Criss & Cross Combined X-Power
Design from Switzerland, ¡°Cross-Disciplinary and Integration¡± Exhibition of Works & International Academic Forum

Nowadays increasing focus on interdisciplinary research is driving new approaches to design---cross- border design. Based on the cultural, geographical, professional divisions it shows a state of different complex and integration. Its potential and energy are waiting for us to explore.

is part of the exchange and cooperation program of Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council. Criss & Cross , funded by the Swiss Cultural Foundation ( Pro Helvetia ) is the global tour exhibition of Swiss design . Since the beginning of 2004, it has been held smoothly in many countries and areas in the world such as in Berlin(1924), Rome (2005), Shizuoka, Japan(2006), Lausanne Switzerland (2007), Indian, Ahmedabad, National Institute of Design(8.2008), and Indian, Bangalore, Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan(9.2008).

At the invitation of Pro Helvetia, Jiangnan University, joining hands with Wuxi Radio, Film and Television Group, Wuxi Museum will co-host the Swiss National Exhibition of Design with the support of Wuxi Municipal People¡¯s Government. More than 400 exhibits will be displayed to the public in addition to chocolate, watches and Swiss knives, which is a comprehensive and profound way to show the results of Swiss designers¡¯ and engineers¡¯ cooperation in the fields of visual design, fashion design as well as the design for daily articles.

With the echo of Swiss National Exhibition of Design, Jiangnan University will also co-organize the cross-disciplinary exhibition of works, the international academic forum ,and Wuzu04-09 retrospective exhibition of Sino-Swiss Design Teaching Cooperation Project together with China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Nanjing Arts Institute and Tongji University. The series of the events will be regarded as the continuation of X-Power, which began in 2003 and is the brand event of the School of Design of Jiangnan University. X-Power, as an influential platform for the design will be based on domestic institutes and face many well known international design institutes and organizations. The aim is to exchange the ideas of original design, share the cutting-edge design concepts and look into the future of design in the world.

2009 is bound to be ¡°change¡± year, which will allow us to adopt the Swiss National Exhibition of Design and a series of events as an opportunity to promote international cultural exchange and disseminate cutting-edge design concepts so as to create new design opportunities.

The Main Exhibitions:
1, Criss & Cross, design from Switzerland
Exhibition from 7 parts. Including: mountains above; Swiss design history; assistants; visual status; small and beautiful works ;young people; libraries.
2, System design--- WUZU04-09 Retrospective (the Sino-Swiss Design Cooperation Teaching Project)
3, ¡° Combined ¡± five schools¡¯ propositional designed works exhibition(Central Academy of Fine Arts, Jiangnan University, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Tongji University, Nanjing Institute of Arts)
Time: October 16--26 ,2009
Location: Wuxi Museum

¡°Cross- Border and Integration¡± International Design Forum
Speakers : Swiss Cultural Foundation, Helsinki Aalto University ,Finland (formerly University of Art and Design Helsinki), France National Saint-Etienne University, international renowned experts in the design institutes
Tsinghua Academy of Fine Arts, China academy of Fine Arts, School of Design of Jiangnan University and the professors and experts from the other well known institutions in the design at home:
Time: October 16-17 2009
Location: School of Design of Jiangnan University

The concepts of the Activities:
Cross-cultural exchange
¡ª¡ª¡° Combined ¡± means ¡°inclusive and common ground while reserving differences, and different¡± Also means gathering, aggregating, pooling things, objects and ideological forces from different cultures between the West and East such as collision, confrontation and working together to stimulate the potential to diminish misreading, and form a joint force.
Cross-boundary communication
¡ª¡ª¡° Combined ¡± means ¡°complementary communication, experience sharing¡±. At the same kinds of cultural background, the concepts, methods and results from different geographies can be shared through the exchange to reach a ¡°best value ¡° as a whole.
Cross-age integration
¡ª¡ª¡°Combined ¡± means ¡°the times changing ,the ancient and modern. integrating¡± During the transmission of civilization, the things in different times change ,among which there is necessarily a certain stability in the underlying context. This is the merging of modernity and tradition ,and the image integration of art and technology.
Cross (Multi)-disciplinary cooperation
¡ª¡ª¡° Combined ¡° means ¡°cross-integration¡±. In order to seek a more open vision of innovation students from different professions complete the same propositional design together to promote cross- professional integration

Support Units:
Ministry of Education Industrial Design Sub-Commission of Professional Instruction
Ministry of Education Art and Design Sub-Committee of Professional Instruction
Design Institute Committee of China¡¯s Higher Education Academy
Academy of Fine Arts of Tsinghua University, China Academy of Art , Hunan University, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute
Xi¡¯an Academy of Fine Arts, Shandong University of Art and Design, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts
Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University, Minzu University of China, Wuhan University of Technology
Shantou Yangtze River School of Art and Design, Nanjing Normal University, Soochow University
Higher Education Press
Science and Technology Bureau of Wuxi City
Culture, Broadcast, Press and Publication Bureau of Wuxi
Wuxi Binhu District Government
Wuxi National Industrial Design Park
Wuxi Taihu Industrial Park of Science and Education (in alphabetical order)

Contact:
Exhibition and Forum Office
Address: Lihu Avenue, No.1800 School of Design Office Jiangnan University Wuxi City
Contact Tel:
Exhibition: 13093095601 Mr. Guo
Outreach: 13656177880 Mr. Wu
Other Services: 13921148392 Mr. Fan
Fax: 0510-85501491