Professor Yu Bingnan was born in Shanghai, China. He is a graduate of both the Lu Xun Fine College, China, and the Leipzig College of Graphic Design and Book Art, Germany.

Professor Yu Bingnan has had a distinguished career as both a designer and a design educator, and has served as an international design juror for arts & design competitions. Since 1962 he has been a lecturer at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (former Central Academy of Arts & Design) and from 1985 to 1990 he was director of the Book Art Department.

His works have won distinctive international and national prizes, and he has published numerous articles and books on design theory. Bingnan is a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI).

Professor Yu Bingnan served as a vice president of Icograda (2001-2003), elected at the Icograda General Assembly in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2001. He continues to represent Icograda in China as a special liaison, and through active promotion of Chinese graphic design associations.