Since its establishment in 2020, the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) has been interdisciplinary co-creation platform to promote national design strategies as essential for aesthetic pursuit and social innovative advancement. We hope to integrate interdisciplinary design power to transform industries, improve public services, and develop a sustainable social environment. Our endeavors and accomplishments over the past 3 years have garnered acclaim, and prestigious awards at home and abroad, including the World Design Organization President's Award, a symbolic recognition of our global contributions. We also received the 2023 Happy Enterprise Gold Award for fostering a positive workplace through organizational innovation.
In early 2023, we organized the 1000+1 Design Changing: Why TDRI exhibition to highlighted symbolic projects facilitated and executed by us since our first day. It goes beyond progressive achievements to share and draw attention to our thoughts behind invisible designs and innovation within visible designs for participants to become the "+1". Our 1000 Days of Design collects innovative ideas on the impacts and changes brought forth by design to shape urban culture, promote public innovation, add and direct value as well as foster and strengthen talents.
After our first 1000 days, TDRI has advanced on a broader innovative path. Our Industrial Design-Driven Innovation project helped SMEs and stars strengthen market competitiveness. In the first year, 40 corporations transformed with research, interdisciplinary expert guidance, international competitions, and business cooperation. In response to global sustainability trends, the SME Net-Zero Emissions Demonstration and Advisory Program helped 6 dominant firms and 22 partners innovate products or services and implement carbon practices for a circular ecosystem. The "T22 Project", aimed at revitalizing local industries through design, has shown promising results in Yingge and Beitou and is now shaping a productive fleet in Hualien, with plans to develop diverse service models that encourage collaboration between local stone industry stakeholders and architecture and interior design professionals, thereby creating more opportunities in the sector.
For public services and social innovation, The Design Movement for Public is an epoch-making co-creation platform for public construction. Central authorities, local governments, the public sector, and interdisciplinary businesses gather to improve 14 urban landmarks, recreational experiences, and human-centric space within these 2 years. Project 2.0 will then expand and diversify its scope to set off a larger aesthetic movement. With widespread praise of redesigned bulletin and polling station signage system, our 3-phased Electoral Aesthetic redesigned TV footage of policy presentations and the Central Election Center's vote counter to democratize the election experience. To enhance the aesthetics of Taiwan's public spaces, the Public Pictogram Redesign Project collaborates with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Land Management Agency, and Resource Circulation Administration to introduce an innovative, neutral, legally compliant public pictogram system that aligns with international standards, providing open-access resources to infuse contemporary, people-focused design into more public areas.
For design R&D, we launched the City Design Power Index Project with the World Design Organization to develop a process model for assessing urban design capability, help establish brand images, and formulate skill enhancement strategies. Results presented at the 33rd World Design Assembly received widespread acclaim from international experts and will be applied in the next World Design Capital event, thereby contributing Taiwan's design research to the world. To enrich our R&D foundation, we attained significant accomplishments with the Design Technology Development and Industry-Research Co-Creation. Our data-based AI digital tools and one-stop data platforms helped designers explore market opportunities, expedite product development, and execute creative ideas. For smart mobility, machinery, and living, we added corporate values of 4 tech companies by facilitating frontier applications through design approaches.
Our exhibitions have also been fruitful. The first Taiwan Design Expo in New Taipei City over 21 years showcased local industries and cultural capacity. Integrated with the COC Urban Industrial Innovation Plan, the event concluded with an impressive turnout of 6.58 million visitors. The Taiwan Pavilion at the first-ever Hakka Expo, featuring 14 counties and cities, was highly praised for showcasing contemporary Hakka aesthetics and the vision of a beautiful life through innovative design curation. The Young Designers' Exhibition (YODEX) has undergone recent innovative transformations, showcasing a new look with a grand debut that brings together young design talents from Taiwan and around the world. The inaugural Taiwan Design Week featured an array of Design in Taiwan under a spotlight as an international exchange platform for sustainability and smart innovation with world-class organizations and academic experts from 19 countries. During the 4th London Design Biennale, the Visible Shop exhibition at the Taiwan Pavilion portrayed the role that Taiwan played during the global pandemic with metal components, winning this year's Best Design Medal and setting a new milestone for the domestic design community.
TDRI is celebrating its fourth year with perseverance in innovation at the core of our projects: the Golden Pin Design Award, the iconic competition in Asia; the School Textbooks Design Award and its associated programs championing the aestheticization of national education; Taiwan Design Museum and Not Just Library striving to be a platform for promoting the design industry; Ideathon inviting everyone to imagine the future; and Design Movement on Campus aiming to transform campus environment. All of these then expanded in scale, depth, and influence. Over the past 1000 days, we achieved our goals and broke top records thanks to all of our partners. The road to the future is vast and endless, awaiting our exploration. TDRI will uphold the innovative spirit of "there is no best, only better," and continue to use design for the betterment of Taiwan!
Interdisciplinary Value-Added Design Service Platform
Leading industrial innovation with national design policy to develop high-value design knowledge and applications
Design is taking the world by storm. It plays an increasingly important role in the economy, culture, and society of a country. Meanwhile, more and more industries are treating design as a core competitive advantage. With this in mind, the government is establishing the "Taiwan Design Research Institute" (TDRI) in 2020. The aim of this project is to capitalize on Taiwan's strengths in design to drive industrial development and the overall economic growth.
The TDRI plans to consolidate public resources from a wide range of government agencies with "the power of design", promoting design as a central governance value and as a national defense strategy. The Institute is expected to guide the sustainable development of industries and society, which should in turn improve the living quality of the general public. It can assist the government in making national design policy and increasing governance efficiency. In addition, through an integrated interdisciplinary approach, the Institute will introduce design-based thinking into government administration, drive talent cultivation in the private sector, and build businesses that lead the design industry.
1990年
2002年
2003年
2004年 2005年
中華民國對外貿易發展協會「產品設計處」轉型成立「設計推廣中心」
（Design Promotion Center, DPC），是TDC的前身。
DPC首次舉辦「台灣國際創意設計大賽」。
DPC於臺北華山文化特區舉辦首屆「台灣設計博覽會」。
政府為推動文化創意產業發展，成立國家級設計中心「財團法人台灣創意設 計中心」（Taiwan Design Center, TDC）。
張基義院長自2019年當選世界設計組織 ( World Design Organization）理事 之後，2022年再次成功連任WDO理事，持續為臺灣設計在國際發聲。
（松山文創園區－攝影師：汪德範）
The Product Design Department of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council was restructured as the Design Promotion Center (DPC), the predecessor organization of TDC.
DPC organized the first Taiwan International Design Competition
DPC organized the first Taiwan Design Expo at Huashan 1914 Creative Park.
In order to boost the development of the cultural and creative industries, Taiwan Design Center (TDC) was established by the government as a national design organization.
TDC entered formal operation at Nangang Software Park, taking over the organization known as the Taiwan International Design Competition, a categorized design competition and predecessor to the Golden Pin Concept Design Award. The Global Design Industry Information System was renamed Taiwan Design BOCO with the intention of allowing TDC to build an online resources center for creative design.
TDC established the National Design Award, an award eligible to those who passed the Taiwan Good Product Design Evaluation and the predecessor to the Best of Golden Pin Design Award. TDC took over the publication of the Design magazine and reformatted the magazine.
TDC helped Taipei City win the right to host the 2011 International Design Alliance (IDA) Congress, beating out 19 competing cities from 13 countries. This was the first IDA Congress after the creation of the IDA by Icsid, Icograda, and the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI).
The National Design Award was officially renamed the Golden Pin Design Award.
The Taipei City Government, Industrial Development Bureau, and TDC cosigned a collaborative agreement to repurpose the Songshan Tobacco Plant into a center for the development of arts, design, and the cultural and creative industries.
TDC moved its headquarters from Nangang to Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, establishing the Park as the iconic multi-functional venue that combines industry interaction, consultancy, research and development, talent cultivation, exhibition, aesthetic experience, promotion, and marketing.
TDC established the Taiwan Design Museum, the first specialized museum among all Chinese communities dedicated to showcasing creative design. TDC held the first IDA congress in Taipei/Taipei World Design Expo.
With the help from TDC, Taipei City was selected as the 2016 World Design Capital; TDC established the Red Dot Design Museum Taipei.
Faced with the shift in global economic trends, the Golden Pin Design Award was redefined as the "top design award in the global Chinese marke"; the award's first year received record-breaking 1901 entries from both domestic and overseas contestants. The Design magazine was made available in both Chinese and English. Not Just Library was opened to the public, to create a new library that was more than just a library.
TDC collaborated with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) to establish the first American Innovation Center (AIC) in Asia.
The Golden Pin Design Award adjusted its brand by including the new Golden Pin Concept Design Award (previously the Taiwan International Design Competition) and Young Pin Design Award (previously the Young Designers' Award) along with the original Golden Pin Design Award, rebuilding the brand image for the set of awards.
TDC organized and held the six official events of the 2016 Word Design Capital Taipei, showing the world how adaptive a city Taipei is. TDC released "design x boco", an online media integration of the Design Magazine and Taiwan Design BOCO.
TDC was awarded the 2017 Design Value Awards for its 2016 World Design Capital Taipei program, becoming the first design organization in Taiwan to receive such an honor and the only winner of the year to integrate design into a system of public service facilities, demonstrating how creative design, the integration of design thinking and corporate strategy into holistic marketing, and financial strategy can help the organization innovate and create value.
The Creative Expo Taiwan's topic-based curation approach in the Cultural Explosion exhibition took the design community by storm, winning the internationally acclaimed Good Design Award and Good Design Award Best 100 of Japan.
Not Just Library was moved to the first floor of Songshan Cultural and Creative Park's Office Building, where Taiwan Design Museum and Cafe Solé are also located, to form a design community of spatial uniqueness
TDC was awarded the 2018 Ladislav Sutnar Prize from the University of West Bohemia in the Czech Republic. The prize is awarded to individuals or organizations with outstanding performance in the field of applied arts and design. TDC is the first Asian design organization to become a laureate of the award.
The Taiwan Design Museum, Not Just Library, DesignPin, and the American Innovation Center were united under a single banner to handle issues such as exhibition exchanges, the curated selection of concept stores, and reading materials and hands-on creative design. The new space was dubbed Song Yan Court in reference to the square court at its center.
In her closing ceremony speech at the National Design Congress organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, President Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic of China announced that Taiwan Design Center (TDC) will be promoted and renamed to Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) in 2020. TDC’s promotion was selected as one of the top ten significant cultural & creative events in La Vie's 2019 Creative Awards.
TDRI President Chi-Yi Chang was selected as a member of the 2019-2021 World Design Organization Board, boosting Taiwan's voice in the international design community.
Taiwan Design Center (TDC) was officially renamed and promoted to Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI). Through the utilization of design capabilities, TDRI integrates inter-ministerial resources and increases the influence of Taiwanese design.
President Tsai Ing-wen personally awarded TDRI the 4th Presidential Innovation Award in the group category. This highest honor in innovation is the latest presidential award received by TDRI after the Presidential Cultural Awards, Presidential Science Prize, and President Educational Award.
After being first elected in 2019, TDRI President Chi-Yi Chang was re-elected as a member of the World Design Organization Board in 2022 and continues to boost Taiwan’s voice in the international community.
設研院於「倫敦設計雙年展」臺灣館打造「Visible Shop人人材料 行」，強調台灣整體社會的強韌連結，在40多個參展國家館中脫穎 而出，榮獲「2023倫敦設計雙年展最佳設計獎（LDB Best Design Medal）」。
經濟部2020年成立「台灣設計研究院」（前身為台灣創意設計中 心），以設計價值為核心，推動產業創新、公共服務創新、社會創 新等多項政策工作，歷經3年多的努力，推出《改變的1000+1：這 個也能設計》展覽於台灣設計館展出，並出版《設計改變台灣 1000 Days of Design》專書，一同認識臺灣的設計影響力。
TDRI was certified as a healthy workplace and awarded a Health Promotion Badge by the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare for its commitment to promoting a smokefree and healthy workplace.
TDRI, the Italian Economic, Trade and Cultural Promotion and Office, and ADI-Italian Association for Industrial Design jointly organized the Compasso d'Oro Design Exhibition in celebration of the 2023 Italian Design Day in Taiwan. The exhibition was hosted in the Taiwan Design Museum, featuring 20 classic Italian designs that won the Compasso d'Oro award.
5.19~5.22
6.01~6.25
TDRI organized the 2023 42nd Young Designers' Exhibition, a distinguished exhibition in Taiwan featuring works of young designers. The physical exhibition returned after a 3-year hiatus and was relocated to Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2 from its previous location in Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Halls 1 and 3. This year's theme was 'Origin', which highlights the dialogue and exchange between design students, industries, and the academia.
TDRI hosted the 'Visible Shop' exhibition in the Taiwan Pavilion during the London Design Biennale. This exhibition highlights the strong and resilient connections within the society of Taiwan and was awarded this year's Best Design Medal, finishing above 40 other pavilions.
6.27~10.10
7.1~10.22
The Ministry of Economic Affairs established the Taiwan Design Research Institute (formerly Taiwan Design Center) in 2020 to champion the value of design at the heart of its operation and promote industrial innovation, public service innovation, and social innovation, among other policy initiatives. Three years later, TDRI hosted the '1000+1 Design Changing: Why TDR' exhibition in Taiwan Design Museum to showcase the fruits of its labor and published 1000 Days of Design to provide insights into the design capacity of Taiwan.
The 'WeWe Futures: Tap to Your Future' exhibition was held in the Taiwan Design Museum. It featured 14 works that explore Future Scenarios from 9 countries, inviting everyone to discover the possibilities that the future holds.
8.11~10.15
The 2023 Hakka Expo, themed 'Roots and Prosperity - Better with Hakka', was held in the Taiwan Pavilion, bringing together 14 counties and cities to showcase the diversity of Hakka culture in Taiwan and demonstrate the evolution of Hakka culture over three periods of time: the past, the modern period, and the contemporary period.
Sep.
9.19~11.5
The 'Designs For The Next 100 Years' exhibition was held in the Taiwan
Design Museum to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the design firm NOSIGNER. The exhibition revolved around Eisuke Tachikawa's theory of evolutional creativity and explored the global "ecosystem" spanning the past, present, and future.
The 2023 Taiwan Design Expo, themed '○', was held in New Taipei City for the first time. The main exhibition was hosted in the newly opened New Taipei City Art Museum in Yingge and featured five themed exhibitions scattered across New Taipei City, linking 500 designers to inject fresh vitality into the design community.
'Theory of Aesthetic Evolution: 2023 Joint Exhibition on Aesthetic Education Programs' was hosted in Taiwan Design Museum to showcase the achievements of the second phase of a 5-year aesthetic education promotion program, which was launched by the Ministry of Education. The exhibition featured 21 sub-programs grouped into four categories consisting of Support System, Talent Development, Curriculum and Activities, and Learning Environment, providing visitors a glimpse of the aesthetic education in Taiwan over the past five years.
TDRI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sumida District in Tokyo and Chiba University to promote industrial cooperation and cultural exchange between Taiwan and Japan and to cooperate with Japan in the areas of design research, industrial innovation, talent development, and design awards.
The World Design Organization hosted the 33rd World Design Assembly in Tokyo, Japan. The President of TDRI, Chi-Yi Chang, and Vice President of R&D, Shyhnan Liou, delivered a presentation of city design power indicators at the assembly and received recognition from experts of all sectors. TDRI also won the WDO 2023 President's Award, awarded biannually to honor the contributions and impacts of WDO members on the global design community. The Vice President of TDRI, Oliver Lin, was successfully elected as a member of the 2023–2025 Board of Directors.
TDRI's commitment to building a happy workplace environment earned it the 2023 Happy Enterprise Gold Award──Mass Communication, Education, and Social Welfare Category. TDRI will continue to build a positive work environment, offer competitive benefits, and create growth opportunities for employees.
The 2023 Golden Pin Design Award Exhibition 'Multidimensional Hyperplasia' was held in the Taiwan Design Museum to showcase more than a hundred award-winning works in an immersive space.
Dec.
The 2023 Golden Pin Design Award Ceremony was held at the Globe Playhouse, Taipei Performing Arts Center. The theme of this year's awards ceremony was "superload", which explored designers' desire to break free from conventional constraints and pursue self-transcendence despite the formidable challenges they face in life.
The inaugural Taiwan Design Week was held to "expand horizons, extend viewpoints, and establish platforms." The event included themed exhibitions, forums, and design nights. The exhibitions featured a variety of works created by 55 interdisciplinary teams based in Taiwan and 5 teams from abroad. Nearly 70 interdisciplinary experts from 9 countries were invited to host international forums to address a wide range of key issues, such as sustainable development, smart innovation, AI technology, human–computer interaction, design policies, city design index, architecture, and urban aesthetics. The Taiwan Design Week is Taiwan's largest international design event.
TDRI received research grant from the Ministry of Economic Affairs Department of Industrial Technology to establish Taiwan's first Micro-Mobility R&D Alliance (MMRA). In the first round, TDRI signed a memorandum of understanding with Acer Gadget, Looplus Service Technology (the first provider of campus e-scooter sharing service), and Jochu Technology, a manufacturer of electronic products.
12.18 TDRI signed a memorandum of understanding with Taoyuan International Airport Corporation to enhance airport service experience by innovating public services, improving wayfinding experience in the airport, and introducing innovative public services.
財務概要 Financial Highlights
2023 收支營運決算表 Income Statement
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支出總額 Total Expenses
業務支出 Operating Expense
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所得稅費用 Income Tax
資產負債表 Balance Sheet
建立設計研發機制
Establishment of Design Research & Development Mechanisms
TDRI had hoped to build a collaborative mechanism for interdisciplinary innovation from a policy planning perspective, by improving the effectiveness of policy communication in between departments and teams. Through interdepartmental promotion mechanisms, we introduced design thinking to important development policies and government forward-looking plans by formulating design policies in national development strategies and creating a well-designed environment for development. By integrating across disciplines through design, we established TDRI and its corresponding promotion platform mechanism, which elevated the value of design innovation research, public services, industry-driven fields, and connected Taiwan with international design resources, accelerating Taiwan's design policy development.
TDRI executes Technology Development Program (TDP) organized by the Department of Industrial Technology, Ministry of Economic Affairs to build a research network and explore design empowerment and added industrial values. To promote national exchanges across disciplines and sectors, findings are presented as TDRI R&D Vol. 2 Design and Technology: Digital Transformation and Trend Analysis, the sequel after Vol. 1 Design and Technology: The Research and Practice of Interdisciplinary Integration Driven Innovation. The 3 main topics: Design in the Age of AI and Digital Transformation, Technology's Impact on Design Processes, and Design Empowerment: Bridging Industry, Academia, and Research, comprise of 12 research reports with trend insights. The primary was the forum, Catalyst for Digital Transformation, in which principal investigators, industry/academic experts, and TDRI researchers share findings and practical experiences. An audience of 110 experts from private and public with 134 online participants were in attendance.
To establish design-driven R&D model for technological applications, TDRI undertakes government-funded technology development programs on smart mobility, machinery, and living. TDRI collaborated with Industrial Technology Research Institute, Cycling & Health Tech Industry R&D Center, Precision Machinery Research & Development Center, and Stone & Resource Industry R&D Center to co-create industrial applications, technological services, and material development. The objective is to identify user needs and align technologies with market value. Through 12 interdisciplinary workshops, 297 industry experts and designers developed 3 sets of tools. Following Design-Driven Innovation: Micromobility Sector, its sub-section Material R&D and Application was published for reference in material innovation.
1-3. 永續設計工具
設研院以永續設計（Design for Sustainability）作為論述與研究基礎，探討諸多設計方法如何被納進永續發 展的光譜中，並導入企業與組織，以建立設研院之產學合作機制。綜合國際趨勢與文獻探討、永續生活問 卷、與企業訪談，形成「設計領導的永續創新（Design-led sustainable innovation）」作為促進組織變革所 需的關鍵特徵及理解，並發展成為永續設計創新牌卡工具盒。
1-3. Design for Sustainability: Toolkit for Sustainable Innovation
With Design for Sustainability (DfS) as the research framework, TDRI investigated the design-led sustainable innovation as a mechanism for industry–academia cooperation, and the transition of design methodologies in the global environmental context. Through literature review, in-depth analysis of case studies, questionnaires and as well as the interviews with industries, the research resulted in the Toolkit for Sustainable Innovation, formulating the sustainable innovation strategies and showcasing tangible actions for both industry and academia.
The toolkit was applied in the YODEX workshop, which collaborated with 9 companies and called for 60 college students from design departments in participation, fostering collaborative engagement and reimagining the design for sustainability.
To pave the way for design application research with scenario-driven innovation, TDRI formed a Micro-Mobility R&D Alliance (MMRA) in 2023 with Looplus Service Technology, Acer Gadget, and Jochu Technology to resolve Taiwan's last-mile challenge on 2 pivotal aspects of micromobility: user decision-making on modes of transportation (e-scooters, motorbikes, and bicycles) and vehicle adaptability in the urban environment. TDRI cultivates research capacity on service/urban design and user experience for product designers to collaborate with the tech industry. By building a micromobility chain (R&D, service, and export) for sustainable urban development, TDRI amplifies the cross-sector impact of design to envision Made-in-Taiwan products.
As fast-changing environment reshapes our lives, work, and business, Future Scenario Innovation R&D help co-create opportunities for technological innovation with scenario designs to explore needs and conceptualize applications. Design thinking enhances user experience and formulate strategies that align with societal needs.
In 2023, we collaborated with ITRI Central Region Campus, MIT AgeLab, and different stakeholders (family/clinic doctors, registered nurses, community pharmacists, homecare providers, and pharmacies) to explore innovative applications on community symbiosis, elderly care, and smart health management with 12 technology-driven solutions. This interdisciplinary co-creation aims to develop digital technologies, products, and services and integrate precise projects for tech organizations and industries, thereby fostering industrial innovation
In 2023, TDRI conducted a second large-scale talent survey in Taiwan to obtain a general overview in the industry. Along with cross-sector domestic/international analyses and expert opinions, the survey sheds light on the current work status, skills, career development, industry-academia gap, and trends for 952 designers with different roles and duties. In our 2 seminars on the Capacity of Future Talents and 6 interviews, the insights of 19 interdisciplinary experts on talent prospects and professional needs were collected as a summary of 4 key issues and 3 recommendations in the 2023 Taiwan Design Talent Report. By updating stakeholders in industrial, public, academic, and research sectors on current needs and developments, we hope to direct their attention in invigorating the design industry and empowering talents.
In 2023, TDRI introduced 4 design tools in response to the digitization trend. The Product Data Analyzer is a one-stop integration platform that provides information required for initial product development on color, material, style, size, and user preferences. With its collection of product information on smart home appliances on the domestic and international markets over the past 10 years as well as over a million sets of user data, User Data Analyzer is a research platform with data recommendations, personas, and stakeholder templates for professionals to quickly collect, integrate, and render results. The AI Scenario Explorer (Prototype) ideates blueprints with AI technology for potential product and service development. The AI Strategizer (Prototype) generates PESTEL/competition analysis, action plans, and user journey maps with AI as a copilot for decision-making.
Going forward, TDRI will continue to develop digital design tools for different fields to quickly ascertain user needs, expedite market investigations, and make precise decisions, thereby improving product quality, facilitating development, bolstering industrial competitiveness, and adding values for clients. These 4 tools and relevant resources are available on the Design R&D Lab platform (https://www.rdlab.tw).
室主任 Mai Thi Nguyen 教授，卡地夫都會大學設計研究中心副主任 Anna Whicher 教授，以及瓦倫西亞大學 應用經濟學系 Pau Rausell-Koster 教授，以學術研究洞見引導前瞻產業發展趨勢，厚實臺灣設計研究實力及 國際能見度。
1-8. 2023 International Forum on New Frontiers in Design Research
Dedicated to enhancing the National Innovation System through interdisciplinary design methods, TDRI aims to advocate for design-driven innovation in the public sector, businesses, and society. Thus, the 2023 International Forum on New Frontiers in Design Research, held on December 2, explored trending topics in 3 thematic sessions: design for public policy innovation, Human Computer Interaction (HCI), design strategies and design impacts for cities, along with the Future Design Workshop.
The international forum attracted 335 attendees, with 239 online viewers. Speakers include Prof. Hiroshi Ishii, Associate Director of the MIT Media Lab; Prof. Lucy Kimbell, Professor of Contemporary Design Practices at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London; Prof. Mai Thi Nguyen, Director of the Design Lab at the University of California, San Diego; Prof. Anna Whicher, Associate Director of Research at PDR, Cardiff Metropolitan University; Prof. Shyhnan Liou, Vice President of Research and Development at TDRI; and Prof. Pau Rausell-Köster, Professor of the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Valencia. These world-renowned scholars shared insights on frontier industrial development, enhanced research capacity, and the international visibility of Taiwan.
To promote design as a global economic, social, and environmental solution, TDRI presented urban design power indicators with the World Design Organization at the 33rd World Design Assembly. At the conference, TDRI shared insights on the indicators, theories, and a process model (strategy, activity, and outcomes) that reflects operation with 8 dimensions. The 108 indicators were reviewed and amended by international experts and subsequently verified with the historical data of local counties and cities to ensure applicability. Our index dashboard also visualizes city design power for current status analysis and cross-city or cross-year comparison.
TDRI anticipates the widespread adoption of design power index by cities. It looks forward to collaborating with international organizations and communities to enhance Taiwan's research capacity and make global contributions.
Design was used to form interdisciplinary cooperative alliances for jointly promoting and establishing innovation mechanisms and models for the industry, becoming a driving force for industrial innovation. Through carrying out forward-looking research, putting industry co-creation into practice, and operating interdisciplinary design platforms, agile co-creation was achieved through R&D and technology and design thinking was implemented to find valuable technological applications, inject power in industrial design, and establish a design innovation strategy for Taiwan.
2-1. Industrial Design-Driven Innovation, IDDI
In 2023, the IDDI project obtained subsidies for 40 companies (36 cases) in northern (17), central (10), southern (10), and eastern (3) Taiwan, including 35 SMEs and 6 startups. Outcomes are as follows: (1) helped 6 companies adopt design thinking and create affiliated departments; (2) helped 7 companies build a new brand and increase innovative value; (3) helped recognize the value of design innovation and foster a culture of interdisciplinary innovation; (4) helped the industry increase capacity for service innovation, extend R&D frontiers, and launch brands. With this ecosphere to enhance economic value, TDRI will continue to leverage the influence of design to initiate interdisciplinary revolution, promote industrial transformation, and harness design power to bolster competitiveness.
Design Optimization to Create a Smart Living Space for Citizens: A Case of Taipei Municipal Stadium
With the Department of Sports of the Taipei City Government, TDRI improved the Taipei Municipal Stadium with digital facilities for a better urban living experience. Through interdisciplinary collaboration with brand/space/user interface designers at a designated demo site, TDRI rearranged the entrance and required functions, installed digital panels, designed an interactive interface (connected via Bluetooth on cellphone), and constructed a well-lit space with Delta Electronics' smart management system. Nighttime lighting is aesthetically optimized for safety and comfort in a refreshing urban landscape. The tunnel entrance for athletes was transformed into a walkway with displays of history, layout, major events, and distinguished players. The renovations enhance the experience for visitors as a model for smart sustainable integration of design and aesthetics.
In our Co-Creation (COC) Urban Industrial Innovation Plan with the Industrial Development Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, design catalyzed interdisciplinary innovation and collaboration with local governments. In 2023, COC gathered 27 New Taipei corporations to address societal issues (aging population, low birth rate, sustainability, and urban image) to promote and market the city.
The First Age-Friendly Classroom for Learning TDRI cooperated with Cheng Loong Corporation, Muji Renovation, and KIMU Design to build a new classroom for continuing education in Xinpu Junior High School in New Taipei City. The project was supported by the local municipal Education and Cultural Affairs Departments. With observations, interactions, discussions, and user need analysis, an age-friendly learning space was created with plans for tables, chairs, and lights as well as furniture from recycled paper (a movable lectern, a cabinet for resources, and a creative bulletin board). Age-friendly and sustainable, the optimized environment can be quickly set up with paper modules. Through this, TDRI strives to draw public attention to the importance of active aging for potential betterment of society.
2-4. Promoting Innovation across Industries and the Academia
(1) A Case of Collaboration between Industry, Academia, and Research
TDRI collaborated with Hengstyle to facilitate a circular economy. Faculty and students from the National Taiwan Normal University, National Taiwan University of Arts, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, and National Yunlin University of Science and Technology designed 6 products from scrapped appliances while retaining most of the original appearance to grant waste a new life and materials a longer life cycle.
(2) Regional Industry–Academia
Cooperation
TDRI engages in regional industry–academia cooperation to link local businesses with design communities. In 2023, TDRI and Hua Mei Optoelectronics Science Technology created corporate transformation solutions that integrate design into sustainability strategies along with 25 students from Tainan University of Technology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Kun Shan University, National Kaohsiung Normal University, and I-Shou University.
(3) YODEX Industry–Academia Cooperation
Results of the 9th YODEX Industry–Academia Cooperation were presented in Nangang Exhibition Center Hall in May. This year, the YODEX themed 'Origin' addressed issues on education, technology, environment, and communication with 12 organizations, 43 student teams, and over 194 interdisciplinary representatives in attendance.
2-5. Design Service Registration and Design Talent Survey
TDRI helped design service providers develop core interdisciplinary innovative capabilities. Research on talent competency identified key needs as reference for training and career programs. 37 mid/top-level managers and designers from 35 enterprises were interviewed. Our 4 international forums and a seminar in 2023 spread industrial knowledge. We actively monitor the evolving community landscape, help registered providers connect with other industries, encourage them to attend courses, thereby ensuring sustainability. In 2023, 5 technical capacity reviews were held and 100 local design service providers obtained a valid Design Service Registration certificate.
示範案例包含興采實業與小至研發合作「REFIT 智能衣物回收箱」，透過光譜儀分 析紡織材質，鑑別聚酯纖維協助衣物初級分類，改善傳統依靠人員揀選成本效 益，強化零廢棄 Zero Waste 循環應用示範。
2-6. Promoting Green Design Applications in Industries
TDRI promotes green designs to encourage innovation in early business development. It helps organizations redefine pain points and needs. We created 3R solutions (reduce, reuse, recycle) with supply chain partners for waste reduction and global sustainability.
Our effort is exemplified by our collaboration with Singtex and Miniwiz on clothes recycling box REFIT™ with a spectrometer to determine fabric composition (e.g., polyester) for preliminary sorting. This is more cost-effective than the traditional manual pick-and-sort, demonstrating zero waste application in circular economy.
Agriculture Co-Worker (ACO) is an e-commerce initiative to help skilled farmers with packaging and branding as an avenue for discovering unique ingredients. It creates designs favored by consumers and align with market trends. ACO has shaped 40 brand images with numerous domestic and international accolades at design awards. 90% of the new brands are now available on various major e-commerce channels. In 2023, A Spring Market on a Spring Day showcased results with a wide range of food-tasting activities, experiences, and performances, garnering weekend crowds and raving reviews. TDRI expanded the scope of ACO for the first time with design thinking to help sell Taiwan-grown produce, create innovative experiences, and rapidly increase online exposure. Our plum-themed service involved gift boxes, farm tours, food-tasting, and other experiences. The design community then collaborated with the agriculture industry to effectively promote various Taiwan plums. This event was extensively featured in Taiwanese media reports, receiving widespread publicity.
Established in 1981, YODEX entered its 42nd year in 2023. As the world's largest industry–academia co-creation platform for young talents, YODEX showcases a wide variety of exhibits in craftsmanship, visual communication, digital multimedia, spatial architecture, fashion, and interdisciplinary integration. The 2023 42nd YODEX themed 'Origin' was held both offline and online from May 19–22 in Hall 2 of the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. Returning after a 3-year hiatus due to the global pandemic, the physical expo featured over 4,000 works from 55 schools, 121 departments, and over 10,000 students , as well as the enthusiastic participation of the prestigious Chulalongkorn, Chiba, Toyama, and Hong Kong Polytechnic universities.
Over 4 days, the YODEX exhibition attracted 80,000 visitors and 300 media reporters. Other activities were held during the exhibition period, including YODEX industry-academia cooperation projects, the Young Pin Design Award ceremony, and 9 seminars with 19 interdisciplinary keynote speakers. YODEX inspires the exchange of perspectives as a stage for innovation capacity and a platform for industries and academia to discover talents and outstanding works.
2-9. Golden Pin Design Award and its Associated Awards
Founded in 1981, the Golden Pin Design Award is the oldest and most authoritative professional design award in Taiwan. Since 2015, it has been split into 3 major awards, namely, the Golden Pin Design Award, Golden Pin Concept Design Award, and Young Pin Design Award, in order to target different groups and commend innovative and outstanding design products and works.
The theme of the 2023 Golden Pin Design Awards Ceremony is 'Superload', which underlines design empowered by new technologies in the digital era and emerging interdisciplinary collaborations. However, this also demands comprehensive creativity, multiple roles, more complex issues, and greater responsibilities. As an increased "load", it also serves as a force breaking free from conventions to usher in innovative transformations. 'Superload' was expanded upon in the 2023 Golden Pin Design Award Exhibition, where an immersive spatial experience showcased over 100 award-winning works from the Golden Pin Design Award and Golden Pin Concept Design Award.
(1) 金點設計獎 Golden Pin Design Award 針對已商品化及上市銷售之作品，開放全球設計團隊及業者報名角逐。金點設計獎每年遴選優秀設計作品， 為市場及產業提供優質認證，鼓勵企業重視設計與研發，以設計力驅動創新、提升品牌價值。
The Golden Pin Design Award is open to global design teams and companies and targets works that have been commercialized and sold on the market. Through the selection of outstanding designs each year, the award provides a quality certification for the market and industry, and encourages companies to attach importance to design and R&D, and utilize the power of design to drive innovation, and enhance brand value.
In 2023, the Golden Pin Design Award received 2,324 submissions from 15 countries/regions around the globe. After a 3-stage evaluation and selection, 552 won the Golden Pin Design Mark with 27 given the top honor, including 25 Best Design Award and 2 Special Annual Award winners, to praise their conformance to the spirit of the award and significance to society and industry. The Honorary Award recognized designers dedicated to research, promotion, and practice in Taiwan, or those with significant industrial contributions, was presented to Taiwanese architect Joshua Jih Pan with formal commendation.
The Golden Pin Concept Design Award is a platform for discovering creative concepts open globally to students, designers, and companies with works yet to be mass-produced and sold, non-customer projects, or proposals yet to be executed.
In 2023, the Golden Pin Concept Design Award received 4,927 submissions from 21 countries/regions around the globe. Through preliminary, secondary, and final selections, 38 won the Golden Pin Concept Design Mark with 3 final winners each receiving a certificate, trophy, and NT$400,000 cash prize.
The Young Pin Design Award is the only official award for YODEX, the world's largest design expo for young designers. In 2023, a new special award, Young Pin Packaging Reduction Design Sponsor Award, was presented in association with the Environmental Protection Administration of Executive Yuan. The Young Pin Circular Design Special Award, organized by the Sustainable & Circular Economy Development Association, was also awarded to honor innovative solutions with design thinking in circular sustainability.
In 2023, 5,005 submissions were received from 55 schools and 121 departments. After the preliminary and final selections, 66 judges selected 9 winners for the Best of Young Pin Design Awards, 51 for the Young Pin Design Awards, 3 for the Young Pin Circular Design Special Award, and 3 for the Young Pin Packaging Design Special Awards.
2-10. The 2nd School Textbooks Design Award: Guidance Promotion Program
Aesthetic Education Begins with Textbook Designing!
As Taiwan's first textbook design competition, the School Textbooks Design Award encourages publishers and designers to strive for student-centered learning, improved quality, and enhanced aesthetic awareness.
Given the positive reception and recognition of the 2021 School Textbooks Design Award, the Ministry of Education expanded the School Textbook Design Guidance Program in 2023 to integrate Education × Design co-creations. This year, 5 elementary and junior high publishers and 24 design teams designed 24 cover pages and 3 textbooks in 6 months. Their works will be adopted for the 2024–2025 academic year as a brand-new aesthetic landscape for children's education.
In 2023, TDRI and the Central Election Commission jointly launched a 3-phase project to revitalize our democratic society. Service design research established specifications with clearer information and better voting experiences. In the past, heightened sensitivity and strict regula tory restrictions left little room for design interven tion. After the first 2 phases in which bulletins and polling station signage were amended, optimiza tion was expanded to include voting booths, ballot box, and presidential debate.
For instance, voting booths used to feel impro vised: difficult to assemble, not sturdy, looked unsafe and unprofessional. In the third phase, we focused on facilitating assembly, storage, and 設研院研析公共服務發展趨勢及服務關鍵要素，協助政府單位規劃導入服務設計的機制與策 略，培養政府單位運用設計方法及工具，建立能掌握人民需求、邁向以設計思維進行政策設 計之公共服務體系，帶動整體創新能量。
Through analyzing public service development trends and key service elements, TDRI planned and introduced service design mechanisms and strategies to the government sector and trained government agencies to use design methods and tools, so as to grasp the needs of the public and move towards a public service system where policy design is conducted using design thinking, driving the overall energy of innovation.
By devising public service design regulations and following up on improvement, we provided a development direction to optimize the quality of service in the public sector and further enhanced the overall rank of the domestic public design ladder. We hoped to build a public space that incorporates innovative thinking to encourage the government to conduct long-term thinking on public service strategies and future development, and to create benchmark exemplary cases so as to drive more public service design cases
首次應用於2024總統大選的示範投開票所。
A demonstration polling station used for the first time in the 2024 Presidential Election.
Managed and issued by different governing bodies as necessary, public pictograms lack cohesion, recognition, accessibility, thereby requiring renewal to align with trends.
TDRI initiated co-creation with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Land Management Agency, and Resource Circulation Administration to redesign public pictogram under a human-centric approach, with chief consultant Akase Tatsuzo, Japan's leading expert in the field.
With universality, simplicity, consistency, and clear communication as principles, TDRI developed an internationally-aligned and gender-neutral public pictogram system that complies with domestic regulations. The system offers
3-3. Integrating Corporate Identity and Marine Highway Brand Designs for the Maritime Port Bureau
In recent years, improvements to maritime and land transportation facilities altered expectations. The Maritime Port Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications initiated the Marine Highway Brand Design Integration project to improve service quality in sailing, ports, vessels, and tourism with a lasting image. It aims to create the TAIWAN Hi brand for marine highways with management methods by integrating design into index systems, travel spaces, and vessel construction to optimize the environment. The TAIWAN Hi brand blended specific colors and images in different parts of travel spaces. The first demo site was the Magong passenger terminal in the Penghu Ferry (Nanhai passenger terminal). Vessel designs transformed the aesthetics of the New Taima Ferry and the interior of the Penghu Ferry. The optimization of the environment will be the last piece of puzzle to improve aesthetics of public transportation. We hope to redefine the brand image, create a better landscape, and communicate core values of safety, comfort, and high quality.
Industrial parks in Taiwan are in urgent need of transformation with closed-off environment, complex boundaries between public and private sectors, difficulty for improvement, and shortage of public amenities and service areas. In 2021, TDRI began building a co-creation platform with the Industrial Development Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Utilizing design thinking and methods on Dafa, Dayuan, Taichung Harbor Related, and Shulin industrial parks, the team set the innovative value in the public domain and actualized the core concept of "the parkification of open industrial zones". Government service centers were used as demonstration sites to build an environment that benefits both manufacturers and local communities.
The project emphasizes a minimalist and human-centered approach by demolishing walls, streamlining traffic, removing outdated amenities, and installing seasonal plantation to create a spacious and friendly public space. TDRI hopes to gradually transform industrial parks in Taiwan and bring manufacturers and residents to co-create a harmonious and beneficial social sphere.
The Design Movement for Public is an epoch-making platform for public construction in Taiwan. It is the largest movement launched by government officials, interdisciplinary teams, and experts. Within its first year, it renovated 14 different public spaces across 10 counties and cities in Taiwan.
Design Movement for Public redefines the scope of design, breaks from conventional mode of cooperation by identifying key issues, proposing improvement strategies, integrating studies, reexamining design specifications, and altering service processes. Discussions and verification ascertained pain points in the public sector and space, addressing user needs and ultimately fostering a consensus among stakeholders.
Over the next two years, the competent authority will oversee the implementation of the 14 cases. TDRI hopes that The Design Movement for Public will create a mode of cooperation more influential than individual projects. We envision materializing
計畫本身及各校改造案例不僅囊括 Good Design、 iF、金點設計獎…等全球共50座獎項，亦曾獲《台灣 建築雜誌》連續2年特別專輯報導，並露出於日本 《事業構想》月刊、美國《Interior Design》等國內 外媒體。
3-6. Design Movement on Campus
The Design Movement on Campus is the first large-scale cooperation between the design industry and the education system. Over the past 5 years, it exemplified aesthetic environment transformation at 97 schools throughout Taiwan for professional faculty development. In addition to innovation mechanisms and platforms for schools, design teams, and advisors, design thinking optimized user experience to emphasize the close link between teaching innovation and environmental transformation. It made groundbreaking changes to public construction procedures by selecting "the most advantageous tender" when procuring design services and encouraging top-notch teams to participate. Its database website collected ideas, concepts, and maintenance for analysis as a visionary approach to integrating campus aesthetics into the education system. These resources are made available to the general public.
This design movement and its achievements have won 50 global awards including the Good Design, iF, and the Golden Pin Design Award. They were also featured in media reports at home and abroad, including the Taiwan Architecture for 2 years, Japan's Project Design monthly publication, and the U.S. Interior Design.
Human imagination is the most powerful catalyst of technological R&D. To promote Taiwan's digital industry, Ideathon is a public platform for global imagining of life in the future, thereby driving policy formulation and industrial development. After its 2nd year in 2023. this year's Ideathon'WeWe Futures: 2040 Diversity & Inclusion' received 2,013 submissions from 17 countries from 10–82 year-olds across a wide range of disciplines. Many addressed issues of technology inclusion, AI, and green sustainability. With different scenarios, the event inspired reflections and attracted over 46,000 views with over 2,000 in attendance. Ideathon also hosted 50 seminars in South Asia and Taiwan to call for submissions. In addition, AIGC and speculative design were integrated to empower imagination for the future. For the first time, top 20 works were expanded by 18 domestic and international judges, 9 consultants, 16 teams, and participants. A global voting event encouraged all sectors was featured in 207 media reports at home and abroad. The future of living is envisioned by analyzing background information, understanding concerns, and exploring emerging trends and opportunities in technological development. Ideathon is a marathon of imagination that will continue to guide our future.
3-8. Taipower Aesthetics: Design-Driven Service Innovative Transformation
Taiwan Power Company ("Taipower") is navigating the transition to Net Zero to realize our vision of building a Net-Zero and sustainable future. To effectively adopt a sustainability management strategy, Taipower collaborated with Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) on a service design research project in 2021. The research aims to ascertain the brand perception of Taipower employees and their views of Taipower as a power service provider. It also delves into service innovation issues to develop a blueprint for service transformation and uncover innovation opportunities. The results of this research collaboration were unveiled at the end of 2023, following phases of design planning, design supervision, and project contracting.
A user-oriented process was developed for services that are most important to and most frequently used by the general public. The effectiveness of this service process as a means of service innovation and transformation was demonstrated in the Keelung Branch of the Taipower Service Center. By adopting this service process, the Taipower Service Center slowly transformed the nature of its payment and application services, establishing a community-based educational charging node that encourages engagement with the genera public and offers a wide array of services.
3-9. Joint Exhibition on and Promotion of Aesthetic Education Programs
'Theory of Aesthetic Evolution: 2023 Joint Exhibition on Aesthetic Education Programs', co-organized by the Ministry of Education and TDRI and curated by Aestheticell, showcases second phase achievements of a 5-year MOE aesthetic education promotion program launched in 2019. 21 sub-groups are under 4 categories consisting of Support System, Talent Development, Curriculum and Activities, and Learning Environment. 6 keywords (body, life, culture, self-confidence, experience, and relationship) indexed implementation and core value as a diverse overview. A seminar themed 'Aesthetic Evolution' covered 3 main topics, Talent Development, Education Environment, and Instructional Materials to introduce practical concepts of aesthetic education and skills.
Reflect on industry, social, and environmental issues; integrate local businesses, NPOs, and NGOs; and facilitate public participation in interdisciplinary design to achieve system innovation, build new life models, and increase overall social value. Concurrently, combine new material knowledge with innovative application to revitalize traditional crafts and facilitate transmission and use social innovation to drive revolutionary reforms in all aspects of society.
4-1. Revitalization of Local Industries with Design
Entering its 5th year, the 2023 T22 Program launched in Yingge, Beitou, and Hualien through local collaborations (ceramic, urban farming, and stone works), revitalizing these areas. The Pottsware Yinggooo, an association formed by local ceramic businesses in Yingge hosted the 2nd Yingge Open House event.
T22: Hualien launched an interdisciplinary co-creation workshop 'Stone Salon', vertically forming 8 local stone suppliers into a group that engages directly with business owners and design teams to communicate the commercial, technological, service, and cultural values of local brands to Fujin Tree Taiwanese Cuisine & Champagne restaurant Taipei 101 branch, Beipu or Shanlu Guest House, Taiwan D.B. Art Collective, and Emperor Spa.
T22: Beitou transformed farmland business models, brand image, product planning, pricing strategies, and PR with food service channels in a second Grand Beitou scheme.
The 2023 Taiwan Design Expo themed '○' in New Taipei City
Co-organized by the Industrial Development Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and New Taipei City Government and co-executed by TDRI and Cultural Affairs Department of New Taipei City Government, the 2023 Taiwan Design Expo themed '○' concluded with an impressive turnout of 6.58 million visitors and over thousands of media coverage, receiving widespread local and national acclaim. Satisfaction rate reached 95%, with NT$6 billion in economic benefits generated from tourism and associated activities.
The main expo zone was hosted in the New Taipei City Art Museum for the first time, with Yingge at the center expanding to other districts. Nearly 500 designers and teams showcased their skills and highlighted multifaceted local characteristics. The expo featured 5 major zones, 14 themed displays, 7 satellite expos of circular line, and 32 echo events to portray the ideal city for residents. The organization of 11 city redesign projects, 129 featured routes, and over 200 activities vividly captured the beautiful landscapes, inspiring a dialogue on urban governance and design thinking to co-create an urban brand that illustrates the transformative power of design in reshaping the city.
4-3. 世界客家博覽會─臺灣館
臺灣第一個客家主題的世界級博覽盛會，於全臺客家人 口最多的城市—桃園市舉辦，透過主軸「天光日个客家 Travel to Tomorrow」傳達桃園市與未來對話、多元族 群共榮發展的特色，展期自2023年8月11日至10月15日
臺灣館不僅獲民眾高度讚賞創意性滿意度94.66%，展 期間各界貴賓蒞臨，包括行政院鄭文燦副院長、立委和 監委們、以及全臺超過9位縣市首長率團參觀，讚許臺 灣館策展內容多元豐富精采，世界設計組織（WDO） 繼任理事長 Pradyumna Vyas 也在參觀後，親自寫下「I love Hakka exhibition. Excellent design and gain good knowledge」。
4-3. Hakka Expo: Taiwan Pavilion
The 2023 Hakka Expo is Taiwan’s first world-class exposition held in Taoyuan City, a place with the highest Hakka population in Taiwan. The overarching theme 'Travel to Tomorrow' illustrates unique local characteristics, envisioning a prosperous future with various ethnic groups. Over 66 days from August 11 to October 15, 2023, the expo drew in over 11 million in attendance and NT$2 billion in economic benefits.
As one of the largest pavilions over 10,000 square meters, the Taiwan Pavilion themed 'Roots and Prosperity - Better with Hakka' brought together 14 key Hakka counties and cities. The space was centered around the Hakka 369 concept, showcasing a fresh perspective of Taiwan that highlights its richness, diversity, coexistence, and cultural integration to illustrates modern aesthetics and beauty of Hakka life.
The Taiwan Pavilion satisfied 94.66% of visitors with its creativity and won praise for its rich and captivating exhibits from distinguished guests, including Vice Premier of Executive Yuan Cheng Wen-Tsan, members of the Legislative Yuan and Control Yuan, and mayors of over 9 counties and cities. The President-Elect for the World Design Organization left a personal message, saying, "I love Hakka exhibition. Excellent design and gain good knowledge".
Foster the participation of top Taiwan interdisciplinary teams on international stages and integrate with international interdisciplinary design resources and networks to create a platform for Taiwan's voice to be heard. Use design as a medium of international exchange to increase the international visibility of and collaborative opportunities for Taiwan industries and showcase the depth and capability of Taiwan design to the world. By presenting Taiwan's interdisciplinary teams and building an international design network, we can enhance Taiwan’s design visibility and voice.
The World Design Organization hosted the World Design Assembly in Tokyo, Japan from October 27 to 29, 2023. This is the first large-scale international design conference after the global pandemic. As a long-term WDO member and partner, Presidents of TDRI and chief Research officer presented City Design Index at the assembly and received recognition from experts of all sectors. TDRI also won the WDO 2023 President's Award, awarded biannually to honor contributions and impacts on the global design community. Our achievements garnered praise, elevating the status of Taiwan in international design.
In addition, TDRI appointed Vice President Oliver Lin to represent Taiwan as a member of the next WDO Board of Directors. Despite a fierce competition, Mr. Lin emerged victorious among 19 candidates and was successfully elected as a member of the 2023–2025 Board of Directors. TDRI will continue to strive for the international visibility and global expansion of the Taiwanese design community.
In addition to attending the WDA in Tokyo, TDRI also entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sumida District in Tokyo and Chiba University. Such agreement aims to promote exchange within the design and R&D communities, actualize the vision of international exchange, promote professional Knowledge and competencies, and continue to facilitate a stronger international integration of Taiwan's design capacity, thereby working collectively with the global community to create a better future.
London Design Biennale: A Design-Centered Creativity Platform Emphasizing Innovation and International Exchange Organized by Taiwan's Industrial Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the Taiwan Pavilion presented the 'Visible Shop - Parts Without Cover' exhibition during London Design Biennale, 2023. Curated by Ling-Li Tseng, the exhibition highlights the strong and resilient connections within the society of Taiwan, emphasizing that although Taiwan is a small island, it plays a pivotal role in the global manufacturing supply chain. Despite the close proximity of diverse clusters of small and medium-sized enterprises flourishing on this island, they operate independently. These individual companies collaborated swiftly, leveraging their strengths as a team during COVID-19, demonstrating Taiwan's resilience and fearlessness in facing the global pandemic. Sponsored by WiseChip Semiconductor and Mean Well Enterprises, the exhibition was designed by Serendipity Studio in partnership with the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and installation design by Loudly Lightning. Assembled from metal parts, a factory-like space and dynamic installations showcase the beauty of working as a collective. The 'Visible Shop' exhibition was awarded this year's Best Design Medal, finishing above 40 other pavilions. It subsequently won the 2023 Golden Pin Design Award in the Integration Design category, as well as first prize for the Annual Top 10 Creative Exhibitions in LaVie's Taiwan Creative Power 100.
5-3. 拓展國際設計市場
印尼設計合作實務
2023年特別開發新南向國家的管道，透過雙邊經貿會議的平台，簽署設計合作MOU，邀請臺灣設計業者以 「臺灣設計課程推廣」為目標，規劃不同議題的合作，包含設計人才培訓、講座、工作營、參訪、發表等 等。設研院於2022年與印尼工業部所屬的中小企業總司 （Directorate General of Small, Medium and Multifarious Industry - Ministry of Industry）簽約合作，辦理臺印尼設計交流合作。印尼方推派6位榮獲印尼 時尚與工藝獎（IFCA）之傑出新銳設計師來臺進行一週的交流與體驗，我們也特別邀請臺灣設計師與設計公 司一起參加，議題包含文化、科技、永續發展的議題規劃系列工作營。未來帶領臺灣設計師前往印尼實地考 察與交流，並進行媒合與諮詢，運用臺灣豐沛的設計知識、人才、技術，作為打開國際市場的後盾。
5-3. Expansion into the International Design Market
Design Collaboration with Indonesia
In 2023, TDRI developed a special channel dedicated to signing a design memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the target countries of the New Southbound Policy at a bilateral economic trade conference. To promote Taiwan-based design courses, Taiwanese design organizations were invited to create cooperation plans, including design talent development programs, seminars, workshops, field trips, and conferences. In 2022, TDRI and Indonesia's Directorate General of Small, Medium and Multifarious Industry of the Ministry of Industry, entered into a Taiwan–Indonesia design collaboration agreement. Six young Indonesian designers who have received the Indonesia Fashion and Craft Awards (IFCA) were selected to visit Taiwan for a week of design-related engagement. We also invited Taiwanese designers and design companies to participate in the workshops that address cultural, technology, and sustainability issues. In the future, Taiwanese designers will be dispatched to Indonesia for onsite inspections and engagements, creating opportunities for business cooperation and consultation on the use of Taiwan's rich resources such as design knowledge, talents, and technologies as an avenue for global expansion.
Incorporate the historical background and environmental features of the old tobacco plant; integrate "Taiwan Design Museum" and "Not Just Library"; and design "Design Pin" service areas for stores. Provide an exhibition, learning, and creation spaces for design and life aesthetics enthusiasts, and create comfortable exchange spaces that inspire creations for designers and creative people.
Officially opened in 2011, Taiwan Design Museum is the first Chinese 'design' themed museum in the world. The museum's collection includes significant classic design products in Taiwan's design development history. The museum also periodically holds special exhibitions on different topics and interdisciplinary fields, introducing international and domestic design trends and award-winning design works to propagate the influence of life aesthetics and aesthetics education.
In 2023, TDRI organized nine interdisciplinary exhibitions to address various societal issues and present its achievements in "Designed in Taiwan"(DIT) to increase the accessibility of public services, consolidate domestic resources from various government agencies, promote multinational cooperation, improve public understanding of design, and reinforce the impact of design in the public sector. The exhibitions showcased design works created in collaboration with various government entities, including the Ministry of Education with the 'Open School' and 'Theory of Aesthetic Evolution' exhibitions, illustrating how design improves the educational environment. The Ministry of Digital Affairs contributed 'WeWe Futures: Tap to Your Future', encouraging everyone to envision possibilities in the near-future. In partnership with the Hakka Affairs Council, the 'Romantic Route 3 Arts Festival' depicted the landscapes and characteristics of the Hakka culture from both design and culinary perspectives. The exhibitions also featured works resulting from international cooperation, including partnerships with the Japanese design firm NOSIGNER for 'Designs For The Next 100 Years', illustrating Eisuke Tachikawa's theory of evolutionary thinking and featuring international cases spanning the past decade. In collaboration with the Italian Economic, Trade and Cultural Promotion and Office ADI-Italian Association for Industrial Design, the 'Compasso d'Oro Design Exhibition' was presented. Other exhibitions included the '1000+1 Design Changing: Why TDRI' which showcased the institute's achievements over the years after its transformation. One of them was the 2023 Golden Pin Design Award Exhibition 'Multidimensional Hyperplasia' featuring winning works. Finally, there was the Taiwan Design Week's 'Elastic Bridging' which was held for the first time to showcase the successful development of an international exchange platform for the design community in Taiwan.
Not Just Library is not merely a place that collects and stores books. It is a medium that presents different viewpoints and inspirational events/characters, shedding light on the current world affairs. Hidden in a bathhouse north of the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, this experimental book house filled with books, scents, plants, and sunlight extends outward into a garden, transforming into a cultural venue that functions like a bathhouse where one can immerse themselves in books for spiritual cleansing.
As a design knowledge hub, Not Just Library deepened its integration with the themes of Taiwan Design Museum, hosting the five featured exhibitions in 2023 to promote design aesthetics education. These included 'The Most Beautiful Polish Books' exhibition, portraying the characteristics of Polish design across the past, present, and future; 'Ciao Ciao - Italian Children's Book Exhibition', showcasing select works from the Bologna Children's Book Fair on Italian Design Day; 'Punk Graphics' curated in collaboration with designer Andrew Wong to introduce punk aesthetics for the first time in Taiwan; 'Evolutional Creativity Library' centered around the concept of evolutionary thinking proposed by designer Eisuke Tachikawa; and 'The Most Beautiful Taiwan Books: 2020 - 2024 Golden Butterfly Award Winners Exhibition'. the final exhibition for the year jointly organized with Taipei Book Fair Foundation, positioning itself as the forefront of international book fairs for the coming year. As the main host to the educational events of Taiwan Design Museum, Not Just Library also hosted more than 30 lectures in 2023 for the exhibitions, establishing itself as not only a library but also a novel space for knowledge sharing.
With its principle of 'more design, better life', DesignPin hosts a selection of winning works from the Golden Pin Design Award and other domestic and international awards. By infusing aesthetics and taste into various aspects of our daily life, DesignPin not only connects Not Just Library and Taiwan Design Museum but also merges exhibitions and reading activities to showcase the diverse features of Taiwanese designs, putting Taiwan's soft design capabilities under a global spotlight.
In 2023, GoldenPin showcased a variety of agricultural products produced in Taiwan, providing customers with a fine selection of gift boxes. It demonstrates the value-adding effects of design aesthetics and enhances the brand image of farm products produced in Taiwan. A pop-up store featuring Golden Pin Design Award-winning works was set up to display the latest trends and diversity of Taiwanese designs, eaving a lasting impression on customers.
At GoldenPin, every product tells a story and creates an experience. This shop transcends the ordinary; it is a platform showcasing the strengths of Taiwanese designs, evoking unique and unforgettable aesthetic emotions in design enthusiasts.
Almost 11,000 entries were submitted from 56 nations. Of the 2,104 entries honored with the 2023 iF Design Award, 317 were from Taiwan, including 12 projects executed by Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI).
Interior Architecture
•Citizen Judges Court - Service Design
•Design Movement on Campus - New Taipei Municipal Banqiao Senior High School
•Design Movement on Campus - Wanfang High School, Taipei City
•Design Movement on Campus - Pei Ying Junior High School, Hsinchu City
•Design Movement on Campus - Zhu-Guang Junior High School, Hsinchu City
•Design Movement on Campus - Tonglin Elementary School, Taichung City
•Design Movement on Campus - Zhanghu Junior and Elementary School of Ecology, Yunlin County
•2022 Taiwan Design Expo - Make Pro City of Creations
Packaging
•Carrefour RE Series of Eco-friendly recycled bottle
Service Design
•Notail & Banana Animal School
•Fire Survival Board game | Match Cat
Product Design
•Hibāng RE-Fishing - Net Circular Eyewear
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2023 Taiwan Design Best 100
Taiwan Design Best 100 - Shopping Design selects 100 good designs each year. In total, 7 design projects submitted by TDRI won this award:
．2023 Taiwan Design Expo - Key Vision Concept "〇" won Best Design of the Year
．2023 Taiwan Design Expo - Yingge Open House won New Local Cultural Interpretation Award of the Year
．2023 Taiwan Design Expo - Project 365 On The Way won Community Care and Friendly Environment Award of the Year
．2023 Taiwan Design Expo - When Mountains and Rivers Start won Concept Exhibition and Performance of the Year Award
．2023 Taiwan Design Expo - Life in Circle won Concept Exhibition and Performance of the Year Award
•The First Age-Friendly Classroom for Learning won Community Care and Friendly Environment Award of the Year
•Penghu Ferry, Marine Highway Design Project for Maritime Port Bureau won Architectural Spatial Planning Award of the Year
2023 Design for Asia Awards - Bronze Award
•Electoral Aesthetics 3 The 16th Taiwan Interior Design (TID) Grand Award of the Year
‧Taipei MRT Redesign (MRT ZhongShan Station) 4
•YANG-MING Mountain Lab 5
2023 Good Design Award
Among the 5,447 entries submitted worldwide, 118 submissions from Taiwan won the award, 8 of which were projects executed by TDRI:
•T22 Revitalization of Local Industries with Design Program - KOGA-Taiwanese People Ceramic Tableware
from Yingge as a One-Star Place of Production
•T22 Revitalization of Local Industries with Design Program - Rebranding Don Loong Enterprise x Googoods
Design as part of the Hualien Open Factory Initiative
•Design Movement on Campus - The Recycling Center in Kaohsiung Municipal Guang Wu Primary School
•Design Movement on Campus - Light Roof/Room in Hudong Elementary School, Changhua County
•The Grand Museums: The Movement of Open Data
•2022 Taiwan Design Expo - Make Pro City of Creations
•Electoral Aesthetics
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2023 London Design Biennale Best Design Medal
The London Design Biennale was founded in 2016. Taiwan Pavilion's 'Visible Shop' expo emerged victorious among over 40 participating countries and won the Best Design Medal in the 2023 London Design Biennale.
2023 Taiwan Creative Power 100
LaVie magazine began organizing the Taiwan Creative Power 100 in 2014. Three design projects executed by TDRI were honored with this award:
•First prize for Annual Top 10 Creative Exhibitions: Taiwan Pavilion's 'Visible Shop' expo
•Social practice: Design Movement on Campus
•Creativity: Yancheng 1st Public Market
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WDO President's Award
TDRI won the WDO President's Award, awarded biannually to honor WDO members' contributions to and impacts on the global design community. This is the latest major international accolade awarded to TDRI after the Presidential Innovation Award and the London Design Biennale.
2023 Happy Enterprise
TDRI was commended for its commitment to creating a happy workplace environment with the 2023 Happy Enterprise Gold Award in the category Media, Education, and Social Welfare. Almost 3,200 companies signed up for this award, and 439 companies received the Gold Award across 11 categories.
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Badge of Accredited Healthy Workplace
TDRI strives to promote a smoke-free and health-promoting workplace. Following evaluations, TDRI was certified to be a healthy workplace and awarded a Badge of Accredited Healthy Workplace.
Research and Development International Development
2022~2023
－ Developed 6 digital XAI design tools, database, and platforms, amassing over 500 members.
－ Developed more than 30 sets of design thinking tools and organized 33 industry innovation workshops, empowering 1,552 people through designs.
－ Declared and accumulated 53 sets of R&D results (including patents, trademarks, copyrights, business secrets, etc.), 6 of which involved patents.
－ Published 14 industry innovation guides/books, presented results at 6 international research conferences, reaching more than 4,000 people.
2020~2023
－ Our achievements in innovation have benefitted 20 nations (accounting for 11% of all countries worldwide).
－ Received 78 design awards at home and abroad.
－ Collaborated with more than 29 international design organizations.
－ Featured in over 5,017 international media reports.
Industry Innovation Public Services
2020~2023
－ Developed 6 types of design interdisciplinary innovation strategy.
－ Helped 140 corporates to adopt design, inspiring the direct/indirect participation of 2,111 teams in design projects.
－ Connected 4,869 students to industry–academia cooperation projects, nurturing 9,584 industry innovation talents.
－ Reached more than 6.59 million people through our interdisciplinary design results, deriving from it a total investment of over NT$ 900 million
2020~2023
－ Engaged with 73 public departments and 306 interdisciplinary teams on 79 public service co-creation and development demonstration projects.
－Established more than 8 design-related specifications and provided 18 regulatory recommendations.
－Empowered 20,333 public service innovation talents (4.6% of whom were public servants).
－Stimulated public investment of NT$3.5 billion in design innovation and contributed NT$ 8.16 billion to the tourism sector, enabling more than 19.8 million people to experience and benefit from the fruits of the tourism sector
衷心感謝以下單位，對於台灣設計研究院的支持與協助。
We are thankful to our partners.
台灣設計研究院 Taiwan Design Research Institute 2023 年報 Annual Report
