2024 Young Designers' Exhibition Sees Record International School Participation

(CNA, Taipei, May 18, reporter Wang Pao-er) The 45th Young Designers' Exhibition (YODEX) is set to begin on the 22nd. This year, it brings together nearly 10,000 emerging designers from 110 departments at 55 schools across Taiwan. It also invites 22 international design institutions from 10 countries to participate, setting a new record for the scale of international school participation. Participating international schools include renowned institutions such as the ArtCenter College of Design and Pratt Institute from the United States, Chulalongkorn University from Thailand, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw from Poland, and Kuwasawa Design School from Japan. The Taiwan Design Research Institute stated in a press release today that this will allow audiences to see new-generation design perspectives from different cultural contexts all at once. This year's YODEX theme is "Fluid Boundaries," focusing on the various boundaries that are continuously being reorganized and challenged in contemporary society, such as the fluid relationship between city and nature, tradition and future. It explores how design can respond to a rapidly changing society and environment, becoming a force for promoting cross-disciplinary dialogue. The theme exhibition area is curated by '3+2 Design Studio,' the team behind the 'Nanbo Wan No.1' exhibition at the 2024 Taiwan Design Expo. They will use colorful, eco-friendly non-woven fabrics to create an interwoven, expansive space symbolizing the dynamic relationship of intersection and connection between different fields. Many corporate entities are also participating this year. For example, the Flytech Foundation, which has long promoted social innovation and design talent cultivation, will present a 10-year retrospective of the 'DFT (Design For Taiwan) Social Innovation Challenge.' The General Association of Chinese Culture will also participate for the first time with the concept of a 'GACC Park.' In addition, YODEX will offer 9 trend lectures and activities for new designers. For instance, the Ministry of Education's Arts and Design Elite Overseas Training Program has invited NVIDIA technical product expert Yang Han-hsuan and former KKBOX user researcher Chen Yu-wen to share their experiences of studying abroad. The 45th Young Designers' Exhibition will be held from May 22 to 25 at Hall 2 of the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150518