On the afternoon of March 25, 2025, the second forum on Urban-Rural Innovation and Sustainable Design, part of the "Arts Hundreds" series activities, was successfully held in the photography studio D101 of the Art Building. The forum invited Zhang Lei, Vice Dean, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor of the Shanghai International Institute of Design and Innovation at Tongji University, and Yu Changbin, Founder and Chief Designer of YoungAsianScape DESIGN (YAS DESIGN), to deliver wonderful academic reports to teachers and students of the School of Art and Design on topics such as design aesthetic education for teenagers and rural revitalization.

Professor Zhang Lei delivered a report entitled *Theory and Practice of Design Aesthetic Education for Teenagers*. Through sharing practical experiences in design aesthetic education for teenagers at Tongji University, comparing the development history of general design education in Britain and the United States, and presenting practical cases of design aesthetic education for teenagers, he elaborated on the essential characteristics of design aesthetic education for teenagers, analyzed the current situation of such practice in China, and made experimental explorations and prospects for its future development. Professor Zhang Lei's in-depth and insightful exploration of the starting point of general design education for teenagers, as well as his comparative analysis of design thinking education in the United States and design awareness education in Britain, were refreshing. The display of his fruitful educational achievements vividly interpreted the educational concept of "unity of knowledge and action" and reflected the educational goal of cultivating the ability to solve real problems in real situations.  

Professor Yu Changbin discussed how urban and rural communities can use art and cultural activities as a bridge to promote mutual connections and social equity through the initiation and development of the "Chongxiang Meiju" project. Located on Chongming Island in Shanghai, the "Chongxiang Meiju" project is an experimental art curation activity that connects urban residents with rural communities. By organizing various art exhibitions, workshops, and other community participation activities, "Chongxiang Meiju" has not only promoted the revival of local culture but also enhanced the social participation of community members and strengthened understanding and respect between urban and rural areas. In his speech, Yu Changbin fully demonstrated the role of art in promoting social change, encouraging public participation, and achieving broader social equity.

The successful holding of this forum not only brought cutting-edge design concepts and profound academic thinking to the teachers and students of the School of Art and Design but also further stimulated everyone's interest and enthusiasm in the field of urban-rural innovation and sustainable design. Professor Zhang Lei put forward many inspiring educational methods and future development directions. Professor Yu Changbin showed us how art can become an important link connecting urban and rural communities and promoting social equity. The exchange of views and collision of ideas between the two experts provided valuable academic resources and practical guidance for the participants.  

As a characteristic academic activity of the School of Art and Design, the "Arts Hundreds" series will adhere to the purpose of improving artistic and humanistic literacy and interdisciplinary vision. It will invite more experts and scholars from well-known universities and enterprises to give academic reports and conduct roundtable dialogues, focusing on social hot issues, sharing the latest industry progress and cutting-edge research results. This will help enhance the level of the school's design disciplines and cultivate innovative design talents with an international perspective and social responsibility.