New Concepts are only new because there are old ones.
An innovation does not necessarily mean a break from tradition, but more of an innovation within tradition in the Academic field, in this case.

It is my belief, it has always been, that a creative process or, better saying, a re-creative process requires a journey back to the roots.
This was briefly presented in the Archetypes link, but a further amount of thought brought a number of other significant elements that helped create the final concept in the design of the New Academic Regalia.

Firstly it is known and indisputable that the Academia concept is Western.
From this approach I drew one of the main symbols of Ancient knowledge that is still present: the triangle as a direct relation to the Pythagorean Theorem, which also exists in a different shape in the hood of a monk.
Hence the triangle, which is also one of the main elements of Greek architecture, becomes part of the Academic symbolism I chose, as well as the already mentioned hood.

One other Western element that is important as a reference is based on the portrait of D. Afonso de Albuquerque and the XVI century sleeves.

This is the second element that not only provides a better located root for the University in it's Western component, but also helps to create a more grandiose look on the Regalia.

On the Chinese side, apart from the wide garments, it became evident that a visitation to Chinese symbolism would be of paramount importance, only to conclude that the circle is symbol of Heaven while the square is the symbol of the Earth.

This symbolism, so evident in Ming coins as part of the Chinese Cosmogony which brings the presence of the circle section in the concept of the Regalia designs.

The last element incorporated on the design concept is the Chinese ribbon used in various dances dating back centuries.
The use of a ribbon in a very different way was inspired by this element of expression, that emulates Nature's vibrations. It was its hermetic meaning that drew my interest to it.

Therefore the concept of a transcultural rooted Regalia obeys to a symbolic Journey that starts on the West and travels to the East.
It's hybridation process intensifies as the degrees progress to further signify Macau's particular identity.

Concept by - ARS CIVES