Together with the Sayling Wen Cultural and Educational Foundation, we jointly organized the 2018 Global Talent Design Festival (GTDF, which will transform into iSee Design in 2019). The GTDF is where global design leaders meet to exchange ideas, concepts and innovation, connecting designers, industry, and young talent.The events were held in October and November of 2018 and connected 21 international design organizations from five continents.

The events not only expanded the international vision of Taiwan’s industry, but also energized innovative designs and impressed delegates from the world’s top design organizations. The series of events attracted thousands of student participants and hundreds of industrial professionals.

Cultural Integration and Talent Development at the heart of discussions between Global Design Organizations, Universities and Industry

The Global Talent Design Festival, was inaugurated in 2015, the GTDF was created as a vehicle to promote the Ministry of Education’s Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC), which is now entering its tenth year. Having developed a global sustainable network, which interlinks designers, industry, design organizations and young talent. The GTDF leverages global resources and relationships within design, in order to support the advancement of the design community.

In 2018, Taipei hosted delegates from 21 of the world’s top design organizations, representatives included Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Senior Leaders from the the Bureau of European Design Associations (BEDA), the International Council of Design (ico-D) and the World Design Organization (WDO). Through numerous multicultural exchange activities, innovative design energies were stimulated. These activities facilitated cultural integration, making Taiwan an important platform for cultivating future design talents and design leaders.

The 2018 series of events kicked off with the GTDF Lecture Series. Representatives from the 21 global design organizations conducted exchanges with almost a thousand teachers and students from 10 universities, colleges and vocational schools in Taiwan. In the subsequent GTDF Design Forum, exchanges were expanded to include Taiwan’s industries. The themes were divided into four categories: service design, animation design, product design and visual design. The event was attended by nearly a hundred industrial leaders. Following on from the Lecture Series and Forum, the Service Design Workshop guided and nurtured the winners of the 2018 TISDC. The Workshop resulted in a collaboration project with the attending global delegates, which created a truly unique opportunity for these young design talents.

The 2018 Global Design Summit, Taipei

Held in November, the Global Design Summit, Taipei is a key leadership conference. Together, the two Foundations and the 21 design organizations discussed using the global design network to connect design talent, industry and design organizations to achieve sustainable development while at the same time drive industrial advancement. During the conference, Ted Wen, Chairman of the Foundations, said, “Design can greatly enhance the exquisiteness and value of service while service is an infinite stage for designers. This is a win-win integration and cooperation. I believe that somewhere everyday, design is making the world more beautiful. I also believe that everyday, some people are happier because of service. If we can combine design and service, we will bring more happiness and blessings to the world!” Srini Srinivasan, President-Elect, also pointed out, “Taipei has become a design hub in the world. The mission of WDO is to ‘Change cities with design for a better society. To this end, Taipei and the iSee Taiwan Foundation have provided great assistance!”.

Cultural Exposure – Let the world SEE Taiwan

The Foundation’s vision is to “become an essential portal for the world to see Taiwan” in the three core realms of culture, tourism, and innovation. During these series of events, a rare opportunity was seized, these influential delegates were invited to tour the traditional neighborhood of Dadaocheng. They visited Sin Hong Choon Tea to experience the emerging cultural and creative styles of Taiwan’s tea culture. They also witnessed how Taiwan’s design brand, DOT Design, utilizes Taiwanese and recycled materials in their products. The delegates also attended a calligraphy masterclass with Professor Chang-Hu Lin, former Dean of the Department of Fine Arts, Taipei National University of the Arts lead the delegates in an aesthetic tour of calligraphy strokes. Pinchajii Tea House also hosted the representatives in a tea tasting experience which encapsulated tea from all over Taiwan.

RAW played host to the delegates as they were treated to an evening banquet at the 2 Michelin-star restaurant in Taipei. Savoring innovative French cuisine created with Taiwanese ingredients, the experienced Taiwan’s fine dining pedigree firsthand. At the same time, official international representative offices from various countries were also invited to the banquet. They shared their observations with the design delegation and provided a more profound and comprehensive understanding of Taiwan. Representative Offices in attendance included: (in alphabetical order) the American Institute in Taiwan, the Australian Office Taipei, the Commercial Office of Brazil to Taipei, the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, the German Institute Taipei, the Italian Economic Trade and Cultural Promotion Office, and representatives from chambers of commerce in Taiwan such as the AmCham Taipei, the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, and the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan.

Don Chen, Chief Executive of the iSee Taiwan Foundation, informed attending guests that the GTDF will be transformed into iSee Design in 2019. The iSee Taiwan Foundation will continue to create opportunities for design organizations to dialogue with each other and conduct exchanges with Taiwan. Top talents and resources in the global design community will be connected and integrated with Taiwan’s unique culture and beauty so that step by step, more people in the world will SEE Taiwan!

For more information, please visit the Global Talent Design Festival official website: http://gtdf.iseetaiwan.org/

【Global Talent Design Festival (GTDF) Participating Organizations】

Global and Regional Design Organizations (in alphabetical order):

1. 歐洲設計組織協會The Bureau of European Design Associations (BEDA)
2. 國際設計社團協會International Council of Design (ico-D)
3. 世界設計組織World Design Organization (WDO)

National Design Organizations (in alphabetical order):

4. 義大利工業設計協會Associazione per il Disegno Industriale (ADI)
5. 巴西設計中心Centro Brazil Design (CBD)
6. 新加坡設計業總商會Design Business Chamber Singapore (DBCS)
7. 紐西蘭設計師協會The Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ)
8. 香港設計總會Hong Kong Federation of Design Associations (FHKDA)
9. 澳大利亞優秀設計協會Good Design Australia (GDA)
10. 德國國家設計委員會German Design Council (GDC)
11. 俄羅斯金蜂獎Moscow Global Biennale of Graphic Design Golden Bee

(Golden Bee)

12. 印度設計委員會India Design Council (IDC)
13. 墨西哥全球海報雙年展協會International Poster Biennial in Mexico (IPBM)
14. 日本設計振興會Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP)
15. 韓國現代設計協會Korea Ensemble of Contemporary Design (KECD)
16. 芬蘭拉赫第海報三年展Lahti International Poster Triennial (Lahti)
17. 澳門設計師協會Macau Designers Association (MDA)
18. 捷克布魯諾雙年展協會Brno Biennale Association (SBB)
19. 泰國創意設計中心Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC)
20. 亞洲設計連The Design Alliance Asia (tDA Asia)
21. 台灣設計聯盟Taiwan Design Alliance (TdA)

【2018 Global Youth Design Festival Events】

Event Name: GTDF Lecture Series (10 sessions)

Date: October 16, 2018

Venue:

Chung Yuan Christian University, Fu-Hsin Trade & Arts School, Hsing Wu University, Ming Chi University of Technology, National Taipei University of Technology, National Taiwan Normal University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei Municipal Shilin High School of Commerce, Tatung University, and Tungnan University.

Event activities:

The 21 delegates from the world’s top design organizations exchanged ideas with Taiwan’s design teachers and students to broaden their design horizons.

Event Name: GTDF Cultural Experience

Date: October 18, 2018

Venue: Taipei Dadaocheng

Event activities:

The 21 delegates from the world’s top design organizations visited Taipei’s Dadaocheng to experience Taiwan’s traditions and innovations.

Event Name: GTDF Design Forum

Date: November 28, 2018

Venue: Le Méridien Taipei

Event activities:

Professionals from Taiwan’s SMEs and design brands were invited to exchange views with the 21 delegates from the world’s top design organizations. Which also included a series of design focused speeches and panel discussions.

Event Name: Global Design Summit, Taipei

Date : November 28 2018

Location: Le Méridien Taipei

Event activities:

The two Foundations and the 21 delegates from the world’s top design organizations discussed how the global design network can connect design talent, industry and design organizations. The discussion focused on how to achieve sustainable development while at the same time enhance design energy, achieve sustainable development while at the same time drive industrial upgrading and move toward the global market.

Event Name: GTDF Dinner

Date: November 28, 2018

Location: RAW

Event activities:

The 21 delegates from the world’s top design organizations savored innovative French cuisine created with Taiwanese ingredients, they experienced first-hand Taiwan’s fine dining pedigree. At the same time, official international representative offices and chamber of commerce from various countries were also in attendance.

Event Name: GTDF Service Design Workshop

Date: November 29-30, 2019

Venue: Taipei New Horizon

Event activities:

The 21 delegates from the world’s top design organizations inspired winners of the 2018 Taiwan International Student Design Competition and nurtured their development via a collaboration project.

Event Name: GTDF Cultural Experience

Date: November 29, 2019

Venue: Songshan Cultural and Creative Park

Event activities:

The 21 delegates from the world’s top design organizations participated in calligraphy masterclass and Taiwan tea tasting experience.