The Liudui Design Camp is now officially launched.

Text / Shen-Geng Sustainable Development Association

Guided by the Hakka Affairs Council, hosted by the Pingtung County Government, and organized by the Shen-Geng Sustainable Development Association of Pingtung County (a registered civic organization), the Liudui Life Academy "2012 Liudui Design Camp" will officially open on the morning of July 6 at the Pingtung County Hakka Cultural Museum. The five-day, four-night camp centers on 42 young designers and design students, who will work with Liudui traditional crafts and local community organizations around three major themes: "Traditional Craft Group," "Ritual and Ceremony Group," and "Hakka Building Group," carrying out product innovation or visual design innovation. In just five days, the 21 student teams will design a new product and visual design, complete model making, and ultimately produce 21 different innovative products, injecting fresh design vitality into Liudui's traditional industries.

The Liudui Life Academy noted that registration for this design camp was extremely enthusiastic, with 135 young students from design departments nationwide signing up, and 42 admitted after multiple rounds of screening. A major feature of the Liudui Design Camp is matching young designers with local traditional craft businesses, Hakka ritual units and building communities for cooperation, including 14 units in total such as Hakka bamboo door curtains, bamboo tube furniture, "tian ding deng" lanterns, fermented bean curd makers, the Liudui Zhongyi Temple, the Tianhou Temple, and the Zhutian Station. Through students going into the countryside to stay and exchange with master craftsmen and interviewing traditional operators before proceeding with design, the design and product making process will be guided and critiqued throughout by outstanding designers from industry and academia, helping students complete their design works. It is expected to create new possibilities for Liudui's local specialty industries and traditional ritual units.

At 1:30 p.m. on July 10 (Sunday), a results presentation and award ceremony will be held at the Hakka Cultural Museum, presenting the 21 works designed by the students and selecting the "Hakka Spirit Award," "Best Creativity Award," "Sustainable Design Award," "Best Popularity Award," and honorable mentions, for a total of seven awards, with prize money. The Liudui Life Academy welcomes interested members of the public to join the design camp results presentation and take part in voting for the Best Popularity Award. After the camp ends, the design camp works will be exhibited at the Hakka Cultural Museum for the public to view.

Organizers and Co-organizers

• Guiding agency: Hakka Affairs Council
Organizer: Pingtung County Government
• Executing agency: Shen-Geng Sustainable Development Association of Pingtung County (a registered civic organization)
• Co-organizers: Design Innovation Technology R&D Center, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology; Department of Wood Science and Design, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology; Liguiwen Bamboo Door Curtains; Wu Shih-lang Pine-Plum-Bamboo Art; Yuting Bamboo Art Fine Furniture; Zhenmei Buddhist Supplies Store; Shunchang Chinese Medicine Shop; Guangdong Foods; Liudui Zhongyi Temple; Neipu Tianhou Temple / Changli Temple; Wanluan Township Jiaping River Cultural Work Association, Pingtung County; Green Vitality Industry Exchange Promotion Association of Pingtung County (a registered civic organization); Pingtung County Hakka Cultural Museum; Zhutian Station (Zhutian Township Community Empowerment Association of Pingtung County, a registered civic organization); Erlun Community Development Association, Zhutian Township, Pingtung County; and the Jisi Gongye Yang Ji Qin Management Committee

Inquiry phone: (08)-778-9395, (08)-778-5118
Fax: (08)-769-4721
e-mail: [email protected]

Directions to the Hakka Cultural Museum:

• Driving: From National Freeway No. 3, exit at Linluo Interchange (Provincial Highway 1) to Zhongshan Road, turn right toward Linluo, then turn left onto Zhongzheng Road and continue 10 minutes to Longmen Road to arrive.
• Train: Get off on the Taiwan Railways South Link Line at Xishi Station, cross the railway via the overpass toward Zhutian Junior High School, and after exiting the gate of Zhutian Junior High School, walk straight for 3 minutes to arrive.
• Bus: Take Pingtung Bus "8235 Pingtung - Xishi - Jiazuo" and get off at Xishi Station (near Xishi Elementary School). Departure times from Pingtung Station: 0730, 0855, 1035, 1225, 1730, 1835, 1915, 2000.