Strengthening Design Innovation Through Industry–University Collaboration
On July 5, 2018, Zigong Jiucai Culture And Art Co., Ltd. officially became a Teaching and Internship Base of Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, marking an important milestone in the company's long-term development of professional talent, creative design, and industry innovation.
The signing and plaque-awarding ceremony was held at Jiucai Culture's facilities in Zigong, Sichuan, bringing together representatives from the university and the company.
Participants included Zhou Zhou, General Manager of Jiucai Culture, Liang Chuan, Deputy Dean of the School of Fine Arts, Huang Lei, Director of the Design Department, and other representatives from both organizations.
The partnership established a closer connection between academic design education and the professional lantern industry, creating opportunities for students to gain practical experience while allowing the company to strengthen its access to emerging creative talent.
Connecting Academic Design with Real-World Lantern Manufacturing
Sichuan University of Science & Engineering has emphasized the integration of theoretical education with practical experience, with a focus on developing application-oriented professionals who can respond to the needs of industry and society.
For Jiucai Culture, this philosophy closely aligns with the development needs of the modern lantern industry.
Zigong has a long-standing reputation as China's “City of Lanterns”, and traditional lantern craftsmanship has developed into a sophisticated cultural and creative industry involving artistic design, steel fabrication, textile craftsmanship, electrical systems, lighting technology, and large-scale project management.
Modern Chinese lantern festivals therefore require far more than traditional craftsmanship alone.
A successful custom lantern project may involve:
- Creative concept development
- Cultural research
- Graphic and 3D design
- Structural engineering
- Material selection
- Steel-frame fabrication
- Silk and fabric craftsmanship
- LED lighting systems
- Interactive elements
- Production management
- Installation and commissioning
The cooperation between Jiucai Culture and the university provides an environment where young designers can gain practical exposure to these real-world processes.
Building a Stronger Talent Pipeline for Custom Lantern Design
For large-scale lantern manufacturers, creative talent is a critical part of long-term competitiveness.
International clients increasingly expect original, customized lantern designs rather than standardized products. Projects for theme parks, zoos, cultural destinations, city festivals, and tourism attractions often require designs that reflect a specific location, brand, story, or cultural theme.
Through the teaching and internship program, students can gain an understanding of how creative concepts are transformed into physical installations.
They can experience the complete process from:
- Creative Idea → Design Development → Engineering → Manufacturing → Installation → Visitor Experience
This practical exposure helps bridge the gap between classroom theory and commercial project requirements.
For Jiucai Culture, it also creates opportunities to discover and develop young designers with new perspectives, fresh ideas, and an understanding of contemporary visual trends.
Combining Traditional Zigong Lantern Craftsmanship with Modern Design
One of Jiucai Culture's long-term goals is to preserve the artistic characteristics of Zigong lantern craftsmanship while continuously introducing new ideas and technologies.
Traditional silk lantern production provides the artistic foundation, while modern design methods, structural engineering, LED lighting, and new materials allow lantern projects to evolve with changing visitor expectations.
Our creative approach combines:
- Traditional Craftsmanship + Contemporary Design + Engineering + Lighting Technology
This enables us to develop a broad range of custom attractions, including:
- Traditional Chinese lanterns
- Spring Festival lanterns
- Chinese New Year lantern displays
- Festival lanterns
- Large illuminated sculptures
- Architectural lanterns
- Cultural-themed lantern groups
- Animal lanterns
- Fantasy and storybook installations
- Interactive lantern attractions
- Theme park decorations
The result is a balance between cultural authenticity, visual creativity, structural practicality, and commercial attraction value.
From Lantern Design to Animatronic Attractions
The company's design and manufacturing capabilities have also expanded beyond traditional lantern festivals.
Today, Jiucai Culture provides animatronic dinosaurs, simulated animal models, and themed attraction elements for a variety of entertainment and cultural environments.
These products require many of the same core capabilities used in large-scale lantern projects, including:
- Concept design
- 3D modeling
- Structural engineering
- Steel fabrication
- Surfa
Why Design Capability Matters to International B2B Buyers
For overseas buyers, selecting a lantern manufacturer is not simply a matter of comparing product prices.
A custom project often involves questions such as:
- Can the manufacturer create original designs?
- Can the design be adapted to our local culture and destination?
- Can the supplier transform a concept drawing into a manufacturable structure?
- Can the lanterns be produced consistently at large scale?
- Can the supplier coordinate engineering, lighting, packaging, shipping, and installation?
- Can the same manufacturer support future projects and design updates?
These are the areas where design expertise and industry experience become particularly important.
Jiucai Culture's collaboration with a professional university design department represents part of our broader commitment to creative development, professional talent, and continuous innovation.
A Culture of Quality, Integrity and Customer Satisfaction
When the teaching and internship partnership was established, Jiucai Culture reaffirmed three principles that continue to guide its development:
- Quality as the Foundation
Maintaining consistent standards throughout design, material selection, manufacturing, and project delivery. - Integrity as the Business Principle
Building long-term relationships with customers through transparent communication and responsible project execution. - Customer Satisfaction as the Goal
Developing products and services around the actual requirements of each project and destination.
These principles are particularly important in the international B2B market, where a custom lantern project may involve significant investment, long production cycles, international transportation, and strict opening schedules.
Investing in People to Improve Project Delivery
A strong manufacturing company depends not only on equipment and production facilities, but also on people.
Designers, engineers, craftsmen, production managers, electricians, and installation teams all contribute to the successful completion of a large-scale attraction.
By strengthening connections between education and industry, Jiucai Culture aims to develop a continuous source of creative and technical talent.
This long-term approach supports our ability to respond to increasingly sophisticated requirements from:
- International event organizers
- Theme parks
- Zoos and wildlife parks
- Cultural tourism destinations
- Municipal projects
- Shopping malls
- Festival operators
- Family entertainment centers
- From Zigong to the Global Market
Jiucai Culture was founded in Zigong, the historic home of Chinese lantern craftsmanship.
Over the years, we have continued to combine the cultural heritage of Zigong lanterns with modern creative design, manufacturing technology, and international project experience.
Our capabilities now cover two closely connected areas:
- Custom Cultural Lanterns
From traditional silk lanterns and Chinese New Year displays to large-scale illuminated sculptures, architectural gateways, themed lantern groups, and complete lantern festivals.
- Animatronic Attractions
From life-size animatronic dinosaurs to realistic simulated animals and custom themed models for zoos, theme parks, museums, commercial spaces, and cultural attractions.
This combination allows us to support clients not only with individual products, but also with complete attraction concepts and turnkey project solutions.
Continuing to Innovate the Art of Light
The 2018 university partnership represented an important step in Jiucai Culture's journey toward stronger design capabilities and sustainable industry development.
We believe the future of the lantern industry lies in the combination of heritage, creativity, technology, engineering, and professional talent.
By embracing new materials, lighting technologies, design methods, structural solutions, and attraction formats, we continue to explore new possibilities for traditional lantern art.
From a single custom lantern to a complete international lantern festival, our goal remains the same:
To transform creative ideas into memorable cultural attractions.
Zigong Jiucai Culture And Art Co., Ltd.
Custom Cultural Lanterns & Animatronic Attractions Manufacturer
Design • Engineer • Manufacture • Deliver
Project & Partnership Highlights
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Partnership Type | Teaching & Internship Base |
| Partner | Sichuan University of Science & Engineering |
| Date | July 5, 2018 |
| Location | Zigong, Sichuan, China |
| Main Focus | Design Education & Industry Practice |
| Industry | Chinese Lanterns & Cultural Attractions |
| Key Areas | Design, Creativity, Manufacturing & Talent Development |
| Related Capabilities | Custom Lanterns, Lantern Festivals & Animatronic Attractions |
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