Taiwan Wins Record 18 Prizes in iF Communication Design Award 2007

Taiwanese creative designers won a record number of 18 prizes in the 2007 iF Communication Design Award, a world-leading contest open to various creative talents and bodies, compared with only three in 2006, according to the Taiwan Design Center (TDC).

The outcome of the 2007 iF contest retells an inspiring David and Goliath tale: Proad Image Design, a modest firm with only seven design professionals, prevailed over many bigger counterparts in Taiwan by winning six prizes in different product categories, placing the erstwhile obscure design firm as the single-biggest prize winner among Taiwan competitors.

iF Communication Design Award

The underlying disciplines, goal of the iF communication design award has a strong practical focus, having been set up to reward works created among the wide-ranging sectors straddling media, advertising, architecture, interior design and general design following close consultation with many agencies and enterprises. The iF communication

design competition has established itself relatively quickly as one of the leading international contests in Germany and the world.

Listed as a creative competition qualified to reward points by PAGE, W&V and Horizont in Germany, the iF Communication Design Award is a key event for contestants who aspire to climb the competitive ladder. The competition is open to advertising agencies and their clients, companies, designers, interior designers, agencies, architects, and providers of communication design, with a total of 30 iF Gold Awards being given as bonus to the best prizewinners.

The contestants enter works under the categories 1. digital media, 2. print media, 3. corporate architecture, 4. cross-media, and 5. too good to be true, each of which contains several sub-categories.

The following contains a cross-section of the prizewinners of the iF Communication Design Award from Taiwan.

Taiwan-based Winners of the iF Communication Design Award 2007

Project Name: Diverse Beauty of Pottery

Project Type: Poster

Category: 2.1 print media: Image

Design: Proad Image Design

The stunning beauty found in pottery emerges from the continual changing process and transformation when a glaze is added through a burning fire. Ingenious design, passion, a multitude of glaze and different kinds of argil are the sources of the diverse beauty of pottery. The amber colored crescent is a beautiful illusion, like a cloud that glides in the blue sky.

Project Name: Taiwan Design Award

Project Type: Poster, seal cover, sculpture

Category: 2.1 print media: Image

Design: Proad Image Design

Designers use the pencil point to create their ideas, express their feelings, and tell their stories. The pencil point precisely gathers strong design power. It has undoubtedly established its irreplaceable position as the source of creation. The pencil point directs straight ahead, as if it is releasing endless creativity. The pencil point aims directly upward, as if it is praising the top stunning designs.

Project Name: Proad Stationery Case

Project Type: Stationery case

Category: 2.7 print media: Product communications

Design: Proad Image Design

Paper is the platform where stationery performs magic tricks. Calligraphy and painting are aesthetic expressions of stationery. Different papers with different textures, traditional calligraphy and painting together show a rich and cultural look of the stationery.

Project Name: Hightrend Merchandise Corp.

Project Type: Packaging design

Category: 2.7 print media: Product communications

Design: Proad Image Design

Stainless steel material, a sententious and clear-cut design, unavoidably leave an impression of coldness and arrogance, just like the rationalism emphasized in western industrial society. We added traditional oriental gentle and graceful colors to it, to harmonize the eastern and western world and create a naturally-stunning piece of work (rather than simply a product). It therefore possesses western features, eastern ambiance, a crisp and sharp look, and a profound and mild connotation. With that connotation, coldness has turned into grace, sharpness has a sense of vitality, and sententiousness becomes elegance.

Project Name: Brainchilds Tattoo Baby

Project Type: Website

Category: 1.1 digital media: Animation

Design: Brainchilds Design Inc.

"Brainchilds Baby" is a series of animated sequences intended to enhance the visual images of Brainchilds Design Inc. and its parent company, the ten-year-old Dragonfly Gallery. Instead of being brought by a stork, the Brainchilds Baby is brought by a dragonfly, thus illustrating the relationship between the two companies. Brainchilds Baby is a combination of Bruce Lee and Ne Zha (the rebellious Youth Deity in Chinese mythology). He represents the spirit of our design company: wisdom, creativity, rebellion, playfulness and purity. The animation gives virtual life to Brainchilds Baby and Dragonfly, thus vividly engraving their images into the viewer's mind.

Project Name: Camera Fashion

Project Type: Digital camera graphic design

Category: 2.7 print media: Product communications

Design: Hon Hai Technology Group

Six different design variations for a single digital camera. No matter which variation you choose, each one of them is wonderful, reflecting its own special idea: 1. Spring and summer are colorful seasons with happy people. 2. The beauty of nature plays a major role in design and decoration. 3. Calligraphy is an important part of Chinese culture. This camera is decorated with traditional calligraphy - an attractive interpretation of art and culture. 4. This camera, styled after Chinese porcelain, stands for a new kind of beauty. 5. This camera is inspired by Christmas, by packaging and the color of gifts. 6. The square body of the camera is like a canvas that can be decorated with beautiful patterns.

Project Name: Braille Talk

Project Type: Mobile phone

Category: 5.0 too good to be true

Design: Compal Communications, Inc.

The real problem of blindness is not just providing a method of communication. The underlying concern is to make the blind feel comfortable when they communicate. Braille Talk is a text input method using mobile phones: the user enters the Braille cell, which is then translated into characters. As a result blind people can communicate with others via text messaging anywhere. Braille Talk is not simply based on the Braille system but has also simplified the process to make it easier to use on mobile phones. It extends the power of Braille, with less learning required. Keep it simple. Keep it basic.

Project Name: Zibang Technology

Project Type: Science park

Category: 5.0 too good to be true

Design: Aura Architects & Associates

If you ever pass by a forest, pay attention to the tiny holes on the tree trunks... these are made by the special climbing boots of dwarves. The architect the dwarves are looking for is an architect full of passion for architecture and life, someone who can achieve this goal together with us. The reason the designer chooses a "bicycle" to tie the scene together is because the bicycle is today's modern means of travel. It's not only the most environment-friendly means, but also the one that can create lots of pleasure in our daily lives.

Project Name: Migration & Communication

Project Type: Permanent exhibition

Category: 3.4 corporate architecture: Permanent architecture

Design: Uniplan Taiwan Corporation

"Migration & Communication" is multi-interpretable and has become a milestone for Hakka culture exhibition in the Greater China region because of its advanced concept and innovation. Uniplan Taiwan focused on developing live communication programs via architecture, art installation, visuals, digital media, documentary etc. to enhance interaction with the audience. The cultural journey starts with an info-lounge designed as a seaside. Through interactive screen-boxes, video watching, language learning and history surfing are on visitor's demand. There is even a stage for visitors to dance with a virtual Hakka band which can be controlled via a lighted sensor floor. The Thinker's Corner provides a place to rest and to have further understanding of Hakka culture through short videos. Antique exhibits, high-tech materials and modern media are aligned to a fascinating piece of art.

Project Name: VEDAN More Water 10

Project Type: Packaging design

Category: 2.7 print media: Product communications

Design: Tang's Packaging Consultants

This commemoration bottle is presented by Vedan to celebrate the 10th anniversary of "Drink more Water", one of Vedan's products. For the cap of the bottle there are five different colors, including red, orange, green, blue and gray. In addition, the water-drop shape of the cap is designed like a firework as an expression of the happiness of the anniversary. The design principles cover packaging design as well as marketing. The colorful package is an eye catcher in every store and presents an invitation to the customer to celebrate with the company while the bottles stand on the rack.

Project Name: Book Design: Package

Project Type: Book

Category: 2.2 print media: Information

Design: Hsing-Jung Hsu, National Taiwan University of Arts

This book expresses a new aesthetics of packaging design, aiming to convey the new aesthetics as follows: 1. The beauty of the fusion of 2D and 3D forms -- an ideal way to communicate with people through packages is to show both 2D and 3D designs simultaneously. 2. The beauty of displaying aesthetics and characteristics -- a good package design not only protects the product, but also provides a powerful description of its function. 3. The beauty of combining art and living -- the formative design elements in a package can be very artistic, allowing it to become part of everyday life.