NUU Industrial Design Shines at the 2026 Golden Pin Young Designers' Award with Multiple Nominations, Showcasing Innovation and Craftsmanship

The nominees for the 2026 Golden Pin Young Designers' Award, one of Taiwan's most anticipated competitions for emerging designers, have recently been announced. The Department of Industrial Design at National United University (NUU) demonstrated its outstanding creativity and design capabilities, earning multiple nominations from among 4,465 entries submitted by 110 departments across 55 universities and colleges nationwide.

Among the nominated works, Wang Ting-Ya's Stand by Me (群島絮語) was shortlisted for the prestigious Golden Pin Young Designers' Award, highlighting the department's excellence in product development, craftsmanship, and design aesthetics.

Excellence in Design Education: Advancing Product Design and Craftsmanship

The Young Designers' Exhibition (YODEX) is one of Taiwan's most prominent platforms for showcasing emerging design talent. This year, students from NUU's Department of Industrial Design received recognition across multiple design categories.

• Product Design Category: Mrs. Incredlible, created by Li Chia-Yu and Liu Hsin-Hao, and LUMA PATH (光途), designed by Lu Jun, were both nominated for the Golden Pin Young Designers' Sponsored Special Award. The two projects demonstrate thoughtful observations of everyday life, combining functionality with innovative design approaches that earned recognition from the judges.

• Craft Design Category: Wang Ting-Ya's work, Stand by Me (群島絮語), was nominated for the Golden Pin Young Designers' Sponsored Special Award and was also shortlisted for the prestigious Golden Pin Young Designers' Award. The achievement highlights her exceptional craftsmanship, artistic sensitivity, and distinctive design expression.

Dedicated Faculty Mentorship Cultivates Industry-Ready Design Talent

Behind these outstanding achievements are the students' countless hours of research, development, and prototyping, supported by the department's dedicated faculty members.

The nominated projects were supervised by Professors Chiang Hsiu-Jye, Huang Shih-Fang, Li Chao-Chin, Li Chih-Feng, Hung Wei-Ken, and Chao Lung-Chieh. Through extensive discussions, technical guidance, and hands-on instruction, the faculty helped students transform their creative concepts into refined works with both commercial potential and artistic value.

Professor Hsu Yi-Chuan, Chair of the Department of Industrial Design at National United University, stated:

"Our department has long been committed to integrating academic education with practical industry experience. We encourage students to participate in major design competitions to gain valuable hands-on experience. These nominations not only recognize our students' dedication and hard work but also demonstrate the department's strength in cultivating design professionals with interdisciplinary competitiveness."

Emerging Design Talent Takes Center Stage at YODEX on May 22

Receiving a nomination is already a significant achievement. These emerging designers will compete for the final annual design awards on Friday, May 22, 2026, the opening day of the Young Designers' Exhibition (YODEX) at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center.

The Department of Industrial Design at National United University warmly invites industry professionals, students, and design enthusiasts from across Taiwan to visit the exhibition and witness the creativity, innovation, and potential of the next generation of designers.