On 8th May, 2024, the executive team of Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC) was led by Prof. Apex Lin and Lecturer Miira Lin, to promote this year’s competition at Taylor University. Around 70 teachers and students joined the promotional events together.

The associate project director of TISDC, Lecturer Miira Lin, revealed that “Equality” is the theme of this year’s competition and it’s in accordance with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. With a design mindset of empathy and solicitude, they can make the world a better place.

Special thanks to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luqman Lee from Taylor University and Prof. Siow Yin Yoong for helping TISDC arrange the promotional events and invite all the teachers and students to join the event. With their assistance and support, the promotional events had rounded off. We hope design schools in Malaysia could keep following the news of TISDC and actively participate in the competition. We look forward to everyone’s excellent works.

Caption: Promoting TISDC at Taylor University

Caption: Promoting TISDC at Taylor University

Caption: Promoting TISDC at Taylor University

Caption: Promoting TISDC at Taylor University

Caption: Promoting TISDC at Taylor University

Caption: Promoting TISDC at Taylor University

Caption: Promoting TISDC at Taylor University

The Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC) 2024 campus tour promotional event arrived at the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology on May 8th (Wed)! 

Under the enthusiastic invitation of the Department of Industrial Design, we promoted the event together with the project manager of the Design-International Design Competition (IDC), with 70 participants joining in the promotion on-site. The theme of this competition is “Equality,” and we aim to link it with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations in 2015 for achievement by 2030. We call on students to treat others with equal respect and care, and through this promotion, further educate the audience on the competition’s regulations. 

Finally, we express our special thanks to the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology for their warm invitation, allowing the project to reach a wider audience. We also appreciate the active participation of everyone involved who contributed to the successful conclusion of this promotional event!

Promoting 2024TISDC at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (1)

Promoting 2024TISDC at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (2)

Promoting 2024TISDC at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (3)

Promoting 2024TISDC at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (4)

Promoting 2024TISDC at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (5)

Promoting 2024TISDC at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (6)

The 2025 TISDC campus promotion event visited the Department of Commercial Design at National Taichung University of Science and Technology on April 24. This event featured a special lecture by Gloria Mak, a renowned designer from Macau who has spent years developing graphic design in Taiwan. Her presentation, titled “How to Win Consumers’ Hearts Through Packaging,” shared her practical experiences in brand design and sustainable practices.

Drawing from her own design journey, Gloria delved into how packaging can become the first point of contact between a brand and its consumers. She explained that design is not only a pursuit of aesthetics but must also take into account product value, cultural meaning, and environmental responsibility. She emphasized, “The initial intention and execution of a design will determine whether the packaging becomes an environmental burden or a key factor in driving sustainable development.”

Through several case studies of agricultural products, dried fruits, and tea leaves, she shared how to balance environmental sustainability and brand image while working within budget constraints. She also discussed the use of recyclable materials, reducing print areas, and simplifying packaging structures. She stressed that designers should carefully consider the environmental and user impacts of every design decision — from material selection to manufacturing methods — ensuring that they are both environmentally friendly and responsive to consumer needs. “Truly great packaging complements the essence of the product and communicates the brand’s spirit and social trust.”

Gloria also encouraged students to maintain their enthusiasm, break free from trends, and observe and experiment more. She urged them to see design as a powerful tool to influence society, rather than simply as a task to complete. “Design is not just about being visually appealing; it should tell the truth, tell a story, and create meaningful connections.”

This lecture not only allowed students to gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted aspects of packaging design but also injected new energy into the 2025 TISDC Taiwan International Student Creative Design Competition’s campus promotion activities. Special thanks to Associate Professor Hong Rui-Jyun of the Department of Commercial Design at National Taichung University of Science and Technology for his assistance in organizing and for the enthusiastic participation of the students. We hope that this event will inspire more students to respond to social and environmental challenges through creative design. Submissions for the 2025 TISDC competition will be open from May 12 to July 7. We welcome all interested students to participate!

Captions: Group photo taken during the 2025 TISDC event at National Taichung University of Science and Technology.

Captions: Designer Gloria Mak shares her practical experiences in design.

Captions: Designer Gloria Mak shares her practical experiences in design.

Captions: The TISDC Executive team introduces key points for this year’s call for entries.

Organized by the Ministry of Education’s Department of Higher Education and executed by National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, the 2025 Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC) held a Design School Exchange Briefing Session on March 28th (Friday). The event invited faculty and students from design-related universities, colleges, and high schools across Taiwan to gather, providing an overview of this year’s competition system and conducting promotional activities.

The 2025 competition theme, “DIVERSITY,” aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It aims to harness the power of design to integrate diverse cultural perspectives, inspire innovation, promote cross-disciplinary collaboration, and foster inclusivity to create more possibilities for society. This year, two new categories, “Architecture and Landscape Design” and “Fashion Design,” have been added, bringing the total competition categories to five. This expansion provides more opportunities for students from various design fields to showcase their talents on the international stage, fostering creative synergy and diverse thinking.

Project Director and associate professor Chen Yan-Ting stated that the 2024 Taiwan International Student Design Competition attracted 19,667 entries from 1,138 design schools across 64 countries, demonstrating the increasing design capabilities of international youth and the expanding influence of the competition. Since 2021, TISDC has been developed as a brand, focusing on strengthening its image and consistently attracting outstanding works from around the world. In recent years, the diversity and innovation of submissions have highlighted the competition’s international impact, solidifying its status as a globally recognized student design competition.

This event featured distinguished guests, including Director Li Ming-Long of the Interior Design Department at Taipei Municipal Songshan High School of Commerce and Home Economics; Director Yang Shun-Ming of the Department of Architecture at Taipei Municipal Daan Vocational High School; Director Chen Zi-Ying of the Advertising Design Department at Keelung Er Xin Senior High School; Principal Chen Xiao-Zong of New Taipei City Private Fu-Hsin Trade & Arts School; President Huang Mao-Quan of the Department of Material, Textile, and Fashion Design at Asia Eastern University of Science and Technology; Vice President Wang Zhao-Hua of the College of Design at Ling Tung University; Director Wu Shou-Zhe of the Visual Communication Design Department at Cheng Shiu University of Technology; Dean Lin Rui-Lin of the Visual Communication Design Department at Chien Kuo Technology University; Assistant Professor Chen Jin-Shi of the Digital Media Design Department at Tungnan University; Assistant Professor Zheng Qiu-Yue of the Fashion Design Department at Shu-Te University of Technology; Director Chen Ding-Zhou of the Department of Interior Design at China University of Technology; Director Lin Jia-Hua of the Media Design Department at Tatung University; Director Ni Jian-Zhi of the Department of Cultural Creativity and Digital Media Design at LungHwa University of Science and Technology; Director He Yi-Lun of the Fashion Industry Management Department at Hsing Wu University of Science and Technology; Director Chen Zhen-Cheng of the Department of Architecture at National Taipei University of Technology; Assistant Professor Huang Guang-Ting of the Department of Architecture at National Taipei University of Technology, along with enthusiastic participation from students across various institutions.

This briefing session aims to encourage more Taiwanese design students to participate in the 2025 Taiwan International Student Design Competition, further enhancing Taiwan’s design influence on the global stage and bringing more innovation and diversity to society.

Group photo from the 2025TISDC Design School Exchange Briefing Session.

Project Director, Associate Professor Chen Yan-Ting introducing the key points of this year’s competition.

Co-Project Director, Dean Shih Ming-Hui sharing insights.

Co-Project Director, Associate Professor Hsieh Yung-Hsu offering perspectives.

Principal Chen Xiao-Zong of Fu-Hsin Trade & Arts School sharing thoughts and encouraging student participation.

Director Yang Shun-Ming of Taipei Municipal Daan Vocational High School’s Architecture Department raising questions about the competition regulations.

Highlights from the promotion event.

The 2025 TISDC Campus Promotion Event continued on March 19 at the Department of Industrial Design, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology. This lecture featured a special invitation to Mr. Chen Bo-Zhong, Creative Director of Dishan Studio, who shared his design expertise and explored the expanded possibilities of materials through innovative design.

The event was hosted by Professor Chen Jun-Zhi, the co-organizer of the TISDC, who introduced the key highlights of the 2025 TISDC competition and emphasized the design theme “DIVERSITY.” He encouraged participants to use design as a platform to showcase innovative thinking and social value.

Additionally, during the lecture, Director Chen shared in-depth insights into the relationship between design and material application, stressing the importance of design in environmental protection and sustainability. He remarked, “Design determines 80% of whether a product can be recycled.” He pointed out that design should not only seek a perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality, but also focus on the choice of materials from the source, integrating the concepts of reuse and sustainability to achieve both environmental and market development goals. Mr. Chen also shared his experience collaborating with Taiwan Power Company, transforming waste materials like cables into valuable products for sustainable use. he also introduced his innovative design of using oyster shells to create coatings, which not only showcased the unique culture of Taiwan’s island but also promoted sustainable design practices.

Throughout the event, students showed strong interest in the reuse of retired materials and their innovative applications. From Mr. Chen’s insights, they realized that design is not only an expression of creativity but also a bridge for interdisciplinary collaboration. By giving old materials a new life and transforming them into something useful, design becomes an essential part of everyday life with a renewed lifecycle. After the lecture, students eagerly shared their new understanding of design and sustainability, expressing their intent to apply these concepts to their future creations.

We would like to extend special thanks to I-Jen Sung, the Director of the Department of Industrial Design at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, for his assistance in organizing the event, as well as to all the students who participated enthusiastically.

The 2025 TISDC competition will be open for entries from May 12 to July 7, and eligible students are encouraged to participate!

Photo Captions: Group Photo at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology Event

Photo Captions: Director Chen shared practical experience on sustainable materials with students

Photo Captions: Co-organizer Professor Chen Jun-Zhi introduced this year’s key submission points

Photo Captions: Highlights from the promotion event

The 2025 TISDC campus promotional event is ongoing, with a notable session held on March 17 at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. This event specially featured Mr. Shih-Hsien Kuo, Chairman of Evergreen Timber Product Co., Ltd., who delivered a keynote speech on Veneer Applications and Sustainable Wood Industry Management. He shared his expertise in the timber industry and its design applications, inspiring students to unleash their creativity and explore the limitless possibilities of wood design.

The event was hosted by the TISDC program team, beginning with an introduction to the TISDC competition’s background and the key highlights for the 2025 call for entries. Emphasizing the theme of “DIVERSITY,” the competition aims to inspire participants to showcase innovative thinking and social value through design.

Mr. Kuo then provided an in-depth analysis of Evergreen Timber Product Co., Ltd.,’s practical experience in sustainable wood development, detailing the processes of wood procurement, processing, and application. He also illustrated how the company collaborates with designers to fulfill custom orders through intricate wood grain inlay techniques, showcasing the flexibility and innovative potential of wood design.

Mr. Kuo highlighted his company’s commitment to using wood that is over 40 years old, explaining the varying carbon absorption capacities of trees at different growth stages and emphasizing the importance of replanting after harvesting to ensure sustainable forest management. He encouraged students to break free from traditional constraints, leverage modern technology for wood design innovation, and explore new creative possibilities in material applications.

The 2025 TISDC competition will be open for entries from May 12 to July 7, and eligible students are encouraged to participate.

Photo Captions: Group photo from the 2025 TISDC event at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology.

Photo Captions: Chairman Kuo shared practical experiences in sustainable wood industry management with students.

Photo Captions: Competition Director, Associate Professor Yen-Ting Chen, introducing this year’s key submission details.

Photo Captions: Memorable moments from the promotional event.

The first session took place on March 15th at the Department of Information Communication, Yuan Ze University, featuring an introduction to the competition along with a special lecture on circular economy and its role in sustainable design.

The lecture was led by Associate Professor Yen-Ting Chen, TISDC director, who served as the keynote speaker. He provided an overview of the competition’s background, key highlights for 2025, and strategic insights for potential entrants.

Additionally, TISDC invited Director Hsiang-Cheng Tang from Yuen Foong Yu Packaging, Inc. as a guest speaker. Drawing from his extensive experience in packaging design and material applications, Director Tang shared valuable insights on sustainable design, focusing on how material choices can enhance environmental value. He also encouraged students to embrace diverse perspectives in their creative processes, ensuring their designs integrate both aesthetic appeal and social impact.

The theme of the 2025 TISDC competition is “DIVERSITY,” encouraging young designers from around the world to showcase inclusivity, innovation, and social responsibility in their work. This year, the competition added new categories for Architecture & Landscape Design and Fashion Design, giving students more creative opportunities. Through this campus lecture, TISDC aims to help students understand its global impact and benefits, inspiring them to push the limits of design and bring fresh ideas to the international design community.

The 2025 TISDC competition will be open for entries from May 12 to July 7, and eligible students are encouraged to participate.

Professor Yen-Ting Chen is presenting key points of the 2025 competition submission process.

Director Tang is introducing the concept of sustainable design to students.

Highlights from the TISDC promotional session

Group photo from the 2025 TISDC Campus Lecture at Yuan Ze University

2025 Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC) is pleased to announce this year’s theme: “Diversity.”

Diversity as a key value in modern society, encouraging students to respect individual differences and engage with others with inclusivity and warmth. As part of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, the United Nations underscores the crucial role of diversity in advancing global development. Through the power of design, students can incorporate multicultural perspectives, stimulate innovation, and facilitate cross-boundary collaboration and inclusion, thereby fostering new opportunities for society progressl

Diversity is not merely a concept, but a practice—respecting each individual’s uniqueness, reflecting the richness of the world, and cultivating an inclusive society built on mutual support.

Organized by the Ministry of Education (MOE) of the Republic of China (R.O.C., Taiwan), the 2024 Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC), the largest international student design competition in the world, has announced its winners. Students from the R.O.C., Taiwan achieved remarkable success, securing the competition’s highest honor, the Grand Prix as well as gold and silver awards in the Product Design and Digital Animation categories. A total of 43 entries from the R.O.C., Taiwan have received awards, showcasing the exceptional talent and creativity of local students.

The 17th TISDC is one of the MOE’s key initiatives for cultivating artistic and design talents. Over the years, it has nurtured countless young design professionals and significantly enhanced the R.O.C., Taiwan’s international visibility. The theme of this year’s competition, “Equality,” echoes the United Nations’ 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aim is to encourage participants to design with the principles of “Equal Respect”, “Universal Love”, “Embracing Diversity” and “Fostering Harmony” creating designs that contribute to a better human society. 

This year, the competition received 19,667 entries from 1,138 schools and departments in 64 countries and regions, marking a post-pandemic high. The enthusiastic response to the competition demonstrates that the R.O.C., Taiwan’s design education has been widely recognized and affirmed by the international community for its excellence and standards. The final jury, composed of 70-80% foreign judges recommended by international design organizations, conducted evaluations with a fair, objective, and diverse approach. Out of 567 finalist entries, only 90 succeeded in winning awards, with an award rate of just 0.5%, reinforcing this competition’s status as a globally recognized and reputable event.

  The Grand Prix was awarded to “BLOT” by SHEN PEI-TING, LEE CHIA-YEE, HUANG TZU-FANG, CHEN YU-TAO, and LUO YI-JUAN from the National Taiwan University of Arts. The story describes the difficulties and challenges a man faces during his reintegration into society after being imprisoned for theft in his youth. It delicately portrays the emotional struggles of a rehabilitated person, earning unanimous praise from the judges and a prize of NT$400,000.

  Billy Shevriyanto from the Ming Chi University of Technology earned the Gold Prize in the Product Design category for his creation, “One for All Bench.” This adjustable bench is designed with ergonomic principles, catering to users of all ages and genders. Made from high-performance concrete and aluminum, it combines aesthetics with sustainability, aiming to foster inclusivity across generations and communities.

The Gold Prize in the Digital Animation category was claimed by HUANG HSIAO-I, LAI GUAN-LING, LIN HSIU-FANG, HSUEH CHU-YUN from the Chaoyang University of Technology for their work, “The Last”. The animation begins with a funeral, exploring the unfair treatment of a daughter-in-law in her husband’s family and the pressures imposed by traditional societal norms. Drawing from real-life experiences of older generations, the heartfelt narrative resonated deeply with the judges.

  The Gold Prize in the Visual Design category went to Hasti Ghobakhloo from the Semnan University in Iran for the work, “It’s Not a Garbage”. The design features a lifelike whale crafted from black garbage bags, highlighting the devastating impact of marine debris on ocean life. Its powerful visual message serves as a poignant reminder of the urgency of environmental conservation.

  In addition to awards provided by the MOE, several organizations contributed special prizes. The iSee Taiwan Foundation and the Sayling Wen Cultural & Educational Foundation jointly sponsored 21 International Design Association Special Prizes. The TPCA Environment Foundation sponsored 3 Environmental Sustainability Awards and 6 Special Regional Awards. The Chiayi City government established 3 Chiayi City Special Prize Excellence awards and 6 Chiayi City Special Prize Honorable mentions. These collective efforts aim to inspire students to unleash their creativity and boldly take on the global stage.

  The list of winners for this year’s 2024 TISDC is now available on the official website (www.tisdc.org). The award ceremony and exhibition of the winning student works will be held on November 29 at the Eslite Performance Hall in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (Address: B1, No. 88, Yanchang Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City). After the Taipei exhibition, the showcase will move to the National Library of Public Information in Taichung (Address: No. 100, Wuquan South Road, South District, Taichung City) from December 4 to December 11, 2024. We warmly welcome your visit.

 

Address by Mr. Ping-Cheng Yeh, Political Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education

Address by Mr. Don Chen, CEO of iSee Taiwan Foundation

Address by Mr. Zheng-Xiong Chen,Chairman of TPCA Environment Foundation

Address by Mr. Yu-Zhe Xie, General Director of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Chiayi City

Mr. Ping-Cheng Yeh, Department of Higher Education Present the Grand Prix

Mr. Ping-Cheng Yeh, Department of Higher Education Present the Gold Prize

Picture of Winners and Guests

The Award Ceremony and Exhibition of the 2024 Winning Works

Grand Prix List of Winner

Product Design Category List of Winner

Visual Design Category List of Winner

Digital Animation Category List of Winner 

International Design Association Special Prize List of Winner

TPCA Special Award List of Winner

Chiayi City Special Prize List of Winner
 

The 2024 Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC), hosted by the Ministry of Education (MOE) is the biggest international design competition for students. Today the 2024 TISDC unveiled its winning list, among which are 43 works created by students in Taiwan showcasing Gold Prizes in Visual Design and Digital Animation categories, as well as the Special Prize category. These results clearly show that the creative power of Taiwan students’ presentations are firmly recognized by the international design community.

The theme of the 2024 TISDC is “Equality”, and calls on students to treat others with the same level of respect and warmth. Students are encouraged to blend and co-create a more beautiful and diverse society through the power of design. This competition aims to realize the vision of “Equal Respect” and “Universal Love”; “Embracing Diversity” and “Fostering Harmony”. This year, the TISDC attracted 19,667 entries from 1,138 schools in 64 countries and regions. In total, 91 professional judges from 31 countries were selected to be the jury in preliminary selections, including 35 designers in Product Design, 35 in Visual Design, and 21 in Digital Animation. The jury had chosen 567 entries to enter the final selection, a total of 48 judges from 19 countries around the world participated, with 9 judges for each of the three award categories, 12 judges for the Environmental Sustainability Award, and 9 judges for the Chiayi City Special Prize. They selected 90 outstanding works to receive awards. These 90 award winning pieces made it to the finals with a finalist acceptance rate of 3.4%. The odds of being awarded in the TISDC is only 0.5%, which shows how intense the competition was and how invaluable the awards are.

The TISDC comprises awards, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, which include one Grand Prix of the competition, and one gold prize, one silver prize, three bronze prizes, as well as 12 honorable mentions in each of the 3 categories. There are also 21 International Design Association Special Prizes co-sponsored by iSee Taiwan Foundation and Sayling Wen Cultural & Educational Foundation and 3 Environmental Sustainability Award and 6 Special Region Award sponsored by the TPCA Environment Foundation. The Chiayi City Government sponsored 3 excellence awards and 6 honorable mention awards in the Chiayi City Special Prize.

Importantly, the Grand Prix “BLOT” by SHEN, PEI-TING, LEE, CHIA-YEE, HUANG, TZU-FANG, CHEN, YU-TAO, LUO, YI-JUAN from the National Taiwan University of Arts is awarded with a monetary prize of NTD$ 400,000. The works “One for All Bench” by Billy Shevriyanto from the Ming Chi University of Technology, “It’s not a garbage” by Hasti Ghobakhloo from the Semnan University in Iran, “The Last” by HUANG, HSIAO-I, LAI, GUAN-LING, LIN, HSIU-FANG, HSUEH, CHU-YUN from the Chaoyang University of Technology grab the Gold Prizes in Product Design, Visual Design, and Digital Animation respectively.

The MOE is scheduled to hold an award ceremony and exhibition of the winning entries on November 29^th at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park Eslite Performance Hall. From December 4^th to 11^th, the exhibition will be moved to the National Library of Public Information in Taichung, and we welcome everyone to come and visit. The complete list of winners has been posted on the official website of the Taiwan International Student Design Competition (www.tisdc.org).

Grand Prix

Gold Prize of Product Design Category

Gold Prize of Visual Design Category

Gold Prize of Digital Animation Categor

On April 21, the 2025 Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC) held a campus outreach session at the Laboratory of Architectural Design, Hokkaido University, Japan. The event also featured an exhibition of award-winning works from the 2024 TISDC. Associate Professor Yen-Ting Chen from the Department of Architecture at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, and also the project lead, gave an in-person introduction to the competition. Around 25 faculty members and students joined the session with great enthusiasm.

 

This year, TISDC has expanded its scope with the addition of two new categories: Architecture & Landscape Design and Fashion Design, in an effort to attract a broader range of students from diverse disciplines. During the session, Professor Chen introduced the 2025 competition theme — “𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬” — and explained how it aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The theme represents respect for difference, the promotion of inclusiveness, and mutual understanding — all key values in driving innovation and sustainable development. Through design as a cross-cultural language, students are encouraged to bring their own diverse perspectives and help create new possibilities for society.

 

Special thanks go to Professor  Jumpei Matsushima of the Architectural Design Laboratory at Hokkaido University for his generous support in organizing this session. Professor Matsushima is renowned for his architectural teaching and practice, with a focus on blending local identity with spatial creativity — a vision that has earned his work international recognition. This exchange further deepened the academic and design-cultural dialogue between Taiwan and Japan, and we look forward to seeing more Japanese students take part in TISDC, showcasing the global potential of architecture and creative design.

 

For more about Architect Junpei Matsushima’s work, please visit:

• Jumpei Matsushima Architects: https://jparchitects.jp/
• Latest project feature: https://www.modernliving.jp/house-interior/house/g63823526/alternative-house-junpei-matsushima-202503/
• Contact: jp@jparchitects.jp

 

2025 TISDC International Outreach – April 21 at Hokkaido University Laboratory of Architectural Design
 

Associate Professor Yen-Ting Chen presenting key information about this year’s call for entries
 

Associate Professor Yen-Ting Chen presenting key information about this year’s call for entries
 

Associate Professor Yen-Ting Chen presenting key information about this year’s call for entries
 

Associate Professor Yen-Ting Chen presenting a certificate of appreciation to Prof. Jumpei Matsushima on behalf of TISDC