.cn

Recent Publications

Books

[1] Lou, Y. (2024). Design Beyond The Theme Exhibition of the World Design Cities Conference. Shanghai: Tongji University Press. (In Chinese and English)

[2] Lou Y. (2021). Environmental Design (2nd Edition). Beijing: Higher Education Press. (In Chinese)

[3] Lou, Y., Liu, L., & Yang, W. (2016). Study on Green and Low-Carbon Innovative Design Cases. Beijing: China Science and Technology Press. (in Chinese)

[4] Ma, J., Fassi, D., & Lou, Y. (2015). Emerging Practices: Inquiry into the Developing. Shanghai: Tongji University Press.

[5] Ma, J., & Lou, Y. (2014). Emerging Practices: Design Professions, Values, and Approaches, Beijing: China Architecture & Buildings Press.

[6] Lou, Y., Valsecchi, F., & Diaz, C. (2013). Design Harvests: An Acupunctural Design Approach Towards Sustainability. Gothenburg: Mistra Urban Futures.

[7] Lou, Y., & Reutersward, L. (2010). One Earth, One UN in a Chinese Garden, Nairobi: UN Habitat.

Book Chapters

[1] Lou, Y.(2016). Roadmap of China’s Design and Innovation strategies. In Research group of China Design Innovation(Ed.), China’s Design and Innovation Roadmap (pp.37-65). Beijing: China Science and Technology Press (In Chinese).

[2] Lou, Y., Fan, F., & Ma, J. (2016). Mission D, an Interdisciplinary Innovation and Venture Program at Tongji University. In B. Banerjee, & S. Ceri (Eds.), Creating Innovation Leaders: A Global Perspective (pp.201-213). Cham: Springer.

[3] Lou, Y., & Ma, J. (2015). A 3D ‘T-shaped’ Design Education Framework. In E. G. Carayannis,  G. Bast, & D. F. Campbell (Eds.), Arts, Research, Innovation, and Society (pp. 287-294). Cham: Springer.

[4] Lou, Y. (2013). She Ji—Change for Sustainable Futures. In S. Walker & J. Giard (Eds.), The Handbook of Design for Sustainability (pp.346-362). London: Bloomsbury Academic.

[5] Lou, Y. (2012). Jiashan No.1 Middle School, Zhejiang, In L. Delsante (Ed.), From Research to Design, Fondazione La Triennale di Milano (p.93). Bologna: Compositori.

[6] Lou, Y. (2012). New Jindai Primary School, Chongqing, In L. Delsante (Ed.), From Research to Design, Fondazione La Triennale di Milano (p.92). Bologna: Compositori.

Journal Articles

[1] Friedman, Ken, Yongqi Lou, and Jin Ma. "A Milestone for She Ji." She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation 10.1 (2024): 1-8.

[2] Zhang, Yan, et al. "Understanding street-level urban vibrancy via spatial-temporal Wi-Fi data analytics: Case LivingLine Shanghai." Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science 51.4 (2024): 803-822.

[3] Lou, Yongqi. "Human Creativity in the AIGC Era." She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation 9.4 (2023): 541-552.

[4] Zhang, Man, Tao Shen, and Yongqi Lou. "Configuration paths of community cafe to enhance residents’ well-being: fsQCA analysis of 20 cases in Shanghai." Frontiers in Public Health 11 (2023): 1147126.

[5] 娄永琪.AIGC时代，创意何去何从[J].艺术设计研究,2023,(06):5-12.

[6] 娄永琪.AIGC时代的设计与教育创新[J].艺术与设计,2023,1(04):166-172.

[7] 刘治龙,娄永琪.文化自觉视域下的乡建思考——东北林区生态型乡村建设与设计策略研究[J].文艺争鸣,2022,(06):204-208.

[8] 马谨,娄永琪.基于创新生态系统建构的社区更新——NICE2035未来生活原型街区的实践[J].建筑学报, 2022,(03):20-27.

[9] Friedman, Ken, Yongqi Lou, and Jin Ma. "She Ji: The Next Five Years." She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation 6.1 (2020): 1.

[10] Lou, Yongqi. "The idea of environmental design revisited." Design Issues 35.1 (2019): 23-35.

[11] Lou, Yongqi. "Designing interactions to counter threats to human survival." She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation 4.4 (2018): 342-35

[12] 娄永琪.NICE 2035:一个设计驱动的社区支持型社会创新实验[J].装饰,2018(05):34-39.

[13] 娄永琪，姜晨菡，徐江. 基于“创新设计”的国家竞争力评价研究[J]. 南京艺术学院学报，2018(1): 1-5.

[14] 娄永琪. 全球知识网络时代的新环境设计[J]. 南京艺术学院学报，2017(1): 3-9.

[15] 娄永琪. 设计的疆域拓展与范式转型[J]. 时代建筑，2017(1): 11-15.

[16] 娄永琪. NHCAS视角下的人机交互、可持续与设计[J]. 装饰，2017(1): 66-70.

[17] 马谨，娄永琪. 基于设计四秩序框架的设计基础教学改革[J]. 装饰，2016(6): 108-111.

[18] 娄永琪. 从“追踪”到“引领”的中国创新设计范式转型[J]. 装饰，2016(1): 72-74.

[19] 娄永琪. 转型时代的主动设计[J]. 装饰，2015(7): 17-19.

[20] 娄永琪，季祥，陈若. 生长中的可持续校园——梁平县新金带小学设计[J]. 建筑学报，2013(7): 44-51.

[21] Lou, Yongqi. "Enabling Society: New Design Processes in China The Case of Chongming. " The Journal of Design Strategies 4.1(2010): 22-28.

[22] 娄永琪. 创新之道 创意、创新和城市[J]. 时代建筑，2010(6): 16-19.

[23] 娄永琪. 一个针灸式的可持续设计方略：崇明仙桥可持续社区战略设计[J]. 创意与设计，2010(4): 33-38.

Conferece Proceeds

[1] Liu, Chun, et al. "Enhancing Pedestrian Target Recognition in Open Community Multi-Scene Spaces Using the Yolo-Stp Network." ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences 10 (2023): 319-328.

[2] Fassi, Davide, et al. "[Changing] Spaces and services." Proceedings of IASDR 2023: Life-changing Design. Design Research Society, 2023. 1-10.

[3] Lou, Yongqi, and Jin Ma. "Growing a community-supported ecosystem of future living: the case of NICE2035 living line." Cross-Cultural Design. Applications in Cultural Heritage, Creativity and Social Development: 10th International Conference, CCD 2018, Held as Part of HCI International 2018, Las Vegas, NV, USA, July 15-20, 2018, Proceedings, Part II 10. Springer International Publishing, 2018.

[4] Jiang, Chenhan, and Yongqi Lou. "Integrated Strategies of Participatory Design and PBL Towards Collaboration Quality." Cross-Cultural Design. Applications in Cultural Heritage, Creativity and Social Development: 10th International Conference, CCD 2018, Held as Part of HCI International 2018, Las Vegas, NV, USA, July 15-20, 2018, Proceedings, Part II 10. Springer International Publishing, 2018.

[5] Jiang, Chenhan, and Yongqi Lou. "Collaborative Service for Cross-Geographical Design Context: The Case of Sino-Italian Digital Platform." Cross-Cultural Design: 9th International Conference, CCD 2017, Held as Part of HCI International 2017, Vancouver, BC, Canada, July 9-14, 2017, Proceedings 9. Springer International Publishing, 2017.

[6] Song, Dongjin, and Yongqi Lou. "Design activism: Action research as an approach when design meets social innovation." Blucher Design Proceedings 8.2 (2016): 284-290.

[7] Song, Dongjin, Susu Nousala, and Yongqi Lou. "Design Process as Communication Agency for Value Co-Creation in Open Social Innovation Project: A Case Study of QuYang Community in Shanghai." Cross-Cultural Design Methods, Practice and Impact: 7th International Conference, CCD 2015, Held as Part of HCI International 2015, Los Angeles, CA, USA, August 2-7, 2015, Proceedings, Part I 7. Springer International Publishing, 2015.

[8] Sun, Xiaohua, et al. "Designing Wearable Device-Based Product and Service Ecosystem." Cross-Cultural Design Methods, Practice and Impact: 7th International Conference, CCD 2015, Held as Part of HCI International 2015, Los Angeles, CA, USA, August 2-7, 2015, Proceedings, Part I 7. Springer International Publishing, 2015.

[9] Ma, Jin , and Y. Lou . Restructuring Design Foundation based on the Framework of Four Orders of Design. 2015.

[10] Liu, Wei, and Yongqi Lou. "The Sino-Italian collaborative design platform: designing and developing an innovative product service system." Cross-Cultural Design: 6th International Conference, CCD 2014, Held as Part of HCI International 2014, Heraklion, Crete, Greece, June 22-27, 2014. Proceedings 6. Springer International Publishing, 2014.

[11] Lou, Yongqi, and Dongjin Song. "Design for the Public Usage of Rural Surplus Space (PURSS): The Case Study of DEISGN Harvests." Cross-Cultural Design: 6th International Conference, CCD 2014, Held as Part of HCI International 2014, Heraklion, Crete, Greece, June 22-27, 2014. Proceedings 6. Springer International Publishing, 2014.

[12] Valsecchi, Francesca , S. Pollastri , and L. Yongqi . "Design Harvests: a network of social collaborative innovation hubs." IASDR 2011 "Diversity and Unity" 2011.

[13] Lou, Yongqi. “Calling for ‘She Ji’: Rethinking and Changing the Changes in China”. C. Cipolla, & P. Peruccio (Eds.), Proceedings from International Design Research Conference Changing the Change: Design, Visions, Proposals and Tools. Allemandi Conference Press (2008):85-90.

Keynote or Invited Speeches

[1] "Fostering Economic Growth by Design", Keynote Speaker at 2017 IFI CONGRESS and African Culture & Design Festival. Lagos, Nigeria. 2017.

[2] “A new era of design activism”, Keynote speaker at “Making, Things, Happen”, IDSA International Conference 2016. Detroit, USA. 2016.

[3] “Crossings: HCI, design and sustainability”, Opening Keynote speaker at “Crossings”, ACM CHI 2015 Conference (33rd Annual ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems). Seoul, Korea. 2015.

[4] “Design Harvest, an acupunctural design approach towards sustainability”, Invited speaker at Design Strategy Conference 2014, Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). Chicago, USA. 2014.

[5] “Changing design education for innovation: A 3D ‘T-shaped’ Design Education Framework”, Keynote speaker at AsiaED Conference, BODW 2014. the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. 2014.

[6] “Designing the design policy: from catch-up to leap-frog”, Keynote speaker at World Design Capital 2014 Design Policy Conference, Cape Town, South Africa. 2014.

[7] “Designing for urban-rural interaction”, Keynote speaker at Global Urban Agriculture Conference. Linköping, Sweden. 2013.

[8] “DESIS, design for the new restorative economies”, Keynote speaker of Design for Billions, Parsons School of Design. New York, USA. 2011.

[9] “An acupunctural design approach towards sustainability”, Invited speaker at Inclusive Design Conference 2011. Royal College of Arts, London, UK. 2011.

[10] “Chinese sustainable design approaches and social innovation”, Keynote speaker at INOVABA Social Innovation & Sustainability Conference. Rio, Brazil. 2010.

[11] “She Ji for sustainability”, Keynote speaker at Changing the change International Design Research Conference. World Design Capital, Turin, Italy. 2008.