On September 11th, Dean of Design and Innovation College, Prof. Lou Yongqi and President of Kolding School of Design, Prof. Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen were announced to be Vice Presidents of CUMULUS in the CUMULUS, International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media 2013 Conference. This is the highest position Chinese scholars obtained in the international design education and research organizations so far.

CUMULUS, the International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media is the only global association to serve art and design education and research.

The theme of Cumulus Dublin 2013 Conference is “More for Less – Design in an Age of Austerity”. About 300 participants discussed about practice, research and education development under the global recession situation. How can design find a balance between excess and austerity? How can design help the education of the next generation? How can we use design to create places and spaces for renewal and growth? How can design improve our wellbeing and welfare? How can design bring local communities together to work on projects that improve how we live, work and play? This conference concentrates on those questions and hopes to stimulate discussion on how design researchers, practitioners and educators can respond to today’s fiscal constraints, and stimulate growth and renewal in our economy, culture and society. After all you can’t impose austerity on the imagination!