Duan Wu is the Shanghai Chapter Chair

Dr. Wu Duan is an associate professor of environmental design at College of Design & Innovation, Tongji University, Shanghai. She is a leader and cofounder of Public Design LAB in Tongji and the leader of environmental graphic design studio in Tongji Tiandi Institute of Art & Design Innovation.

Duan Wu has a PhD in Architecture from the College of Urban Planning and Architecture, Tongji University; Master of Visual Communication Design and a Bachelor of Industrial Design from College of Art & Design, Tongji University (China). In her ten-year career she has worked on a board range of projects including public design, wayfinding and environmental graphics, branding, exhibition design, landscape and urban design. As an educator and researcher, her research is mainly focus on public design and environmental experience design. Her research mainly looks at how to change “space to place” and influence users’ behavior through public design and experience design.

She also interested in innovative design education research with cross discipline students. Her recent work has taken on a strategic research-based approach where she explores the sustainable challenge and interactive opportunities in public design. She has presented at numerous professional and design education conferences.

At Tongji University, Duan teaches Design Frontier and Environmental Graphic Design at the postgraduate and degree levels, including design theories, research methods, public design, inclusive design and social responsibility. She also teaches Environmental Design Studio at the undergraduate and degree levels which focus on design context and strategy. Duan leads public design projects that have a balance of consideration between creative environmental design, sustainability and social innovation. Her research output has made a constructive contribution to both academic knowledge and practical problem solving.

She has received the Faculty/School Awards for Outstanding Research and Scholarly Activities from the university.

From 2005 to 2006, Duan was invited by the Ministry of International Trade and industry ITALY as a Visiting Researcher to conduct wayfinding and signage research in Venice International University. In 2009, Duan was invited by CONSTFACK(College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Sweden) as a Visiting Scholar to join the teaching course at the postgraduate and degree levels in department of Interior and Furniture Design. In 2013, Duan was invited by CTLT(Center for Teaching Learning and Technology) UBC as a Visiting Scholar study conducting research on Design Education.

Wu Duan has provided consultancy services concerning industrial, product, engineering and environmental designs, intellectual property, and program development and accreditation. Her clients and collaborators include Shui On Group, Gensler, ETON, the Construction and
Transportation Committee of Xujiahui district, the South Railway Station Management Committee, the 10th Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Lingang district councils, Shanghai Pingshun Kindergarten etc. One of her ongoing projects involved designing a set of public design for activating public space that fit the particular physical and social environment of Shanghai. One of her recently completed projects discovered how could public information design influence users’ behavior from the perspective of sustainability and health lifestyles.

Her project the environmental graphic and signage design for Tongji University Practice Center which looks at the context and culture sustainability received the SEGD 2014 Award(USA).

Wu Duan has over 20 publications in international conferences and journals and serves as a member of the Scientific Review Committee for E&PDE.