Dean, School of Design, Shanghai University of Engineering Science
Richard Hsu was born in Shanghai, grew up in Luxembourg, and trained in New York City. He is an interdisciplinary brand strategist and educator, recognized for integrating compelling cultural narratives into creative, commercial, and urban initiatives.
His career began under the mentorship of legendary photographer Richard Avedon, and evolved through two decades of creative projects and roles at Bloomingdale's, Sotheby's, Sony, Bergdorf Goodman, and MoMA New York. He later held senior roles as creative director at Isetan Japan and executive vice president at Wieden+Kennedy, before founding TEDxShanghai in 2009. He introduced TED Talks, public learning and conferences to China, and co-established the Pan-Asia Network, which now connects more than 25 cities across Asia.
Since 2017, he has served as commercial counselor for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in China, while also contributing internationally as a jury member and ambassador of the Danish Design Award and as a selection jury member for the World Design Capital.
During his nine-year tenure as adjunct professor at Tongji University, he studied and developed urban programs that balanced commerce, culture and purpose with humanistic values. In 2026, he was appointed dean of the School of Design at Shanghai University of Engineering Science (SUES). Leveraging decades of cross-industry expertise, global resources, and a transformative vision, he works alongside 150 professors to advance the academic, professional and creative development of the school's 4,750 students.
