News--Welcome to National Chiayi University

　　Two senior students of the Department of Wood Materials and Design, National Chiayi University, won exceptional awards at “Taiwan Intelligent LED Lighting Association Lamp Design Contest 2017.” Advised by Associate Prof. Zhu Zheng-De, Zhao Huai’an and Wang Xuanpu joined the contest and were singled out among 360 entries from around Taiwan. Awards were presented to them by Vice President Chen Chien-Jen in recognition of their achievement. Also noteworthy is that Zhao obtained an honorable mention at “National Youth Creative Application Design Competition 2017, in its second edition.”

　　According to Associate Prof. Zhu, who advised Zhao, the competition was joined by students from 33 schools and people from all walks of life in Taiwan. This year is the third edition of the contest, which aims to help facilitate the transformation of Taiwan’s traditional lighting industry. In conjunction with the “Traditional Industry Innovation And Implementation Program” of the Executive Yuan, it hopes to enhance the international influence of Taiwan’s lighting industry and stimulate students’ creative thinking, with the ultimate goal of bringing Taiwan’ design to the attention of the international community.

　　Zhao said excitedly that the work he submitted for the contest, entitled “Lightslide,” tries to subvert the traditional idea that lamps are just for lighting. By means of creative design, they can be widely used in office and commercial spaces. It is not only a way to enhance the applied value of lamps, but helps create a user-friendly and efficient working environment. To Zhao, accepting the medal from Vice President Chen was more satisfying than winning the award itself.

　　Zhao indicated that the other creative design work that won him an honorable mention was “shopping cart,” which is designed with focus on low cost, systematic and easy storage, and heat insulation.

　　According to NCYU, the Department of Wood Materials and Design has since its renaming been recruiting teachers with expertise in interior and furniture design to provide professional education in design-related subjects. Its students have often formed teams to participate in a wide array of contests outside of the university, and have attained various prizes. Their achievements have won recognition from people in the field. It is also praiseworthy that both students, with no major in lighting, could have stood out among hundreds of competitors from around the country and won the exceptional prizes.