Yangming philosophy-inspired works shine in Milan

At the 2025 Milan Design Week, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) captured international attention with a special exhibition spotlighting student works from its Yangmingism Cultural and Creative Design Competition.

Held in the city center of Milan, the exhibition featured award-winning designs that drew from the teachings of Wang Yangming, a Chinese philosopher born in Yuyao city, Ningbo. The UNNC-led showcase offered a unique East-meets-West dialogue on design thinking and cultural expression.

The competition attracted nearly 4,000 submissions from over 560 universities across China, including prestigious institutions such as Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, and the Central Academy of Fine Arts. These entries interpreted Yangming philosophy — especially his core concept of unity of knowledge and action — through mediums ranging from product design to visual arts.

Among the highlights was Mount Glow, a wooden night lamp designed by third-year UNNC student Liu Hengyue. Featuring silhouettes of Ningbo landmarks and Wang's ancestral home, the lamp uses layered mountain cutouts to create shifting shadows symbolizing personal and academic growth.

"Yangming philosophy taught me that design should not only be seen but also felt," said Liu. "It's about turning thought into action."

Also featured was an inkstone designed by Brazilian students Ivan Broche and Gabriela Sanchez, in which ink flows from a heart-shaped base to reveal a lotus pattern — representing exploration and discovery.

Professor Matteo Ingaramo of Politecnico di Milano said that the works demonstrated how philosophical ideas could translate into creativity across design fields — from product design to architecture and art. He also remarked that the competition's theme aligned closely with the educational philosophy of "learning by doing", which emphasizes the integration of theory and practice in contemporary design education.

Since 2019, UNNC has incorporated Yangming culture into its design curriculum and continues to promote Chinese culture through international platforms like Milan Design Week.

Liu Hengyue introduces his work to visitors. [Photo/UNNC]