Suggestions for Introducing Creative Entrepreneurship Education into China’s Design Education

In China, creative industries are evolving, but creative entrepreneurship education is undeveloped. In order to propose an approach for introducing creative entrepreneurship education into design education in China, this study utilized a mixed method to investigate designers’ entrepreneurial aspirations, motivations, and intentions as well as the factors that drive designers to develop their entrepreneurial potential. It also provides suggestions for developing creative entrepreneurial programs for design graduates. Interview and survey data were collected from Chinese designers and analyzed through a descriptive and a statistical procedure. The analyses suggested that Chinese designers’ entrepreneurial intentions are positive but not strong enough to motivate them to start their business. The statistical analysis uncovered eight main motivational factors and clustered five types of creative designers. Three of the creative clusters would benefit from creative entrepreneurship education. Moreover, the analyses suggest creative entrepreneurial programs should be established by design schools at regular public universities.