Our second China conference returned again to Shanghai, starting straight after the auto show's first press day. Two days of passionate speeches and debate were led by 27 of the world's foremost car design experts, from Western and local OEM design bosses to the leading names in design education.

The search for a C-Factor, wrestling with the true meaning of brand identity and effective design education were just some of the topics thoughtfully raised and intelligently discussed among the headline speakers and the almost 250-strong delegates.

Conference highlights included:

Chery's director of styling Li Chaunqun talking about the introduction of its new Riich brand, and saying: "China has gone from a relatively closed world to a more open one but there is a misconception from young Chinese designers that Western design is the modern way to go.

"When they see traditional Chinese references they somewhat look down on them. Experienced designers need to show them examples of old culture. We need to bring the tools and processes from the West but want our Chinese nationals to draw on their own influence."

Robert Walker, interior design manager for PSA Peugeot Citroen's China studio, explaining why PSA had chosen to set up in Shanghai to "to understand the Chinese market from the ground floor and make cars whose designs derive from China".

Shizuki Kajiyama, design studio manager at Yanfeng Visteon, revealing research especially commissioned into trends in the current market. Factors ranging from enhanced national pride - via the success of the Beijing Olympics and interest in the forthcoming 2010 Shanghai Expo - to eco influence and increasing female workplace power will affect interior colour choice and materials in cars.

"Inspiration needs to be valued more," said Kajiyama. "Westerners tend to be more self-promotional, but Chinese (designers) can be more shy, so a good manager or teacher needs to encourage them."

Zhen Sulin, design director for Dongfeng Motor, explaining some of the distinctly Chinese references and symbols that influence Dongfeng's new own-brand range of cars. Influences range from the concentrated facial expressions of Peking opera actors translating to a vehicular front face, to the stylized graphic of a swiftly-moving Chinese leopard morphing into the side profile of another of his vehicles.

Hideichi Misono, ex-global design boss at Toyota and now head of Tecno Art Research and still associated with Toyota, exhorting that design should be "formed by the spirit of Chinese values rather than relating to specific forms and shapes - you should not stay in exoticism. Key factors need to be locally and globally acceptable factors."

Friedhelm Engler, design director of GM PATAC, showing how his team tried to weave in local influence to its latest Buick Business Concept show car - from Liuli glassware influencing the instrumentation and lighting, to the dark red royal Zitan wood colour referenced on the exterior and seating.

Engler pointed out the importance of this approach to Buick in particular, as the shift in sales volumes from US to China increases. He warned against a 'cut and paste' approach preferring instead a "more China-inspired rather than C-factor" angle.

See Car Design News for the full report of Day 1 and Day 2