![[Phoenix Lecture] Making Design a Force for Change: Taiwan Design Research Institute Director Chi-Yi Chang](/userfiles/images/20250109022557576.jpg)
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[Phoenix Lecture] Making Design a Force for Change: Taiwan Design Research Institute Director Chi-Yi Chang
On December 26, the College of Planning and Design at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) invited Director Chi-Yi Chang of the Taiwan Design Research Institute to be the guest speaker for the prestigious Phoenix Lecture. Under the theme "Design X Taiwan," Director Chang shared with over a hundred faculty members and students how design has become a driving force for Taiwan's innovation and international influence.
Executive Vice President Hong-Chen Chen, representing President Meng-Ru Shen, welcomed Director Chang and emphasized that the Phoenix Lecture is NCKU's highest-level lecture series, featuring outstanding figures from various fields. Director Chang, a professor at the Graduate Institute of Architecture at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, formerly served as Deputy Magistrate of Taitung County and Director of its Cultural Affairs Bureau. He has successfully established the Taiwan Design Research Institute as a platform that integrates design capabilities across government ministries and disciplines, empowering young creatives and businesses alike. Executive Vice President Chen noted that the scope of design spans from objects and architecture to urban governance, and Director Chang's insights provided a new definition and vision for design.
Director Chang began by stating that design can be an object, a research and development process, or a business strategy. He introduced the background and development of the Taiwan Design Research Institute, sharing various case studies. He explained that the institute evolved from the Taiwan Design Center, which had focused on professional design talent for 17 years, into a national strategic development platform in 2020. This transformation enables the cultivation of diverse and interdisciplinary design talent and aims to create design value. Director Chang highlighted how design has permeated global public policy, sparking industrial innovation. Many countries now incorporate design into national innovation policies, considering it a core competitiveness that drives multifaceted development, enhances national strength, and bolsters brand identity. He stressed that design should go beyond aesthetics, advancing into strategic operations and adopting scientific and diversified applications to better support national and industrial progress.
Director Chang shared examples of the Taiwan Design Research Institute's contributions to value innovation, including:
- Supporting small-scale Taiwanese farmers in repositioning their products to expand export markets.
- Revamping Taipei’s sports facilities through the integration of technology and design.
- Incorporating design into textbooks to enhance student learning and education quality.
- Innovating public services by reimagining public spaces to foster improved services and forward-looking infrastructure.
He also highlighted collaborations such as:
- Working with the Central Election Commission to design election bulletins, ballot boxes, and unified visual backgrounds for televised debates.
- Partnering with the Ministry of Education on the "Aesthetic Education Project" to cultivate environmental awareness and urban aesthetics in students through educational space redesign.
- Promoting international design diplomacy and managing creative design venues.
Director Chang emphasized that integrating design not only increases its value but also enhances Taiwan’s global influence across multiple dimensions.
A graduate of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, Director Chang currently serves as the Director of the Taiwan Design Research Institute, a professor at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and a board member of the World Design Organization (WDO). He described design as a practical method bridging science and life, advocating for the "subtraction aesthetic" as a core concept for elevating design value.
Starting in 2024, NCKU launched the Phoenix Lecture series, inviting internationally renowned scholars, prominent figures, and industry representatives to share their expertise. The initiative aims to elevate NCKU’s position in higher education, foster professional development for faculty, and inject fresh vitality into teaching and research. By doing so, it aspires to enhance the university’s international influence and reputation.
Executive Vice President Hong-Chen Chen, representing President Meng-Ru Shen, welcomed Director Chang and emphasized that the Phoenix Lecture is NCKU's highest-level lecture series, featuring outstanding figures from various fields. Director Chang, a professor at the Graduate Institute of Architecture at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, formerly served as Deputy Magistrate of Taitung County and Director of its Cultural Affairs Bureau. He has successfully established the Taiwan Design Research Institute as a platform that integrates design capabilities across government ministries and disciplines, empowering young creatives and businesses alike. Executive Vice President Chen noted that the scope of design spans from objects and architecture to urban governance, and Director Chang's insights provided a new definition and vision for design.
Director Chang began by stating that design can be an object, a research and development process, or a business strategy. He introduced the background and development of the Taiwan Design Research Institute, sharing various case studies. He explained that the institute evolved from the Taiwan Design Center, which had focused on professional design talent for 17 years, into a national strategic development platform in 2020. This transformation enables the cultivation of diverse and interdisciplinary design talent and aims to create design value. Director Chang highlighted how design has permeated global public policy, sparking industrial innovation. Many countries now incorporate design into national innovation policies, considering it a core competitiveness that drives multifaceted development, enhances national strength, and bolsters brand identity. He stressed that design should go beyond aesthetics, advancing into strategic operations and adopting scientific and diversified applications to better support national and industrial progress.
Director Chang shared examples of the Taiwan Design Research Institute's contributions to value innovation, including:
- Supporting small-scale Taiwanese farmers in repositioning their products to expand export markets.
- Revamping Taipei’s sports facilities through the integration of technology and design.
- Incorporating design into textbooks to enhance student learning and education quality.
- Innovating public services by reimagining public spaces to foster improved services and forward-looking infrastructure.
He also highlighted collaborations such as:
- Working with the Central Election Commission to design election bulletins, ballot boxes, and unified visual backgrounds for televised debates.
- Partnering with the Ministry of Education on the "Aesthetic Education Project" to cultivate environmental awareness and urban aesthetics in students through educational space redesign.
- Promoting international design diplomacy and managing creative design venues.
Director Chang emphasized that integrating design not only increases its value but also enhances Taiwan’s global influence across multiple dimensions.
A graduate of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, Director Chang currently serves as the Director of the Taiwan Design Research Institute, a professor at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and a board member of the World Design Organization (WDO). He described design as a practical method bridging science and life, advocating for the "subtraction aesthetic" as a core concept for elevating design value.
Starting in 2024, NCKU launched the Phoenix Lecture series, inviting internationally renowned scholars, prominent figures, and industry representatives to share their expertise. The initiative aims to elevate NCKU’s position in higher education, foster professional development for faculty, and inject fresh vitality into teaching and research. By doing so, it aspires to enhance the university’s international influence and reputation.
Director Chi-Yi Chang of the Taiwan Design Research Institute visited National Cheng Kung University to share insights on how design serves as a key driving force for fostering innovation in Taiwan and enhancing its international influence.
Executive Vice President Hong-Chen Chen welcomed Director Chi-Yi Chang, who shared new definitions and perspectives brought by design.
Director Chi-Yi Chang introduced the background and development journey of the Taiwan Design Research Institute to the attendees and shared several practical case studies.
Director Chi-Yi Chang's presentation captivated the attention of both faculty and students, who listened intently.
A group photo was taken with the attending guests, faculty, and students.
