ISU Professor Wins Gold at IAA London Design Awards
ISU proudly announces a significant achievement in the international design stage. Eastern culture, with its distinctive characteristics, has long been admired and welcomed by Western countries. Dr. Mong-Fen Tsai, from the Department of Visual Arts and Design within the College of Communication and Design, is renowned for her ability to blend Eastern elements into contemporary design. She has won the Gold Award at the 2024 London Design Awards (IAA). Her work, titled “Temper Temptations,” stood out among more than 2,000 entries from over 30 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, and Germany. This outstanding accomplishment showcases Taiwan’s vibrant creative strength and brings honor to the university and the nation.
The London Design Awards is an international competition established by the IAA and is considered one of the world’s most prestigious honors in professional design. In 2024, the competition drew over 2,000 submissions from 30 countries worldwide. Dr. Tsai’s award-winning piece, “Temper Temptations,” draws inspiration from Eastern deities, Buddha and Mazu, presenting a strong visual theme rooted in Eastern religious culture. The concept explores how the human world is shaped by overwhelming desire, and how mortals seek liberation through the profound wisdom of divine beings. In the work, “Temper” represents the discipline of personal belief, while “Temptations” symbolizes worldly obsessions and inner attachments. Only through self-discipline can one return to one's true self, and this spiritual journey of returning to one’s origin is the core message of the piece. The work’s philosophical depth and artistic execution were highly praised by the jury, earning it the Gold Award.
Dr. Tsai noted that the rise of AI has brought a wave of transformation across various fields, including the arts, where AI has emerged as a powerful new tool for creators. In response to this trend, the Department has embraced AI technology and adopted an interdisciplinary teaching strategy. This approach encourages students to cultivate innovative thinking across three key domains: digital and physical media, products and services, and technology and art. By integrating emerging technologies with design education, the Department aims to nurture creative professionals with a global vision and innovative capabilities, solidifying its role as a cradle for cultivating cultural and creative design talent in Taiwan and internationally.
Dr. Tsai has previously received numerous prestigious international design awards, including the Red Dot Design Award and iF Design Award from Germany, the DFA Design for Asia Awards from Hong Kong, the International Design Awards from the United States, the Asia Design Prize from South Korea, and the Paris Design Awards. Her triumph at the 2024 IAA London Design Awards once again shines a global spotlight on the remarkable design strength of ISU and Taiwan.
