A total of 100 works developed by emerging Taiwan innovators were recognized at the Young Pin Design Awards ceremony held June 2 at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei City, highlighting the country’s reputation as a wellspring of creative talent.
Co-organized by the Ministry of Education, the Industrial Development Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan Design Research Institute, and Good Design Association, Taiwan, this year’s edition attracted 5,856 submissions from students enrolled at 64 tertiary education institutions countrywide.
Eight entries were selected as winners of the highly sought-after Best of Young Pin Design Award. Other prizes included 40 Young Pin Design Awards, 3 Young Pin Design Special Awards for Circular Design and 49 Young Pin Sponsor Awards, with the latter two honors newly added this year.
Submissions spanned crafts, digital multimedia, fashion, packaging, product, spatial, social and visual communication design. Top entries in each category were granted NT$100,000 (US$3,316) in prize money.
Among the standout works is an ergonomic serving cart for waiters chosen as best in product design. Developed by a team from National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology in southern Taiwan, the cart rotates to speed up the food-serving process while reducing the risk of injury for workers.
Another highlight is a set of woven textiles topping in crafts design. The pieces, which are shaped into a stunning array of textures showcasing the range of possibilities for fabrics, were created by Tsai Jie-min of New Taipei City-based Fu Jen Catholic University.
All entrants in the competition must also participate in the annual Young Designers’ Exhibition, which took place online this year. Established in 1982, YODEX is one of the highest-profile student design fairs in the world and features rising talents from leading colleges round the world. (TYT-E)
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