Ongoing Exchanges and Internships
Napier ZZULI exchange now in its 3rd year has seen phenomenal growth. From the original exchange in early 2007 involving two Students the scheme now supports a total of 10 students from Edinburgh Napier and ZZULI in China to carry out high level design internships within the their partner institutions and with local industry.
Short Film: Design On China
2009 Napier Students
(l-r) Aaron Zaccardelli, Grant Manson, Dominika Seweryniuk, Roxan Buys, Rachel Kinloch, Aileidh Thomson
Aaron Zaccardelli; BDes(Hons)Consumer Product Design
During my study in Zhengzhou University of Light Industries, China, I completed four course work projects:
1- Car sketching workshop
2- Car model-making
3- Car continuity design
4- Cultural: Tea set design
Car sketching workshop: This project was taught by an ex-design manager from Mitsubishi. He taught us the history of car design and the thought process within the automotive industry. I learnt the basic rules and techniques for hand sketching cars. Using animals as a starting point, we were shown how to develop there original form and features step-by-step to create a new car design.
Car model making: Working in pairs we used re-enforced fibre plastic (FRP) to made a scale model (1:10) of a car of our choice. We selected the new Corvette Stingray Concept car. Many processes were undertaken to produce the final outcome. I learnt a lot of hands on skills.
Car continuity design: After close analysis of an existing car brand (Alfa Romeo) I used their traits to design a new car model for the company. This involved a lot of research, sketching, and model making with soft clay.
Tea set design: To help us have a better understanding of Chinese culture and it’s differences from western culture we were given a brief to Design a tea set. Cultural day trips were involved in the research.
During the running of these projects, educational day trips to Xian, Shaolin, Kaifeng, and Luoyang helped teach me about the overall culture of China and its people, involving the history, traditions, religion, architecture, design, and more….
Personally the Zhengzhou exchange experience has allowed me to grow as a person both in knowledge and maturity. The intensity of the study in China has put me in good stead for my final year at Edinburgh Napier. I would strongly recommend this exchange to all students.
Rachel Kinloch; BDes(Hons) Product Design
My experience in Zhengzhou and China has opened my eyes to different approaches to studying and the very different life that students studying the same course in different countries live. The Chinese people are one of the most welcoming and helpful nationalities I have met. Everyone at University made our stay so enjoyable and comfortable, especially our classmates and teachers, something which in turn I am going to try to do for the exchange students at Edinburgh Napier.
Compared to Edinburgh, Zhengzhou must be one of the most diverse cities I can think of. Its scale, style, population and University are very different: the old Edinburgh contrasting directly with the new Zhengzhou. The Universities themselves are very different because everything is on campus at ZZULI and the community feeling is much more apparent. For the Chinese students, University is their whole life and when they are not studying, they are organising social events for their course, to raise funds and awareness.
The work in University is also very different to Edinburgh Napier. Classes themselves are much more relaxed and the timetables are very flexible and casual. For example a final hand-in is not actually a final hand-in, you actually have several attempts before the brief is finished, something that took a lot of adjusting to.
We attended some structured classes in the mornings which were beneficial. I really enjoyed the structure of classes 8 -12 Monday to Wednesday, when we learnt some computer packages. Obviously an everyday obstacle was the language barrier as the teacher in this class spoke no English at all, however the students were very helpful in translating for us to the best of their abilities.
Part of our exchange was to gain an understanding of Chinese culture. Our teachers were excellent hosts and took us on day trips to the countryside, the Shaolin Temple, the Yellow River and villages around Zhengzhou as well as taking us to Xian to see the Terracotta Army.
Zhengzhou’s individuality: from street food, to markets and fruit stalls was very apparent and made it unique. I feel I really involved myself in life in Zhengzhou, from socializing with the other students to getting to know the local shop owners and restaurant workers, which was lovely and something that does not happen in Edinburgh.
My overall experience of the exchange has been brilliant. The University and the living aspect have both been a great way of preparing me for working individually and pushing myself as much as possible, a great way to move into fourth year.
The first ambassadors to China 2007
Adam Purvis and Andrew Smith of Edinburgh Napier launch the exchange scheme building bridges and opportunities for growth
Short Film: China Design Internship
Adam and Andrew spend a weekend EU Delegation and gain support for future work
Andrew Smith & Adam Purvis,BDes(Hons) Consumer Product Design
“In early February we found out that we had been selected to act as ambassador students, and were given the opportunity to travel to China to work within a top Chinese design department in Zheng Zhou University of Light Industry. Five months on and we have returned from our time in China having learnt and experienced so much more than we could ever have achieved had we not had the opportunity.
“Without doubt we can say that this experience and the resulting changes in us as designers has been the single most important part of our education to date. Furthermore, we must also mention the outstanding hospitality we received and the real friendships we have built with our Chinese counterparts and university staff – without which the trip would not have been nearly as successful. We truly felt welcome and at home in a very different culture.
“During our trip we worked within the Design School, where we participated in live projects and taught design theory. Additionally, we had the opportunity to experience industry in China, by completing a design project for Mazda China when we developed a new SUV concept.
“Working in ZZULI alongside 15 of China’s elite young designers, we discovered a working relationship like none we had ever encountered before. In coming together to share ideas as a group of students nurtured from two completely different education systems and cultures, the productivity of our work was nothing short of exciting.
“It is obvious that both universities are striving to produce students that will perform at an international level, not only being able to to show a respect and understanding of different cultures but also being able to celebrate them.”
