2025 International Design Competition held by the Ministry of Education
The Creativity of the Students of the Republic of China (R.O.C., Taiwan) Shines Bright – 2025 Award Ceremony and Achievement Presentation Press Conference
The 2025 Award Ceremony and Achievement Presentation for the 2025 International Design Competition (IDC) organized by the Ministry of Education (MOE) is taking place today, December 19. This year, a total of 193 entries passed the review process, resulting in 1 Grand Award, 1 Gold Award, 5 Silver Awards, 10 Bronze Awards, and 176 Outstanding Awards and Finalist Awards. The students demonstrated remarkable performance and earned strong recognition in international competitions. The ceremony will also invite several award-winning students to share their experiences and engage with the public.
The IDC covers a total of 59 international competitions, with awards divided into seven categories, including General Design, Product Design, Visual Communication Design, Digital Animation, Craft Design, Architecture and Landscape Design, and Fashion Design. Since its launch in 2006, it has engaged with 65 participating schools and has recognized a total of 2,094 award-winning entries.
The winners of the 2025 awards in each category include:
Product Design: Lin Shao-Yu and Chiang Chia-Yin, students from the Department of Design at the College of Design of the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, created the work “ECOTRAPOD”. This work is an eco-friendly tetrapod made from recycled oyster shells. By using a circular slurry instead of cement, it can reduce 30–90% of carbon emissions. Its lightweight yet robust gyroid structure provides habitats for marine life and integrates ecology, functionality, and aesthetics, achieving marine sustainability. This work also received the Student Product of the Year Award at the 2024 Architecture MasterPrize (AMP) and earned the Third-class Grand Award in the IDC.
Product Design: Lin Zi-Ting and Hsu Yi-Chen, graduate students from the Department of Industrial Design at the College of Planning and Design of National Cheng Kung University, created the work "Hoo!". This work is an innovative articulation teaching tool designed specifically for speech-language therapists. Through engaging in blowing-based interactive games, it aims to strengthen fundamental oral motor skills. By integrating stories, cardboard boxes, and electronic circuits, it provides children with a new interactive experience that helps improve articulation disorders and unclear pronunciation, while supporting their future language development. This work also received the Gold Award at the 2025 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) and earned the First-class Gold Award in the IDC.
Visual Communication Design: Chen Yu-Jie, Yang Yu-Zhen, Chen Ya-Chi, and Lin Chong-Min, students from the Department of Visual Communication Design at the College of Planning and Design of the China University of Technology, created the work “Butterfly Sustainability”. This work uses paper, color, and interactive design to recreate the postures and colors of endemic butterflies in the Republic of China (the R.O.C., Taiwan), offering an alternative to physical specimen collection and reducing ecological impact. By integrating three-dimensional paper sculptures, color chip cards, and NFC technology, it delivers the harmony of nature and design, evoking the public’s memories and concern for local species. This work also received the Silver Award at the 2025 New York Art Directors Club Annual Awards (ADC) and earned the First-class Silver Award in the IDC.
Fashion Design: Wu Chih-Yao, a student from the Department of Fashion Design at the College of Design of Shih Chien University, created the fashion work “Nirvana”. Inspired by the Buddhist concept that “all is emptiness,” this work emphasizes that “emptiness” does not mean nothingness, but a transcendent state achieved through refinement, which is incorporated as a core element in the fashion design. Through bold design techniques and expressive uses of color, this work conveys the concept that eliminating greed, anger, and ignorance alleviates suffering and annoyance, allowing one to transcend the six realms of existence and achieve ultimate freedom. This work also received Second Place at the 2025 iD International Emerging Designer Awards and earned the First-class Silver Award in the IDC.
Craft Design: Su Yen-Ying, a graduate student from the Department of Craft and Design at the College of Design of the National Taiwan University of Arts, created the ceramic art work “SUGAR CAGE”. This work is inspired by the idea that in modern society, people are often consumed by desire. It expresses that sweets are a comfort to escape suffering, and can also become inescapable shackles. The shackles are shaped like donuts, symbolizing how people can become bound in the pursuit of pleasure. This work also received the Silver Medal at the 2025 International Competition of Contemporary Ceramic Art and earned the First-class Silver Award in the IDC.
Digital Animation: Peng Wan-Qi, a graduate student from the Department of Arts and Creative Industries at the College of Arts of National Dong Hwa University, created the animation work “EXHIBITION”. Centered on an inner confession, the work examines whether revisiting past works in the mind can lead to a deeper journey into the self. It reflects a continual self-examination between inner thoughts and the external world, uncovering overlooked emotions and attempting to find ways to confront negative feelings. This work also received the Bronze Cube at the 2025 New York Art Directors Club Annual Awards (ADC) and earned the First-class Bronze Award in the IDC.
Architecture and Landscape Design: Chen Yu-Han, a graduate student from the Department of Interior Design at the College of Creative Design of Asia University, created the interior design work “Tao.yi”. Inspired by the process of pottery making, this work transforms the manufacture of ceramics into spatial language, extending them into tea tasting utensils and architectural spaces. It guides people to savor the original simplistic beauty through the tranquility of tea rituals, providing a serene space for reconnecting with one’s inner self and nature after excessive material pursuits. This work also received the Bronze Award at the 2024 ISARCH Award and earned the Second-class Bronze Award in the IDC.
The full list of winners has been published on the official website of the IDC held by the MOE, at https://www.moe-idc.org/. In addition to the works being exhibited on Friday, December 19, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the National Central Library (No. 20, Zhongshan South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100). Many outstanding emerging designers will also be present to showcase their works and interact with visitors. Everyone is warmly invited to visit.