The 2024 Taiwan Design Expo is underway in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City, bringing together talented creators and their products to showcase the country’s innovative spirit.
Organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Tainan City Government, the exhibition runs until Nov. 10 and is host to more than 150 designers and 200 businesses. It has nine main zones in areas including the Tainan Art Museum Buildling 2, West Market and Banana Warehouse, along with several city exhibits in venues such as 321 Art Alley Settlement. Fifteen echo events are on the schedule at locations around the city and the dining lab offering mystery dishes at Ciancao Village Multifunctional Center.
One highlight of the exhibitions in the main zones is “NO.1 - Spotlight Tainan,” which showcases the remarkable achievements of 18 of the city’s traditional manufacturing enterprises in areas like metal processing and plastics that have risen to the global stage. Equally impressive is “Unfold life,” a display exploring the partnerships between local businesses and their counterparts in Tokyo’s Sumida district.
Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei said in his opening remarks that the event is intended to integrate design aesthetics into multiple elements of the urban environment to create a better life, promote tourism and enhance the country’s economic competitiveness. This year’s version shows the combination of traditional culture and emerging technologies in Tainan, he added, citing the participation of entities like the Southern Taiwan Science Park and representatives of Tainan’s prominent industries including automobiles and textiles.
Two walking routes connecting main zones are open to the public, as are 13 tours exploring different themes, and the exhibitions run to 9 p.m. on weekends, the MOEA said. The annual Taiwan Design Expo has been staged in various locations across the country since its founding in 2003 to promote creative design ideas with a local twist. (YCH-E)
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