News & Events

Design Course Taught with the Umbra Company Exhibits Work

The Jiao Tong University School of Design conducted a 12 week innovative course with the Umbra company of Canada. Participating students were sophomore and junior undergraduates majoring in industrial design. The theme of the course was design for “compact living.“ The students embarked on a period of study and reflection on how to both efficiently use and personalize small spaces. According to their research, they designed appropriate products.

The Umbra company’s headquarters is in Toronto, Canada. It is a furniture design company known all over the world. This collaborative course was organized by the school of design’s three professors Zhang Zhan, Zhong Zhanxun, and Zhang Fan. Many designers from Umbra participated as well.

Chinese regional market head manager Zhang Kangxin talks to students about Umbra’s developmental history, the story of its brands, and its market strategy. 

Hong Kong designer Ngonardo Ng examining the results of the students’ first report.

Vice head of design Matt Carr examining the results in the middle of the term, and instructing them on next steps.

Canadian designer Sungwook Park instructing students on final stage designs. 

Industrial design teachers and designers from Umbra serving as a reviewers at the exhibition, and offering assessments of the students’ final presentations.

Member of the group awarded the prize for most potential, Member of the “Number One Group,” junior Li Rantong explains the design.

An upright desktop bookshelf with adjustable measurements, convenient for packing and shipping.

Member of the “Finder” group, Liu Yuyan demonstrating the product.

Prize for the product most excellently represented—a mult-form jewelry container

Wall shelf design by junior Zhu Xinyu, Chen Zinan, Zhang Yixiang: recipient of the prize for best design

Recipient of the bronze prize Wang Caidi, Yuan Yuhong, Yang Minhua exhibit their model

Their design was a new ladder-form product for economizing space.

Member of the “Dessert” group that received the silver prize Ma Yixue describes the product.

The silver prize was awarded for a cubic product for storing objects on of a desk.

Recipients of the gold prize juniors Sun Yinru, Xu Xinyi, Chen Xinran listen to the advice of the designers.

Recipient of the gold prize was for a multipurpose desk and chair design, which has three modes that can be chosen depending on if a single person uses it or multiple persons.

 Lastly, the designers and teachers gave an overall assessment of the work. They affirmed the hard work and innovative ideas produced by the students. They encouraged the students to more deeply probe ways to produce practical products, manufacturing crafts, and realize commercial value in order to deepen their experience in practical product design. 

At present the course exhibition is being displayed on the second floor of the media and design building. All are welcomed to come and see!

For a video of project, click here! 

Draft: Zhang Zhan

Edits: Song Rongshan, Huang Ju

Translation: Abraham Zamcheck