Yu Kai Chen

Shih Chien University

Industrial product designer in the making, currently based in Taipei. With a passion for material exploration and a belief that good design begins with empathy, I create products that connect function with feeling. I see materials not just as tools, but as storytellers. Recently showcased at Milan Design Week and Young Designers' Exhibition, my work focuses on shaping everyday experiences through thoughtful form and emotional depth.

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PELLITENSIO - Rawhide Tension Sculptural Lighting

Category: Design*

Competitions: Taiwan Region

This lighting project reinterprets rawhide, once used in Taiwanese shadow puppetry, by exploring tension as a shaping force. The rawhide—a by-product of the meat industry—is stretched and fixed to reveal slender, organic curves. Inspired by contemporary pressures around slimness and appearance anxiety, the form captures the fragile balance between delicacy and resilience. A brass structure supports the skin, with its warm metallic tone resonating with the rawhide’s natural hues. Through this interplay of material, structure, and societal reflection, the piece offers a renewed perspective on tradition and modern identity.

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PELLINFLATUS-Rawhide Expansion Sculpture Furniture

Category: Design*

Competitions: Taiwan Region

This furniture project reimagines rawhide, historically used in Taiwanese shadow puppetry and drums, through air-inflated shaping. Originally a by-product of the meat industry, rawhide expands under internal pressure to form voluminous, organic structures. Inspired by the positive rethinking of body image and the celebration of fullness, the design embraces generous curves shaped by material tension. It resists societal stigma toward body size, offering a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional materials. In doing so, the piece invites a broader appreciation of diverse forms, both in design and in society.

In association with

Working with our partners at Arts Thread to develop lifelong learning and career opportunities for students of fashion and design. Our partnership provides the opportunity to compete on a world stage, participate in industry led workshops, set up an outstanding portfolio and gain access to the resources that will kickstart careers in fashion and design.