That Which is not Taught: A Conversation Recalling the Delivery of Creative Workshops at Tsinghua University Academy of Arts and Design Between 2006 and 2019, and the Emergence of China as a Country of Designers

Abstract

The chapter will take the form of a conversation between Jones and Rider reflecting on the delivery of teaching workshops at TU AAD Fashion Department from 2006–2019, which provides many case studies from which to draw for the substance of the conversation. The authors have had the opportunity to witness the many developments which have been taking place in the fashion industry and in design education, in both China and the UK, and have been able to see first-hand how these developments have impacted on fashion students and graduates since the start. The first workshop was delivered in 2006, and the collaboration has continued each year (sometimes bi-annually) to the present day, providing a rich bed of informative research. The conversation will report generally on these experiences although some specificity will occur in terms of particular groups’ outcomes but will undoubtedly drill down to reveal deeper insights and understandings within the discussion. The rich primary resource will be complimented with information gained from the feedback of recent TUAAD student workshop participants, and with students known to the authors who have progressed to post graduate study elsewhere, or who are now working in the fashion industry in China. Two broad themes will be covered: Firstly, teaching and learning, and pedagogy, and secondly, aspects of internationalisation. Chinese students are recognised as International, and as home grown, and all other students (from Europe, USA and other western countries) as international or western.