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Final Selection of the Taiwan International Student Design Competition 2024

BEDA Board Member and Design and Policy International Projects Manager at PDR, Piotr Swiatek, is sharing his experience of being a jury member at the International Student Design Competition (TISDC) in Taiwan. Keep reading to learn about Piotr’s experience of the trip.

It was an honor to represent BEDA again at the final selection of the Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC), now in its 17th year. TISDC, the largest student design competition in the world, is a remarkable platform for fostering creativity and advocacy through design. Organised by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and sponsored by the iSee Taiwan Foundation, Sayling Wen Cultural & Educational Foundation, and TPCA Environment Foundation, this year’s theme, Equality, resonated deeply with me. Mr. Don Chen, CEO of iSee Taiwan Foundation, in his opening words emphasized the message of common values and building a sustainable world together strikes a chord with BEDA.

The competition received an astounding 19,667 entries from 1,138 schools in 66 countries, highlighting its global scale and impact. The diversity of submissions across four categories—Product Design, Visual Design, Digital Animation, and Manufacturer Designated—was a testament to the students’ creativity and their ability to tackle the complex theme of equality.

As part of a prestigious panel of 27 judges from five continents, including experts from international design organisations, I had the privilege of evaluating submissions that addressed the theme in unique and thought-provoking ways. The final selection event, held on 8 October 2024, at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei, showcased the talent of young designers while fostering international exchange and broadening our collective perspectives.

“What excites me most about this year’s theme, Equality, is how it encourages students to look beyond surface-level issues and delve into systemic challenges.” – Piotr Swiatek

I believe design plays a critical role in shaping a world that is environmentally sustainable, economically viable, socially equitable, and culturally diverse. Through design, we have the power to challenge existing power structures and advocate for marginalized groups. In the judging process, I was particularly drawn to projects that reflected an understanding of these systemic inequalities and aimed to offer inclusive solutions.

Designers do not work in a vacuum. We are professionally bound to balance individual rights with the collective good, and I saw this responsibility reflected in many of the student submissions. From designs addressing social inclusion to those advocating for environmental justice, these young designers demonstrated an understanding that equality is not just about access but about creating systems that benefit everyone.

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, competitions like TISDC are essential in amplifying voices from diverse cultures and backgrounds. The global exchange of ideas that this event fosters is crucial for the future of design. I am proud that BEDA continues to support TISDC and its mission to inspire the next generation of designers to advocate for equality and equity through their work. I hope that the future editions will be even more successful and receive many more submissions from Europe.

During my time in Taiwan, I also had an opportunity to talk to design students at Tatung in Taipei about the role of BEDA in the European design landscape and how Europe promotes and supports its design sector.

At the award ceremony in December, BEDA President Christina Melander will hand one of the prizes to the winning submission, so stay tuned to hear about the winners of TISDC 2024.

More Information About the Competition: www.tisdc.org/en

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