2026 Golden Pin New Design Award: 637 Entries Advance to Final Round
The finalist list for the 2026 Golden Pin New Design Award has been announced, with 637 entries advancing to the final round to compete for awards including the annual Best Design Award. The newly added "Island Resilience Design Award" and "Cultural Sowing Design Award" encourage innovative designs addressing local characteristics and social issues, such as a medical kit for search and rescue dogs and interactive designs for exploring Taiwanese attractions.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 20:52
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 21:01 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 17:18 (20h 16m after Collected)
TAIPEI, April 14 (CNA) -- The list of finalists for the 2026 Golden Pin New Design Award was announced today, with 637 entries advancing to the final round to compete for the top awards. This year, the "Island Resilience Design Award" and "Cultural Sowing Design Award" have been newly established. Among the student proposals is a dedicated medical kit for search and rescue dogs.
The Golden Pin New Design Award is organized by the Industrial Development Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and executed by the Taiwan Design Research Institute and the Taiwan Good Design Association. The Taiwan Design Research Institute announced in a press release today that a total of 4,465 entries from 55 universities and 110 departments across Taiwan participated in this year's competition. Following an intense preliminary review, 637 outstanding entries have advanced to the final round. They will compete for the "Golden Pin New Design Award Annual Best Design Award" and other top honors on the first day of the Young Designers' Expo on May 22nd.
The Golden Pin New Design Award features nine competition categories and special awards. This year, the General Association of Chinese Culture has collaborated with the organizers to introduce the "Island Resilience Design Award" and the "Cultural Sowing Design Award" for the first time. Both awards are nomination-based, with each school and department recommending the entries that best embody the spirit of the awards.
For example, the entry "Why Such a Scene?!", which was shortlisted for the Cultural Sowing Design Award, uses a fun approach to discover the charm and stories of seven "B-grade tourist attractions." Through interactive websites, augmented reality (AR), and stamp-collecting activities, it encourages children to explore and learn about Taiwan while playing. The entry "Search and Rescue Dog Emergency Medical Kit", shortlisted for the Island Resilience Design Award, proposes a dedicated medical kit for search and rescue dogs, providing immediate protection and emergency support in extreme rescue environments such as rubble, high temperatures, and dust.
The Taiwan Design Research Institute stated that, looking at this year's shortlisted entries, design newcomers have demonstrated abundant creativity and thoughtful observation and consideration of industry and market demands, as well as social and cultural trends. For instance, the shortlisted entry in the Digital Interactive Design category, "Cannot See Words, Can Hear Sounds," addresses the unfamiliarity of the younger generation with Taiwanese Hokkien characters. It combines a "calligraphy practice sheet" with an "image memory learning method," allowing users to feel closer to Taiwanese Hokkien characters through interactive fun in listening and writing.
Another entry, HALO KITA, which is shortlisted for the Social Design category, starts from the needs of Indonesian students studying in Taiwan. It has created an information platform that provides relevant life guidance and fosters community connections, helping them understand the system and build local relationships, transforming Taiwan from a strange land into a home with a sense of belonging.
Each of the nine competition categories of the Golden Pin New Design Award will select one "Golden Pin New Design Award Annual Best Design Award" winner, who will receive a prize of NT$100,000. Multiple "Golden Pin New Design Award" winners will also be selected in each category, with each receiving NT$20,000. (Edited by Zhang Yajing) April 14, 2026.
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The Golden Pin New Design Award is organized by the Industrial Development Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and executed by the Taiwan Design Research Institute and the Taiwan Good Design Association. The Taiwan Design Research Institute announced in a press release today that a total of 4,465 entries from 55 universities and 110 departments across Taiwan participated in this year's competition. Following an intense preliminary review, 637 outstanding entries have advanced to the final round. They will compete for the "Golden Pin New Design Award Annual Best Design Award" and other top honors on the first day of the Young Designers' Expo on May 22nd.
The Golden Pin New Design Award features nine competition categories and special awards. This year, the General Association of Chinese Culture has collaborated with the organizers to introduce the "Island Resilience Design Award" and the "Cultural Sowing Design Award" for the first time. Both awards are nomination-based, with each school and department recommending the entries that best embody the spirit of the awards.
For example, the entry "Why Such a Scene?!", which was shortlisted for the Cultural Sowing Design Award, uses a fun approach to discover the charm and stories of seven "B-grade tourist attractions." Through interactive websites, augmented reality (AR), and stamp-collecting activities, it encourages children to explore and learn about Taiwan while playing. The entry "Search and Rescue Dog Emergency Medical Kit", shortlisted for the Island Resilience Design Award, proposes a dedicated medical kit for search and rescue dogs, providing immediate protection and emergency support in extreme rescue environments such as rubble, high temperatures, and dust.
The Taiwan Design Research Institute stated that, looking at this year's shortlisted entries, design newcomers have demonstrated abundant creativity and thoughtful observation and consideration of industry and market demands, as well as social and cultural trends. For instance, the shortlisted entry in the Digital Interactive Design category, "Cannot See Words, Can Hear Sounds," addresses the unfamiliarity of the younger generation with Taiwanese Hokkien characters. It combines a "calligraphy practice sheet" with an "image memory learning method," allowing users to feel closer to Taiwanese Hokkien characters through interactive fun in listening and writing.
Another entry, HALO KITA, which is shortlisted for the Social Design category, starts from the needs of Indonesian students studying in Taiwan. It has created an information platform that provides relevant life guidance and fosters community connections, helping them understand the system and build local relationships, transforming Taiwan from a strange land into a home with a sense of belonging.
Each of the nine competition categories of the Golden Pin New Design Award will select one "Golden Pin New Design Award Annual Best Design Award" winner, who will receive a prize of NT$100,000. Multiple "Golden Pin New Design Award" winners will also be selected in each category, with each receiving NT$20,000. (Edited by Zhang Yajing) April 14, 2026.
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