Zhang Jianmin is an accomplished industrial designer and entrepreneur recognized as a pioneer in the Chinese horological industry. Born in 1967 in Qinghai Province, Zhang pursued his formal education in industrial design at the Northwest Institute of Light Industry (now Shaanxi University of Science and Technology), graduating in the 1980s. His early career was defined by nearly three decades of work in graphic design, urban guidance systems, and architectural projects. Notably, he contributed to the development of transit and guidance systems for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
In 2012, after 24 years of providing design services for other firms, Zhang founded CIGA Design (China International Great Art) in Shenzhen. His entry into watchmaking was driven by a desire to address a perceived lack of originality in the Chinese market and a commitment to Bauhaus principles, which emphasize high-quality design accessible to a broad audience. Zhang’s approach treats the mechanical watch as a contemporary design object rather than a traditional tool, often utilizing skeletonized movements and non-conventional time-reading displays to express his creative vision.
Under Zhang’s leadership, CIGA Design has achieved significant international recognition. The brand has secured numerous prestigious accolades, including nine Red Dot Design Awards, three German Design Awards, and two iF Design Awards. A defining moment in Zhang’s biography occurred in 2021 when the Blue Planet watch won the Challenge Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG). This achievement marked the first time a Chinese brand received an award in the history of the “Oscars of Watchmaking,” solidifying Zhang’s role in redefining the global perception of Chinese horological innovation.
Beyond his work as a founder and chief designer, Zhang has served as a juror for the Shenzhen Watch & Clock Fair for several consecutive years. His career reflects a transition from large-scale industrial design to the focused artistry of horology, where he continues to promote “cultural confidence” through original, design-led timepieces. Today, Zhang remains a central figure in the brand’s global expansion, maintaining its focus on blending technical engineering with a multidisciplinary aesthetic.