From Analog to Digital: Prof. Michael Renner at the D-Scope Symposium of Tongji University Shanghai

Prof. Michael Renner, Head of the Institute Digital Communication Environments (IDCE) at HGK Basel, was keynote speaker at the D-Scope Symposium of Tongji University Shanghai on the topic “From Analog to Digital: Experiences with Emerging Technologies”.

Prof. Michael Renner, Head of the Institute Digital Communication Environments (IDCE) at HGK Basel, was an online keynote speaker at the D-Scope Symposium of the College of Design and Innovation at Tongji University Shanghai on April 19, 2025 on the topic “From Analog to Digital: Experiences with Emerging Technologies”.

Over the past decade, rapid technological advancements have profoundly transformed industries worldwide, while posing new challenges to the research, practice, and pedagogy of dynamic media design. Meanwhile, global crises such as wars and pandemics continue to cast lingering shadows, demanding time and resilience to heal.  

In this era of upheaval, embracing change necessitates a reflective examination of our past trajectories. Peers in dynamic media design have been engaged in this dual pursuit: academically, by systematizing the discipline’s historical context and conceptual frameworks; pedagogically, by pushing boundaries while reconnecting with foundational principles; and practically, by fostering interdisciplinary innovation.  

The dynamic media design pedagogy at Tongji University’s College of Design and Innovation traces its roots to the late 1990s, amid the wave of computer democratization. Over the years, inspired by pioneers and informed by global pedagogical practices, they have evolved through collaborations with academic institutions, industry partners, and alumni.

In 2024, the College of Design and Innovation compiled these experiences into the publication Dynamic Media Design, documenting its teaching philosophies, pedagogical experiments, and student achievements.  

At this historical juncture, we gather once more with peers and collaborators to envision the future of dynamic media design in the age of AI. This year, we have invited educators whose work has shaped our pedagogy, long-term organizational partners, and alumni to collectively chart the course for the "next frontier" of design education.