You might ask, what were they doing here? As part of its programme, the University partnered with the renowned Hong Kong automotive company APOLLO and the German innovation engineering firm IDEENION to host a distinctive design course and summer camp aimed at cultivating automotive design talents with international perspectives and innovative abilities. Three outstanding students emerged after intense learning and competition, earning the invaluable opportunity to work on prototypes at these companies.
This collaborative project not only focuses on the professional skills required for automotive design but also provides students with deep practical experiences that help them grasp the essence of German design and the rigorous processes of engineering development. And for that, we had a lot to show.
During this visit, the students had the opportunity to get to know our agency better. We made a short presentation about our current projects, introduced some of our designers and staff, and, most excitingly, gave them a tour of our archives with Andreas Haug, one of our Founders.
One of the highlights of the visit was our Loewe television from the 1980s, featuring its mechanical opening for the cables. The students were captivated by our innovative design process and the meticulous attention to detail that created the opening without any electrical interactions. Their fascination with our design process validates our commitment to excellence.
The students showed a keen interest in our history and the products we design, particularly our thermos box Q-series from Supor, which they use daily. Their admiration for our design legacy, including the Honour phone and the numerous cell phones we had designed before touchscreen phones became industry standards, was palpable. It's a testament to our rich design heritage that continues to inspire the next generation.
It is always stimulating to see our design through the eyes of others, especially students. Their excitement about all the possibilities and details that we love to design is infectious. Seeing things from a different perspective is always exhilarating. One comment that made us truly happy was their suggestion that our Archives should be a Museum, where everyone could access the history of design through PHOENIX projects.Afterwards, we shared lunch together on our Terrace with our team, giving the students a taste of our daily life here at PHOENIX. Before leaving, they gifted us a lovely piece of Chinese porcelain and a brochure from Shanghai University, now proudly part of our library.
ShanghaiTech expressed that the successful hosting of this summer camp provided students with an excellent platform to broaden their international perspectives and enhance their professional skills. The University values such projects and plans to institutionalize them as regular international exchange programs. Their goal is to continuously nurture design talents with international competitiveness while building a bridge between the Chinese market and German enterprises.
Looking ahead, ShanghaiTech hopes to explore more diversified international cooperation models with PHOENIX, offering students more varied and higher-quality educational resources to help them shine on the global stage.
Professor 杨继栋 (Yang Jidong) said:
The founder of PHOENIX personally guided the visit, showcasing the company's design models and prototypes, revealing how this design giant maintains its competitive edge amid technological changes and assists multiple companies in excelling in the market. The visit enriched the students' understanding of German design and provided them with a unique perspective on the evolution of German brand enterprises, allowing them to deeply experience the profound cultural heritage and innovative spirit of Germany. PHOENIX's long-term collaborative cases with various companies inspired students to think more deeply about cross-cultural cooperation and brand building.
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the teachers: 杨继栋 (Yang Jidong) and 李娴 (Li Xian), and the students 宋泽同 (Song Zetong), 杜辰辰 (Du Chenchen), and 樊奕辰 (Fan Yichen) for the visit. Know that you are always welcome here at PHOENIX.
