Defining future mobility: XJTLU Industrial Design students gain internships through VOYAH partnership

Last week marked a pivotal moment for the XJTLU Industrial Design Department’s Industry Collaboration, as we concluded our Year 3 studio with Voyah, the government-owned marque redefining luxury electric MPVs. The "LanTou Dream+" School-Enterprise Co-creation Competition in Wuhan wrapped up with our students delivering a resounding statement: the future of mobility isn’t just engineered—it is designed, experienced, and fiercely imagined.

This was not a standard semester project. This was a deep dive into the true nature of industry co-creation. It began months ago as we worked alongside Voyah executives to craft the student briefs, followed by a visit to their Wuhan factory and headquarters. Immersed in the brand's world, our students dedicated the entire semester to tackling three forward-looking themes:

• LUXURY HOME-LIFE CABIN - SMART COMFORT FOR MODERN LIFESTYLES(Tutored by Nuno Bernardo)
• NATURE-INSPIRED LUXURY - IMMERSIVE BIOPHILIC CABIN EXPERIENCES(Tutored by Ivan Parati)
• INTELLIGENT LUXURY STUDIO - SMART ECOSYSTEMS FOR MOBILE CREATION & PLAY(Tutored by Aven Le Zhou)

On June 5th, we hosted a high-level Voyah delegation—Yunyong Liang (Head of Product Planning & Experience), Huishu Jia (Vehicle Ambiance Expert), and Yiyan Chen (Interactive Experience Product Manager)—who witnessed the end-of-semester exhibition firsthand after visiting our fabrication facilities.

Then came the final test. On June 17th, our students traveled back to Wuhan to pitch in the "LanTou Dream+" competition. Alongside 12 shortlisted contestants from Wuhan University of Technology—who specialize specifically in automotive design—our XJTLU designers presented their visions of luxury travel to a panel led by Huang Min (Assistant General Manager of Product Development, Planning, and Experience).

The results were emphatic. Our students defended their concepts with remarkable strength, securing 4 prizes out of 7. Zhou Kangle and Anna Tereshchenko claimed the Second Prize, while Han Donghao and Zhao Yanguo received an Outstanding Prize. As recognition of their talent, all prize winners will receive internships at Voyah in Wuhan—an exceptional launchpad just one year before their bachelor graduation.

Our students represent the future. They are keen on tradition with an eye on innovation, holding one foot in China and one in the West, where they continue their studies and bring a constant exchange of novelties and developments. They are globe-trotters of an emerging, rich middle class—built on painstaking enthusiasm and dedication—eager to demonstrate to their community that they can still emerge, even in challenging times.

Ivan Parati has been leading IND206 since 2023 and, together with a dedicated team of colleagues, we have worked with companies from a range of sectors: OUI lighting, Karcher cleaning appliances, Dainese motorcycle clothing, and Voyah luxury new energy vehicles. Through these collaborations, we have participated in Milan Design Week Salone Satellite and numerous other international fairs, exhibitions, and initiatives. We have won several national and regional competitions, compiled innovative trend reports, planned competitive strategies, run workshops, masterclasses, and conventions, offered technical and creative consultation, and executed research projects—every year in a different industry. Our students have secured internships with our partners and, in some cases, decided to continue their careers with them. They are the best proof of the success of our industry collaborations.