Starting a New Chapter at SJTU

Welcome to the first post on Sandro’s Blog. I’ll use this space to share news from my professional life, from what I’m studying and making to the exhibitions and industry events I get to visit. After months of paperwork and preparations for the move to China, I’ve now been studying at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) for about two months. Here are my first impressions.

A campus that feels like a small city

My first impression of Minhang was its scale. Faculty buildings, labs, lecture halls, student residences, shops and restaurants are all on campus. Between them are stretches of greenery, gardens in different styles and waterways that make the walk to class feel different every day.

Inside the School of Design

I’m studying in the Master of Design International (MoDI) program at SJTU’s School of Design. The building combines a clean, modern interior with massive timber arches. It feels like a working studio, with room to sketch, build and see what other people are making.

I’ve also been struck by how closely the school connects coursework with industry. I’m seeing that most directly in mobility design, where our work brings us into contact with SAIC Motor.

What I’m working on

Embodied Intelligence Product Design. We study how people interact with physical products and how sensors can help those products respond. We start with user behavior and develop concepts that can sense and act in their surroundings.

Smart Mobility Design. We develop vehicle concepts from initial research through physical models. The work moves from understanding how people use a vehicle to making design decisions we can test in a mockup.

Most of the semester revolves around team projects, with regular feedback from lecturers, masterclasses and visits to industry events. There’s enough happening here that each day brings a new challenge.

In my next post, I’ll share what I saw at SAIC CHALLENGE 2026, SAIC Motor’s international youth automotive design competition. Thanks for reading!