2009第四屆通用設計競賽

The Highlights of Universal Design Award Ceremony

kelly — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:00:02 +0000

The winning works for the Universal Design Award were revealed on December 3^rd, 2009.

There were 782 participants. Fifteen won commendations for their creative and refreshing designs.

The government officials and industry leaders who attended the award ceremony were very supportive of this contest. They believe these designs will help make our society more barrier-free for everyone. An official said that universal design comes from caring about people, and the government supports this new development in the culture and creative industry.

Even the awards ceremony displayed the spirit of universal design. All of the tables and refreshments were at a height accessible to the physically challenged. Free Universe Education Foundation Chairman Tang Feng-tseng also has contributed much to the cause of promoting universal designs.

The top three winners – the U-pad designed by Huang Ju-wei, the pot clip designed by Hong Yi-yuan, and the storage device created by Yang Tsi-wei – are all handy items that will make life in the kitchen much easier!

The award ceremony ended with the top winner Huang Ju-wei reading the universal design proclamation, which states that we hope to all work towards creating designs for a better Taiwan and a better world.

2009 Universal Design Award Winners

kelly — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:58:59 +0000

The winning designs for the Universal Design Award were revealed on December 3^rd, 2009. The top works were simple yet creative. The first prize went to a “U-Pad”, which is an easy-to-use U-shaped scrub sponge. The second prize went to a ladle holder, that enables a soup ladle to stay fixed on the pot.

The concept behind the Universal Design Award – sponsored by the Free Universe Education Foundation — is to create products that don’t need other accessories or modifications for people with special needs. These designs can be used by people of all groups and ages, and with all types of physical challenges. This year’s theme is “In the Kitchen.”

The top prize went to Huang Ju-wei, a graduate student at the Institute of Applied Arts at National Chiao Tung University. Her U-shaped scrub sponge can be hung right on the side of a pot. This keeps the sponge dry and prevents molding.

Huang Ju-wei said she thought of this idea because of her own experience in the kitchen. Usually, people use flat scrubbers which do not stay clean easily. When they’re not in use, they are usually put in the sink where it stays wet and attracts germs. But the U-pad sponge is thicker and can be hung on the side of a pot to dry.

The second prize work was designed by Hong Yi-yuan and Tseng Tse-wei. It can be placed on a pot so that the ladle won’t fall in. The third prize work is called “storage”. It allows you to close a tube of mayonnaise without letting germs in. These simple and creative designs may be very marketable.

Taiwan’s 4th Universal Design Competition

kelly — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:22:34 +0000

The 4^th Universal Design Competition officially began on May 7^th. The event is sponsored by the Free Universe Education Foundation and co-sponsored by Taipei City Government’s Department of Urban Development. We welcome designs by creative artists that will help create more user-friendly kitchens.

This year’s theme is Kitchen Activity. The kitchen is an important place in our everyday lives, but accidents occur while we are cooking or washing the dishes. The purpose of this year’s contest is to create tools that will make life in the kitchen more safe, convenient and fun.

Taiwan is an aging society. Activity that we may take for granted, such as walking down stairs, or using the bathroom or kitchen, can be dangerous for the elderly and children. The Universal Design contest promotes the considerate design of items we use in our everyday lives.

Taipei City Government Department of Urban Development Director Ding says that universal design is a priority of their department. In 2008, they published the Taipei Residential Space Universal Design Guidelines. This year, they will publish a Taipei Residential Space Universal Design Manual, which will contain guidelines and design checklists.

This year’s contest officially began on May 7, 2009 2pm at a press conference held at Jen-ai Road Section 4, No. 258 11F. For details, visit http://www.ud.org.tw (Free Universe Education Foundation)or http://udd.taipei.gov.tw (Taipei City Government Department of Urban Development)and http://housing.taipei.gov.tw/ (Taipei Housing Service Desk)