I feel so lucky to have this very opportunity to attend this learning studio. Although we had ups and downs no mater during our work studio or the trip, experiencing was an important part for me.

About the learning studio, I have learned that design has to go after raising questions, which is the right path to the good end of dealing with certain issues in certain context. In fact, good questions have already been a good start. During several discussions with German fellows, I realized the huge gap between values from both sides. They felt non-negotiable to consider the consequences for all stakeholders, while we thought that things can not be done without sacrifice. The differences between us also lie in the speed we thought the project should develop. No one was absolutely right or 100% wrong. Above all, the meaning of this studio is to understand the reason for what we first bring up with when we address problems at first sight. It is not easy for us to see our own way clearly until we have a mirror reflecting upon us. Actually, if we did not fight with German fellows, we would not realize our boundary of our method and rethink problems outside the box once again. Behind the way we always choose is the big picture for understanding the context of China. Indeed, figuring out what we are is much harder than learning about others.

During the study journey in Essen, I understood German context better. What we thought that could not happen in China before turned out to be general things in which values were shared by the public. Voices for city projects from various stakeholders are allowed to be heard, and most importantly, through platforms city planners create. City planners in fact attach great importance for different opinions to be a key part of decision-making. As a result, one project has to go through a long time to be carried out. They admit that no project can satisfy everyone, but it is worth to start one with blessing.

“It takes years to change people’s mind. But it has to make a change.” One German fellow told me that. And yes, China has to make a change, maybe not an immediate one but one with promising.