Core77

We love design excursions. In fact, they should just shutter all the design schools, ship the students out around the world for site-specific design charrettes, and give 'em all honorary degrees (and miles) for the effort. The latest is China Design, where a group of students from Art and Design School Berlin traveled to China earlier this year, joined two workshops with their Chinese counterparts in Tapei and Guangzhou, and took a close look at Chinese culture and "how it could influence a genuine Chinese design in the future." Back in Germany the students refined their concepts, and the results are in.

There are the obligatory-but-actually-kinda-sweet "future vehicles," of course, but also some nice home objects. The "Fetish" mask is the money shot; "The Chinese Knot - the Lucky String" is the project that makes us most curious (email us when it's up!). But not to be missed are Daniele Ansidei & Michael Otto's "Short Cuts" movies--truly beautiful, evocative, and haunting.

Self-serving plug: If you like this sort of design education, check out Arnold van Bezooyen's Orient-Orientation: Twelve Designers=Six Answers for Istanbul.