THE 5 LESSONS MISSING IN CHINA DESIGN
"To excel in martial arts, one must perfect the techniques and cultivate the mindset. Moves and mindset must complement each other to achieve true mastery."
A Free, Interactive Book Club Gathering
This is not a lecture. It is not a workshop. It is an invitation to sit together, over coffee or tea, and explore a question that matters:
What if the thing holding your work back isn't your skill… but your way of seeing?
What This Gathering Is
I wrote The Five Lessons Missing in China Design because I saw the same pattern again and again: brilliant designers, exceptional technical skill, yet somehow stuck. The missing piece was never about drawing better. It was about seeing differently.
Now, I want to share these five lessons not through a book you read alone, but through a conversation we have together.
Over the course of two relaxed hours, we will explore:
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The mindset shifts that separate good designers from those who truly lead
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Why technical excellence alone no longer guarantees relevance, especially in the age of AI
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How to move from being a "service provider" to being a trusted strategic partner
What You Will Experience
A space to think, not just listen
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You will not sit in rows and take notes. You will sit in a circle, with coffee or tea in hand, and engage with others who are asking the same questions you are.
A glimpse of what you may have been missing
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Through conversation and reflection, you will begin to see the patterns in your own work, the invisible assumptions, the hidden ceilings that have been holding you back.
A new way forward
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You will leave not with a thick workbook, but with a question to carry with you. A new lens. A felt sense of where to go next.
Who This Is For
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Design firms that want their teams to think, not just execute
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Companies that want to apply creative thinking to their business challenges
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Anyone who suspects that the next level of their work requires not more skill, but a different mindset
Format
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Length: 2 hours
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Format: In-person, intimate, interactive
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Setting: Relaxed, with coffee or tea
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Cost: Free (by invitation)
What Past Participants Have Said
"I came expecting to learn something about design. I left realizing I needed to learn something about myself." - Lisa Li (Design Director - Shanghai)
"The conversation stayed with me long after the coffee went cold. I started seeing my clients differently, and they started seeing me differently too." - Kevin Chen (Founder - SZ)
How to Join
This is not a public event. It is an intimate gathering for those who are ready to see differently.
If you would like to host a session for your team, or if you would like to be invited to the next gathering - LET'S TALK.
1st Lesson
Why hasn't your creativity been unleashed?
Creativity is a skill that designers utilize every day, yet many designers ask me how to enhance it. What is the continuous energy of activating creativity? How can it naturally serve your?
2nd Lesson
Why should winning be achieved better than just good?
To achieve winning in bidding, first set aside considerations of relationships; technical proficiency and mindset must progress in parallel. It's about doing better than others and excelling beyond good. So, what methods are there? Both the client and you are human, inevitably intertwined with psychological factors. What methods can lead the client to appreciate your design? And what methods can instill confidence in the client to invest in your design?
3rd Lesson
Why do designers have
blind spots?
Emerging designers often revel in the honeymoon phase of design, which occurs during the initial stages of a project. However, as projects progress, challenges such as designs not getting approved, clients delaying payments, team disagreements, and unclear client feedback will likely arise. Why do many schools fail to educate students that design is also a business? Excelling in design requires more than just technical training - it demands a broad understanding of business principles."
4th Lesson
How to understand the
design client?
From the client's perspective, they make significant investments in design, hence the need for cautious communication and rigorous approval processes, which is understandable. How can designers unearth clients' needs through questioning, observation, and active listening while ensuring client satisfaction and leaving a positive impression? Understanding the cultural differences between Chinese clients and Western practices, how can local designers leverage their strengths and complement those of Western designers effectively?
5th Lesson
Why is unlearning a form of power?
Regardless of the lifestyle designers pursue, the goal is to enrich both their life and creativity, not to simply engage in tea tasting for the sake of it or travel just to travel. It is a process that allows one to transform the everyday knowledge they have acquired into wisdom. Why? Because a company's culture and values originate from you as a leader. Rest is about enabling individuals to see themselves clearly, fostering a harmonious blend of life and work.
Our Commitment
1. On Your Investment
This is not an expense. It’s an investment in yourself.
All investments carry risk. We minimize that risk together:
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If you cancel 30 days or more before the program starts, your full fee can be transferred to any program within the next 12 months.
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If you cancel at least 48 hours before the start, your fee is credited toward future programs (valid for 12 months).
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If you “no-show” or cancel at the last minute, the credit cannot be held. We have reserved your seat, prepared materials, and committed our time for you.
There is no “no refund” wall. Only a door that holds your value for you.
2. On Our Dialogue
Coaching works when we both speak the truth.
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I will be 100% transparent with you - what I see, what I sense, where I think you’re stuck - I will say it.
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I invite you to do the same. Don’t be afraid to say: “I don’t know,” “I’m scared,” “I’m not sure.”
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If you email me, I will reply within 24 hours (usually sooner).
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If words on a page don’t work, I will offer an extra conversation with you. No charge.
This is safe honesty. Not comfortable politeness.
3. On Your Action
Coaching is not “listening to a lecture.” It’s “taking action while being seen.”
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Be on time. Be prepared.
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I will be fully prepared - your background, your goal, what you said last time.
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Come with action. Even a small step. Even an attempt. Even a failure. Failure is our best textbook.
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I will give you real feedback. No fluff. No pleasing. No avoidance.
You are not alone. I will walk with you. But you must walk the path.
One last thing
This is not a legal contract. This is our working covenant.
You commit. I commit.
You invest. I invest.
If you don’t feel the value, we talk.
If it’s not right, we stop.
No drama. Only mutual respect.
Which One Best Describes Your Desire?
If You Are Unsure Which One
Suits Your Needs Best
LET'S HAVE A
CLARITY CALL
Not sure which option best suits your needs?
Don't worry! Let's have a Clarity Call to uncover your requirements together.
Sometimes, revealing the pain points of your business, addressing long-standing issues, and exploring your underlying concerns might seem daunting before getting started.
If you find yourself uncertain, you're not alone!
LET'S TALK TO LEARN MORE.
