About Taiwan Design Expo | 2024 台灣設計展 Taiwan Design Expo in Tainan

About 關於台灣設計展

Since its inception in 2003, “Taiwan Design Expo” has become one of the largest annual design exhibitions in Taiwan. Executed by TDRI, the Expo collaborates with different a municipal governments every year through call for submissions; targeting local lifestyle, culture, and unique industrial features, the Expo utilizes design thinking to reinterpret the meaning of the new age, and presents the present and future of local design and industries through exhibitions and diverse activities, hoping to explore domestic and international issues of design and industries by curating thematic exhibitions.

Creating Impact through Local Design and Urban Innovation

As technology rapidly evolves and societal values shift, a delicate balance emerges between the past and future, tradition and modernity, in both industry and daily life. Everything coexists harmoniously, yet not without its conflicts. With a human-centric approach, "design" acts as a vital mediator, connecting the uniqueness of cities with design expertise. By design, we redefine each location from multiple perspectives, and shape distinctive brand images for cities.

The core value of the "Taiwan Design Expo" is to elevate design aesthetics for everyone. By deeply integrating resources from industry, government, academia, and research, the Expo bridges industries, designers, the public, and government institutions, turning the entire city into a stage for showcasing beauty. Beyond grand visions, our aspiration is to ensure that the insights and inspiration from the exhibition continue to resonate in the host city, opening new doors of influence through designs.

Theme

In Tainan, rich cultural heritage, nurtured over centuries, intersects with the vitality of economy and that of common people. From Tainan comes all that is known to be Taiwan. The city's unique culinary tastes and way of life shape its landscape, kindling ceaseless innovations. From its historical prosperity to contemporary brilliance, Tainan's diverse and multidimensional values instill a forward-looking attitude and embody pure and rational self-assurance. Tainan is both classic and enduring, with a culture that is rooted deeply in time and hence resilient. Its designs emerge organically rather than being crafted intentionally.

The city's 400-year legacy is etched into its urban fabric in every brick and crevice, and flows into the Taiwan's very cultural veins via ordinary practices such as eating and clothing. ""The Next 400"" invites you to explore how knowledge and humanity drive aesthetic development and how the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are realized through a culture-driven approach to urban design. This theme highlights Tainan's enduring qualities of inclusivity, wisdom, resilience, and sustainability, bridging generations, industries, disciplines, and cultures, and signaling a return to the essence and value of design.

Tainan stands as a strong role model, steadfastly practicing and extending its culture and the creative assemblages where history and modernity intersect. Tainan embodies design and culture! Culture reflects lifestyles, and lifestyles reflect glimpses of the future! Welcome to Tainan, the hosting city of the 2024 Taiwan Design Expo!

Key Vision Concept

Tainan, an old city steeped in history and culture, has borne witness to centuries of societal transformation and development. Yet, this city remains vibrant and thriving where diverse industries continue to flourish. In Tainan's cultural scenes, tradition and modernity join forces, creating a unique landscape. The city gate serves as a corridor through the sands of time, seamlessly connecting the past with the future. Walking through the corridor is like embarking on a journey through time.

In the key visual design, the imagery of a corridor is used to illustrate the concept of passage and highlights the city's dual charm: its profound historical and cultural foundation and its modern, innovative growth. In the image, numerous vibrant color blocks represent the brick walls tinged with historical memories and symbolize the city's stellar industries. Through the restructuring of colors and forms, the layered bricks are reshaped like beams of light, guiding us through the river of history as we witness the city's transformation and progress toward THE NEXT 400. Design has deeply rooted itself in various industries, and we are moving toward the future, an era with prospects.

Key Vision Design

Path & Landforms focuses on Exhibition, Wayfinding System, and Brand Identity. We provide complete visual design and strategy for various spatial and environmental needs. We value the relationships between every single object and where it is placed, in both aspects of the visual experience and the information processing.

Visual Designer：Vincent Yuan

Key Vision Concept Video

Tainan, a city born from water, gradually expanded from its waterways to the land, brick by brick, evolving into a cultural capital over centuries. Today, Tainan is not just a historical capital rich in culture but also a vibrant modern metropolis with thriving industries and globally renowned brands. This year's Taiwan Design Expo curates these diverse elements within the city, where design and innovation breathe new life into its historic bricks, transforming Tainan into a dynamic space interwoven with design. Roaming through the city streets becomes an immersive experience, as the exhibition seamlessly blends with scenes of everyday life in Tainan. Deeply rooted in Tainan's cultural history, the Taiwan Design Expo captures the energy of the entire city as it strides confidently into the next 400 years.

Motion Design

Nulls Design is like the null set symbol "{ }", encompasses boundless imaginations. We focus on listening to each brand's unique voice. The power of storytelling is not only our belief but also what empowers us in convey that unique voice through innovative visuals across various platforms. This approach deepens the meaning and refines the taste for each brand, whilst exploring new values and possibilities.

Motion Designer

Kevin Cheng is a motion design director and designer, specializing in creating dynamic productions for brand identity, cultural and artistic events, and exhibitions. Previous works include the 2024 Taiwan Creative Expo image animation, TTXC Taiwan Technology X Culture Expo brand animation, 2022 Presidential Office New Year's animation, Taipei Performing Arts Center image animation, Taiwan Design Research Institute logo animation, 2022/2023 Presidential Hackathon image animation, and 2023 Wan Jin Shi Marathon Race image animation.

Consultant

Jamie Tu

Founder /Art Director of Urbanart Studio & InArt Space & B.B.ART

Jamie Tu

Founder /Art Director of Urbanart Studio & InArt Space & B.B.ART

Growing up in an old house in Tainan, Jamie Tu was instrumental in revitalizing the cityscape along Haian Road, bringing aesthetic improvements to the neighborhood. Her deep fascination with old buildings and contemporary art, along with her talents as an artist, has fueled a lifelong career, breathing new life into historic architectures while championing contemporary art.

Shenan Chuang

Chief Vision Officer of Cothinker

Shenan Chuang

Chief Vision Officer of Cothinker

Shenan Chuang is the co-founder of Ogilvy Taiwan, former CEO of Ogilvy Greater China, and two-term chairperson of The Association of Accredited Advertising Agents of Taipei R.O.C, as well as the founding chairperson of The Association of Accredited Advertising Agents of China. She was recognized as "Asia's Leader of the Year" by Campaign magazine and featured in CNN's "Leading Woman." From 2016 to 2021, Chuang served as the chairperson of WPP Taiwan, and later co-founded "Cothinker" with young partners.

Jun-Liang Chen

Founder of Freeimage

Jun-Liang Chen

Founder of Freeimage

Founder of Freeimage and SILZENCE style, Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Creative Industry Design at National Taiwan University of Arts, currently serving as a visiting professor in the Department of Crafts and Design at NTUA. Known for his minimalist design approach that transforms words into visual art, he is recognized for blending modern minimalist techniques with Eastern humanistic values. Referred to as the "Poet of Design" by the media, he has shifted his focus to organizing cultural exhibitions and branding projects in Taiwan.

Chao-Ching Fu

Professor Emeritus of Department of Architecture in National Cheng Kung University

Chao-Ching Fu

Professor Emeritus of Department of Architecture in National Cheng Kung University

Chao-Ching Fu has been a longstanding advocate for cultural heritage preservation, both in Taiwan and around the globe. He has consistently introduced and promoted international conservation practices in Taiwan, and curated numerous cultural heritage exhibitions along the way. His achievements include the prestigious Architecture Award from the Architectural Institute of Taiwan, the Tainan Cultural Award, and the Executive Yuan Cultural Award. His works have also been honored with the Golden Tripod Award for four times.