Back in September, the National Taiwan University stadium in Taipei was a hive of design activity as finalists were selected for the 2017 Golden Pin Design Award. The annual award (now in its 37^th year) celebrates products and projects created for and within huaren (Chinese-speaking) communities – which make up the world’s largest market.

Entrants had travelled from Taiwan, China, and Singapore to discuss their concepts with the jury panel. Just 72 finalists – from China, Hong Kong, Japan, the USA and Germany – were chosen out of 455 selected entries. From them, the field was narrowed down to just six finalists for the coveted 2017 Golden Pin Design Award, and three finalists for the 2017 Golden Pin Best Concept Design award.

The finalists are keenly awaiting the announcement of the winners at a grand ceremony to be held in Taipei on 7 December. In the Golden Pin Design Award category, the finalists are:

Guangzhou Jinyi Cinemas (Guangzhou Haizhucheng IMAX)
Designed by One Plus Partnership (China)
The design (for the Guangzhou Jinyi Film & Television Media Company) references meteor showers with a sculptural lobby and wall treatments within the cinema halls that call to mind shooting stars. “Meteors are a beautiful and short-lived astronomical observation,” say the designers who chose to pay tribute to filmmakers through a meteoric design that would remind audiences about the years of hard work behind their relatively short enjoyment.

Universal Trial Frame UB 6
Designed by Oculus GmbH (Germany) in collaboration with Koop Industrial Design
Visual impairment is especially prevalent across Taiwan and China. The UB 6 trial frame was designed to be the ideal tool of the trade for refraction professionals, allowing eye measurement with strict accuracy. The design focuses on ergonomics, simple handling, optimal wearing comfort, and the accurate placement of the frame on the face. The ergonomic controls of the trial frame enable quick and precise adjustment thanks to the incorporation of new technology.

The Office of HON Kenneth Leung
Designed by Tomorrow Design Office (Hong Kong)
Hon. Kenneth Leung is a legislative councilor and issues letters regularly on social issues, laws and accounting. The design of his stationary plays an important role in communicating the Office’s identity and vision, for example: ‘democracy’, ‘equity’, ‘diversity’, and ‘justice’.

WAYOU
Designed by Hey Sheng Chi Si (Taiwan)
WAYOU is a three-piece collection of delicate crystal glassware made by one Japan’s most-renowned specialty glassmakers, Hirota Glass Company. Milky white vertical stripes, in the three piece set of bowls and drinking glasses add romance to cold dishes and desserts.

RADO True Taipei Limited Edition
Designed by Leslie Chan Design Company (Taiwan)
Created for the RADO Watch Company in Switzerland, this is a watch for the minimalist. It was inspired by folded paper, symbolising a diverse and cosmopolitan philosophy. Light and shadow communicate the multiple aspects of form.

29th Summer Universiade Taipei 2017 Commemorative Token
Designed by Midnight Design Studio (Taiwan)
In-keeping with the visual identity of the 2017 Taipei Universiade sporting event, the designers embraced and played with the outlines of the competition mascots. The colour of the coin on the packaging refracts with the viewing angle, symbolising diversity and youthfulness. The commemorative token was designed for Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation.

In the Golden Pin Concept Design Award category, the finalists are:

Elbow Cassette Player
Designed by BrainMonk Audiovisual Art Organisation (Lithuania)
ELBOW is a portable cassette player reduced to its core. Despite the dominance of cheap and convenient digital media, physical audio formats are making a comeback. By exposing the cassette, ELBOW offers a fresh user experience, allowing listeners to directly appreciate the tape’s motion, or even get creative by forcibly interrupting playback.

RUKI
Designed by Lin Wei-Chun and Jang Yun-Jen (Taiwan)
RUKI is a feminine care system specially designed for the needs of Asian women. ‘Toxic Shock’ syndrome is well-known in Taiwan, and women are very wary of products for their menstrual cycle. The RUKI feminine caring system includes a menstrual cup, cleaning pack and mobile application, which charts the user’s regularity.

Forest at the Finger Tips
Designed by Tsung Yi-Pei, Wang Ying-Ping, Hsu Li-Hsin, Chen Yun-Xin, Ma Jing-Wen, and Li Jia-Ru (Taiwan)
Forest at the Finger Tips is a book that integrates tactile visuals with braille. Poems and stories introduce various species of tree, presenting the visual beauty of light and shadow in a tactile format.

In addition to these winners, two Design Mark recipients have been announced:

Éole Collection
Designed by 7OCEANS Design (Taiwan) in collaboration with Horizon Yachts
Éole is an elegant, lightweight sofa set for the rear deck of a yacht, made with classic ‘outdoor knitting rope’. The rope has a unique texture and delicate woven finish, which shapes the chair’s surface and adds a three-dimensional tactility. The body of the chair is strong, yet lightweight aluminum. Say the designers, “Éole is like a cloud, an ethereal, delicate outdoor sofa.”

Frame Stool
Designed by YIH Wood Studio (Taiwan)
This well-resolved maple/walnut stool has three frame-like legs that create a different impression of the chair depending on the viewing angle.

The 2017 Golden Pin Design Award Exhibition will be opening soon at the Taiwan Design Museum, Songshan Culture & Creative Park, Taipei. Look out for our coverage of the exhibition!

And mark your calendars for the 2017 Golden Pin Design Award Forum, which will take place on the morning of 7 December 2017 at the Eslite Spectrum Performance Hall, Songshan Culture & Creative Park, Taipei. The 2017 Golden Pin Design Award Grand Ceremony will also happen that day.

It’s set to be a huaren December!