An exhibition showcasing more than 100 innovative concepts and products selected as finalists or honorable mentions in the 2017 Golden Pin Design Awards kicked off Dec. 1 in Taipei City.
Organized by the Taiwan Design Center and Industrial Development Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, this year’s show is themed “hui,” a Chinese character meaning convergence. Running until Feb. 25, 2018, the exhibition provides a stage for designers to showcase their pioneering ideas, according to TDC.
Sung Tung-jung, CEO of the center, said at a launch ceremony for the show Nov. 30 that the Golden Pin has grown into a major international design platform as evidenced by the thousands of submissions received this year. The awards are dedicated to promoting innovation and fostering the passion of emerging design talents, he added.
Standout exhibits include a bamboo prosthetic leg for people who have suffered below-the-knee amputations. Designed by students from Tunghai University in central Taiwan’s Taichung City, the prosthetic is made from cost-effective materials and offers high levels of comfort and flexibility.
Equally noteworthy is a portable fog collection system to combat water scarcity in Central America. Created by students at National Cheng Kung University in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City in collaboration with a counterpart from Honduras, the design can be easily installed using readily accessible materials.
Also featured are biodegradable dessert plates by design firm Studio Lim. The eco-friendly tableware is made from natural fibers such as flax using a technique traditionally employed in the production of lacquerware.
According to TDC, this year’s Golden Pin received a total of about 7,000 submissions from home and abroad in its product and concept categories, of which 78 were selected as finalists and 455 as honorable mentions. The winners will be announced Dec. 7 at a ceremony in Taipei, with concept award honorees receiving a cash prize of NT$300,000 (US$9,990) to help bring their ideas to fruition. (KWS-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw