Shenzhen in Focus: Design, Power, and the Global South

The RVW course  ‘Design in Social and Political Context’ introduces students across the design disciplines to international, leading ideas and voices in the field of design, curation, design writing, design history, social science and practice exploring design in contemporary theoretical context. This semester’s lecture series will explore the social and political impact of Chinese manufacturing and design on the Global South, with a particular focus on Shenzhen that has rapidly emerged into a hub for design and production for the developing world. The series concludes with an online symposium that critically contextualises the histories, legacies, and futures of the design and development paradigms. 

As this is a co-taught course students must also register with Dr. Heng Zhi

For successful completion of this course the following requirements apply: 

• Regular, punctual attendance (80% course attendance;  50% of grade) 
• Attendance of the related June 9 2026 symposium 'Design & Development'
• Active participation in the Q&A sessions following the guest lectures (20% of grade) 
• An essay (+/- 1000 words) in the form of an exploratory "think-piece" of reflections on the students’ own practice in relation to the guest lectures (30% of grade).
• We do not accept work generated by AI or created through plagiarism; references in footnotes are required (https://www.scribbr.de/chicago-zitierweise/literaturverzeichnis-chicago-style/) 
• As this is a co-taught course students must also register with Dr. Heng Zhi

The course is delivered in English. 

As this is a co-taught course students must also register with Dr. Heng Zhi