On September 30, the event “Design Harvest · Rural Rendezvous in Chedun — An Innovative Path to Rural Revitalization and Industrial Integration”, a concurrent program of the 2025 World Design Cities Conference (WDCC), was held at Ruxin Community in Chedun Town, Songjiang District. The event was co-hosted by SUES， and the People’s Government of Chedun Town. Attendees included Lou Yongqi, President of SUES and founder of the “Design Harvest” initiative; Chen Rong, Deputy District Chief of Songjiang District; Xu Yang, Vice President of SUES; and John Thackara, Fellow of the Royal College of Art (UK). Heads from the Songjiang District Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, the Economic Commission, the Planning and Resources Bureau, Chedun Town Government, along with experts in rural design and cultural tourism, entrepreneurs, investors, faculty and students from Tongji University and SUES, and project partners also participated.
In her address, Deputy District Chief of Songjiang District Chen Rong emphasized that the “Design Harvest · Rural Rendezvous in Chedun” event demonstrates Songjiang’s deep integration of design innovation and rural revitalization. Through models such as Design + Industry, Design + Ecology, Design + Governance, and Design + Capital, it effectively stimulates endogenous vitality in rural communities, enhances the overall environment, and improves quality of life. She expressed hope that the initiative would serve as a starting point to gather collective wisdom and create a “Songjiang Model” of rural revitalization and industrial integration — making design a key driver for high-quality urban-rural development and shared prosperity.
During the keynote session, President Lou Yongqi reviewed the evolution of the Design Harvest initiative and elaborated on the pivotal role of design in rural revitalization. He noted that design has transformed from a “beautification tool” into an “aggregator” and “switchboard” for rural innovation — capable of connecting multiple sectors and driving the transition toward a circular economy and collaborative creative communities. Anchored in Chedun Town, “Design Harvest 3.0” aims to build an open “Rural Silicon Valley” — a hybrid rural-urban community driven by circular economy principles, green and intelligent technologies, and the convergence of AI, IoT, and blockchain. It seeks to establish a global co-creation platform linking urban and rural innovation networks, where world-class creative talents and China’s development opportunities inspire and empower each other, setting a new world benchmark for rural innovation in Shanghai.
The event also marked the establishment of the Design Harvest 3.0 Chedun Innovation Ecosystem Alliance. As a symbolic gesture, President Lou Yongqi passed a “golden wheatear”, representing hope and harvest, to representatives of the first twelve alliance members. These included the Chedun Town Government, SUES, College of Design and Innovation at Tongji University, Shanghai Film Group, Shanghai Youth Innovation Academy, Jiuyou Fund(Private Equity), Jokoson Company, Fair Field (Public Brand Initiative),Tongji Urban Planning and Design Institute, the Film Derivative Innovation Base of Shanghai Sci-Tech Film Park, located in Changlou Village and Huiqiao Village Beautiful Countryside Think Tank — bringing together government, academia, industry, social organizations, and international expertise.
In the academic session, John Thackara, Fellow of the Royal College of Art, UK, shared global perspectives on sustainable design and rural innovation. Dr. Shi Yan, Co-Chair of the International Community Supported Agriculture Alliance and founder of Shared Harvest Farm and Fair Field, presented her insights on “Rebuilding the Connection Between People and Land through Social Innovation.” Gao Guoxiang, Secretary of the CPC Chedun Committee, delivered a concluding address, followed by the Mayor of Chedun Town, Xue Wenfei, who outlined Chedun’s development goals and future vision.
During the Design Harvest 3.0 Vision Workshop in the afternoon, scholars and experts engaged in collaborative discussions on rural revitalization, industrial integration, and sustainable design, injecting new creative energy into the future development of Design Harvest 3.0 in Chedun Town.
Originating nearly twenty years ago in Xianqiao Village, Xushen Town, Chongming District, the Design Harvest project has grown into a living laboratory for social innovation and sustainable design. It has brought together a community of idealistic practitioners exploring how design can empower rural revitalization and innovation. Centered on the grand theme of “Urban-Rural China”, the project has progressed from prototype validation to model consolidation and now enters its 3.0 phase of paradigm leadership in Chedun. Looking ahead, Design Harvest 3.0 will develop an open innovation platform that integrates global insight with local practice, providing a replicable and sustainable model for high-quality urban-rural development in Shanghai and beyond.