The Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC) held campus promotion and international exchange activities on March 18 and March 20, 2026, at Induk University and Hanyang University in South Korea. Through exhibitions, lectures, and academic dialogues, the events aimed to further strengthen global connections in design education.

On March 18, an exhibition of past award-winning works and an official competition briefing were held at the Induk University Art Museum. The session was led by Project Founder Professor Lin Pan-Sung and Co-Principal Investigator Professor Lin Meng-Chieh, with the presence and support of President Kim Kwang-Man and Professor Lee Min-Hyang. By integrating exhibition and student outreach, participants were able to engage directly with outstanding works and gain deeper insight into the spirit and trends of TISDC.
Caption:Group photo of the 2026 TISDC event at Induk University, South Korea
Caption:Exhibition of award-winning works at the Induk University Art Museum for 2026 TISDC

On March 20, activities at Hanyang University focused on academic exchange. Meetings were held with the Dean of the College of Education and faculty members, centering on design education development and potential international competition collaborations, further strengthening bilateral exchange in talent cultivation and academic partnership.
Caption:Group photo of the 2026 TISDC exchange activity at Hanyang University, South Korea

With cross-national exchange at its core, this series of events reinforced TISDC’s role as an international design platform, fostering global dialogue among young designers through diverse forms of interaction.

The 2026 competition theme, “Resilience,” highlights how design can respond to uncertainty and challenges by transforming constraints and shaping the future. The competition will be open for submissions from April 27 to July 6, 2026, and students worldwide are warmly invited to respond to contemporary issues through design.

The 2026 TISDC campus promotion continues to expand its international reach, with a successful session held on January 28 at Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts. Focusing on overseas campus engagement, the event facilitated face-to-face interactions, introducing the competition and participation details to local students, while strengthening connections between design education in Taiwan and Japan.

The session was led by Project Director Prof. Yen-Ting Chen, who presented the background of the competition and highlighted key points for the 2026 call for entries. He also introduced the core concept of this year’s theme, “Resilience,” encouraging students to explore how design can respond to contemporary environmental and social challenges. Through case studies of past award-winning works and an explanation of the evaluation process, students gained insights into effective participation strategies and creative directions.

The 2026 theme, “Resilience,” responds to global issues such as climate change, technological advancement, and social transformation. It emphasizes that design is not only a problem-solving tool, but also a dynamic force capable of adapting to uncertainty and reconstructing the future. The event further encouraged students to explore diverse design disciplines and consider how design operates across different cultural and contextual frameworks, inspiring cross-disciplinary creativity.

Submissions for the 2026 TISDC will be open from April 27 to July 6. Eligible students are warmly invited to participate, using design as a means to address contemporary issues and demonstrate innovation with a global perspective.
Caption: Project Director Associate Professor Yen-Ting Chen introducing the key points of this year’s call for entries.
Caption: Group photo of the 2026 TISDC event at Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Japan.

The 2026 Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC), organized by the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and implemented by National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, held its Expert Consultation Meeting on March 24 (Tuesday). The meeting brought together experts, scholars, and professors from design-related disciplines across universities and colleges in Taiwan, with participation from nearly 40 institutions. Discussions focused on the positioning of this year’s competition theme, institutional planning, and overall development direction, serving as a key reference for the subsequent implementation and optimization of the competition.

The 2026 competition theme is set as “RESILIENCE.” This theme responds to the multiple challenges facing the world today, including climate change, rapid technological advancement, social transformation, and geopolitical uncertainties. Design is no longer merely a tool for problem-solving; it has become a critical driving force for adapting to change, responding to dynamic environments, and reshaping the future. The meeting focused on diverse interpretations of “resilience” in contemporary design, encompassing environmental sustainability, technological applications, human-centered care, and social innovation. It aims to guide participants to address complex issues through interdisciplinary perspectives and propose forward-looking and practical design solutions.

Project Director Yen-Ting Chen noted that the Taiwan International Student Design Competition has long been committed to establishing an internationally influential design platform, continuously attracting global youth participation and fostering cross-cultural creative exchange. As global design trends evolve, the competition also continuously refines its thematic direction and institutional framework to respond to contemporary societal needs. It further encourages students to bridge design education with practical application, strengthening the role and value of design in social development.

During the meeting, experts also provided recommendations on the competition’s evaluation mechanisms and promotion strategies. They emphasized the importance of strengthening connections with domestic and international design education systems, as well as enhancing the integrity of the competition framework and its international visibility. The integration of diverse professional insights will contribute to optimizing the competition structure and further elevating both the quality of submissions and overall impact.
Looking ahead, the Taiwan International Student Design Competition will continue to center on the theme of “Resilience,” encouraging young people worldwide to respond to contemporary challenges through design, stimulate innovation, and explore new possibilities in an ever-changing environment, thereby further expanding Taiwan’s influence in the global design arena.

✱ 2026 TISDC The World’s Largest Student Design Competition – Call for Entries Coming Soon! ✱
✱2026.4.27 (Mon.) – 2026.7.6 (Mon.)✱
Free entry with a top prize of NTD 400,000!

✱ This Year’s Theme: RESILIENCE
In an era of constant change and high uncertainty, design not only responds to the present, but also shapes the future.

✱ 2026 Competition Categories
▸ Product Design
▸ Visual Design
▸ Digital Animation
▸ Architecture and Landscape Design
▸ Fashion Design

✔ Five categories open for submission
✔ Inspiring cross-disciplinary creativity and expanding design possibilities
🎓 Students only — stay tuned!
➥ Submit to TISDC and let design respond to our times and demonstrate innovative power
__________________________________________

✱ Resilient Design・Co-creating the Future
⬭ 2026 TISDC The World’s Largest International Student Design Competition ⬭

➤ No registration or exhibition fees, with a total prize pool of NTD 4 million (USD 130,000)
⬬ Theme｜RESILIENCE
⬬ Submission Period｜2026.4.27 (Mon.) – 2026.7.6 (Mon.)
⬬ Categories｜Product Design, Visual Design, Digital Animation, Architecture and Landscape Design, Fashion Design
⬬ Eligibility｜Students currently enrolled in high school or above (under 30 years old)

 

 

 

 

✱2026 TISDC Theme Announcement · 2025 TISDC Annual Review✱

In an era of continuous change and heightened uncertainty, design not only responds to the present but also shapes the future.
Reflecting on the 2025 theme, “Diversity,” design works demonstrated an understanding and respect for differences, addressing complex and multifaceted social issues through multicultural and cross-disciplinary perspectives, and fostering connection and inclusivity.
These outcomes laid an important foundation for deeper reflection and development.

 

 

The 2026 theme, “Resilience,” further focuses on how individuals, communities, and societies adjust, adapt, and continue moving forward when faced with shocks and challenges. Resilience is not merely the capacity to endure pressure, but also the ability to transform limitations and reconstruct the future in times of adversity.

Amid the impacts of climate change, rapid technological advancement, social restructuring, and global instability, how can design respond to uncertainty and become a force that supports sustainable social development?
We invite participants to apply design thinking to propose innovative solutions that demonstrate flexibility, adaptability, and forward-looking perspectives, highlighting the critical role design can play in complex environments.

From understanding diverse perspectives to taking action and enabling transformation in response to real-world challenges, “Resilience” stands at the core of design thinking for 2026.
Through design, we look forward to seeing possibilities that respond to the times, carry the future forward, and continue to grow.

 

    We extend our sincere appreciation to the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education for its leadership as the host organization, as well as to the iSee Taiwan Foundation (iST) and the TPCA Environment  Foundation (TPCF) for their generous sponsorship and strong support.

 

    On December 11, 2025, the award ceremony of the 2025 Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC) was officially released through PR Newswire, one of the world’s leading international press distribution platforms. The announcement quickly gained global attention and was picked up by 698 online media outlets worldwide, demonstrating TISDC’s strong international visibility and influence within the global design community.

 

    Since 2015, TISDC has partnered with the iSee Taiwan Foundation and 21 international design organizations across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. These globally recognized organizations include Cumulus, the World Design Organization (WDO), the Bureau of European Design Associations (BEDA), and the Pan-African Design Institute (PADI). Through this extensive global network, TISDC continues to strengthen Taiwan’s presence in international design discourse, offering young designers worldwide a platform to showcase their creativity while allowing the world to see Taiwan through design.

 

    News and achievements related to the Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC) have been widely covered by international media across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, spanning over a dozen countries worldwide. This extensive exposure underscores TISDC’s strong global visibility and growing international influence within the design and creative fields. Featured coverage includes globally recognized news agencies, leading national newspapers, and major financial media platforms, such as AP News (USA), India Today (India), The Straits Times (Singapore), Kyodo News (Japan), The Korea Herald (Republic of Korea), Finanzen.net (Germany), and Yahoo! Finance across multiple regions, reflecting broad international recognition of TISDC’s impact and significance.

 

 

 

    For further details, please refer to the official PR Newswire release: https://reurl.cc/qK4VEE

✱ 2025 TISDC Award Ceremony．Concludes Successfully ✱

 

The 2025 TISDC Award Ceremony concluded successfully on December 10.
Entering its 18th year, TISDC received 16,329 submissions from 73 countries/regions and 1,029 schools around the world.
The enthusiastic participation from students showcased the DIVERSITY of perspectives and creativity that design can bring.

 

A total of 499 entries were shortlisted this year, with 76 outstanding works ultimately emerging as winners and shining on the global stage.
We extend our appreciation to all who supported TISDC, as well as to the 21 international design partner organizations and designers who joined us in the judging process.
Congratulations to all award-winning students! We look forward to seeing you continue exploring boldly and expressing your unique colors in your creative journeys ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

✱ 2025 TISDC Awarded Students Exchange Concludes Successfully ✱

Award-winning students shared the stories, concepts, and creative processes behind their works.
Judges, industry designers, and representatives from design organizations also engaged attentively with the students, fostering deeper design thinking.

 

Participants experienced the DIVERSITY of creative energy in the works,
while students gained encouragement and professional feedback from industry experts.
These experiences will serve as a vital source of motivation for these “emerging designers” to continue moving forward.

 

We sincerely thank all the students and distinguished guests for their participation,
which allowed us to collectively promote and witness the growth and exchange of design energy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The official list of the 2025 TISDC winners has been announced. Please refer to the list below for details.
▶ 2025TISDC Official Winner List (click to view or download ✔)

We proudly announce the winners of the 2025 Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC)—the world’s largest international student design competition, hosted by the Ministry of Education. This year’s winners represent an impressive diversity of backgrounds and ideas, with outstanding works from across the globe earning recognition from an international panel of judges. Among them, students from Taiwan achieved remarkable success, receiving prestigious honors, including the Grand Prix, as well as Gold Prizes in the Visual Design and Fashion Design categories.

2025 TISDC embraces the theme “Diversity”, echoing the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The competition encourages emerging designers to reflect on the diverse dimensions of the world and everyday life, and to channel the power of design to create a more inclusive, creative, and sustainable future.

This year’s competition expanded its scope with two new categories—Architecture & Landscape Design and Fashion Design—alongside the long-established categories of Product Design, Visual Design, and Digital Animation. The addition of these new fields highlights TISDC’s commitment to fostering creative diversity and cross-disciplinary innovation. This year, TISDC received a total of 16,329 submissions from 1,029 schools across 73 countries and regions, marking a 30% increase in international entries.

In 2025, a total of 138 professional judges from across the globe participated in the TISDC evaluation process. During the preliminary round, 88 experts from 30 countries served as jurors in five categories — Product Design, Visual Design, Digital Animation, Architecture and Landscape Design, and Fashion Design — selecting 499 exceptional entries to advance to the final round. During the final evaluation, a distinguished panel of 50 judges from 15 countries — comprising 7 jurors for each of the five categories and 15 jurors for the Environmental Sustainability Award — selected 76 exceptional entries as the winners of this year’s competition. With a finalist rate of just 3.2% and an overall winning rate of 0.5%, the competition remains fiercely competitive, underscoring the excellence and rarity of the awarded works.

The TISDC comprises awards, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, which include one Grand Prix of the competition, and one Gold, Silver, and Bronze Prize, along with six Honorable Mentions in each of the five competition categories. Additionally, 21 International Design Association Special Prizes were sponsored by the iSee Taiwan Foundation, while the TPCA Environment Foundation supported 3 Environmental Sustainability Awards and 6 Regional Special Awards. Altogether, 76 prizes were awarded, with a total prize pool nearing NTD 4 million.

Among the winners, the Grand Prix is awarded to the Digital Animation Category’s Essence by WAN-YU HONG from the Taipei National University of the Arts. This work stood out for its conceptual depth and emotional resonance. The Gold Prize winners in the five categories are as follows: ZHONG-WEI LIN from the Royal College of Art (UK), won the Product Design Category with his work Reefine; YOU-ZHEN LIN, WAN-CHUN LIU, YONG-QI LAI, YI-CHING HO, HUI-CHIEH LAI, and RUO-XUAN CHEN from Ling Tung University received the Gold Prize in the Visual Design Category for their collaborative work CICADA’S TUNE; JAMES DOHERTY from the University for the Creative Arts (UK) was honored with the Gold Prize in the Digital Animation Category for his work Before Lights Out; MARINA KOIZUMI from Waseda University (Japan) received the Gold Prize in the Architecture and Landscape Design Category for her work Kabukicho Complex – A Temporary Architecture for the Excluded: Toward an Inclusive Urban Future; and HUI-PING ZHUANG from Ling Tung University won the Gold Prize in the Fashion Design Category for her work Nature’s Floating Sanctuary.

The Award Ceremony will be held on December 9 (Tuesday) at the A2 International Conference Hall, NCCU Center for Public and Business Administration Education (CPBAE) (No. 187, Jinhua Street, Da’an District, Taipei City). From December 9 to 14, the Awarded Works Exhibition will take place at the NTUST Art Gallery (No. 43, Sec. 4, Keelung Road, Da’an District, Taipei), open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Note: The morning of December 9 is reserved for the Awarded Students Exchange and will not be open to the public; public admission begins at 1:00 p.m. on that day.)

Congratulations to all the winning students who stood out among numerous outstanding entries! 🎉👏
Your diverse creative energy made this year’s competition even more inspiring and remarkable!

The TISDC Winners’ Exhibition will be held from December 9 (TUE) to December 14 (SUN) at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology – NTUST Art Gallery (Address: No. 43, Sec. 4, Keelung Rd., Da’an Dist., Taipei).
The exhibition will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(▲ Please Note: The morning of December 9 is reserved for the Awarded Students Exchange and will not be open to the public; public admission begins at 1:00 p.m. on that day.)

Stay tuned to the TISDC official website and social media channels for the latest updates!

Here is the finalist list for the 2025 TISDC✨!
Check to see if your work made it to the list

 

⬇️Finalist Announcement⬇️
【Product Design 產品設計類】

【Visual Design 視覺設計類】

【Digital Animation 動畫設計類】

【Architecture&Landscape Design 建築與景觀設計類】

【Fashion Design 時尚設計類】

 

※Please note: This year, no second-round submission is required. All finalists are kindly asked to wait for the announcement of the final results. Thank you!
Congratulations to all finalists!

 

▝ 𝙉𝙀𝙓𝙏 ▖
The Final Selection will be held in early October, and the award winners will be revealed by the end of October
Stay tuned to TISDC for the latest news!

(※ If you find any work suspected of plagiarism among the finalists, please provide supporting evidence for review. Once verified, the organizer will disqualify the entry.)