Cross-Cultural Design Workshop: 29 Taiwan-U.S. Students Enhance Co-Creation Skills-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

The "All-English Cross-Cultural Experience Design Workshop - Design in Taiwan" organized by the University of Washington's College of Arts, Art History, and Design in collaboration with National Cheng Kung University’s Department of Industrial Design has successfully concluded! Over the course of two weeks, 29 students from both institutions participated in a rich program of design discussions and practical cooperation, learning and collaborating on many challenges related to cultural integration and differences. Through intense and rewarding teamwork, participants not only received positive feedback from the judges but also experienced the unique challenge of cross-border cooperation, enjoying the satisfaction of completing joint creations and deepening their friendships.


The workshop, led by Assistant Professor Meichun Liu from the University of Washington, brought 17 American students to Taiwan, who, along with 12 NCKU students from the Industrial Design Department, collaborated in cross-cultural teams. These groups, consisting of members from different cultural backgrounds and disciplines, engaged in project design with a focus on cross-cultural and interdisciplinary cooperation. Together, they explored topics related to sustainability and designed prototypes that were presented during a final public exhibition.


The students worked closely together to exchange ideas, drawing inspiration from each other's cultures. They addressed questions based on the three pillars of sustainability—people, planet, and profit—and developed design concepts, tested prototypes, and presented final proposals during the public presentation. Professors from NCKU’s Industrial Design Department, including Director Jun-Rui Zhou, Associate Professor Zeng-Ping Qiu, and Professor Yang Jia-Han from the Creative Industries Design Research Institute, provided feedback and assistance during the process, selecting award winners in categories such as the "U.S. Money Power Award," "Most Taiwanese Flavor Award," "Sustainable Innovation Award," "Trendy Craftsmanship Award," "Human-Tech Award," and "Design Excellence Award."


The workshop included lectures, cultural experiences, and practical design cooperation. Participants learned from each other about different cultural perspectives, observed various cultural behavior patterns, and generated new design ideas. For example, NCKU students noted that Taiwanese students tend to plan thoroughly before taking action, which made them admire the American students' proactive approach of testing concepts early on. This experience not only enriched their understanding but also provided insights into how to approach future designs.