Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul) invited Ryu Yong-ki, President of Shanghai University of Engineering Science, to speak at the 660th Thursday Special Lecture held on the afternoon of Thursday, March 26, in the Academic Conference Hall. On this day, President Liao Yongqi delivered a lecture titled “Changing Design and Education for Our Common Future.” Drawing on various case studies and research findings regarding changes in design and education, urban and social innovation, and the role of design in the age of artificial intelligence, he presented students with a broad perspective on the expanded meaning of design and its role in future society.

President Liao Yongqi explained that the concept of design has expanded in response to changing times. He emphasized that while design was once limited to a “styling”-centered role focused on the form and appearance of products, today it is evolving into a tool for innovation that connects technology, business, and society to create new value. He described design as a process that goes beyond merely meeting human needs to develop creativity into innovation that influences society and industry as a whole.

He then introduced various examples—such as projects connecting urban and rural areas, “Living Labs” that break down university boundaries to engage with local communities, and design projects aimed at solving social issues—to illustrate how design is driving real-world changes in society and cities. He also emphasized that universities must transcend their role as mere educational spaces and become platforms where cities, local communities, and industry collaborate to experiment with new lifestyles and industrial models.

Finally, President Ryu Yong-ki explained that in the age of artificial intelligence, the scope of design is expanding beyond products to include services, experiences, and even complex socio-technical systems. He emphasized that in future society, the ability to design the relationship between humans and technology will become crucial, and that this requires an educational innovation centered on problem-solving and convergent thinking, moving away from knowledge-transfer-focused education. He also told the students, “Studying is only a part of life; rather than striving to be the top student who gets the right answers, you should become people who create new value through relationships with others,” conveying the importance of fostering talent equipped with creativity and collaborative skills.

Meanwhile, President Ryu Yong-ki plans to continue setting new standards for design education by serving as a judge for the “DBEW AWARD 2026,” an international design competition co-hosted by Kookmin University and the world-renowned industrial design association ADI.

Kookmin University’s Thursday Special Lectures—the first and longest-running regular course at a Korean university to feature weekly lectures by external speakers—have hosted approximately 660 speakers from various fields including politics, society, science, and culture and the arts over the past 30 years. These speakers have included former President Roh Moo-hyun, Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, author Ryu Si-min, film director Park Chan-wook, National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun, and U.S. Ambassador to Korea Mark William Lippert.