Profile: JUYU CHENG – Real Leather Design Competitions

JUYU CHENG

National Taitung Junior College

I am a second-year student in Department of Creative Product Design at National Taitung Junior College. My work explores the intersection of everyday life, emotional memory, and material transformation. I often draw inspiration from familiar and comforting scenes, such as brunch culture and the gentle presence of rabbits, using soft and approachable forms to create a sense of warmth. Beneath this playful aesthetic, my design focuses on the idea of memory preservation—transforming used textiles and discarded materials into new objects that carry personal and emotional value. Through processes such as handcrafting, material recombination, and experimental construction, I aim to give overlooked materials a renewed narrative. I am particularly interested in how design can extend the life of objects while also preserving fragments of personal history. My practice is driven by a desire to reconnect people with their memories through tactile experiences. In the future, I hope to further explore sustainable material applications and develop works that balance emotional storytelling with functional design.

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A Rabbit’s Palette: Brunch in Leather

Category: Accessories

Competitions: Taiwan Region

This project is my personal take on brunch culture, where I’ve used leathercraft to turn familiar vibes like croissants, sandwiches, and strawberry toast into something you can actually hold. I wanted to move away from sharp edges and instead focused on soft, rounded forms that capture that cozy, "everyday comfort" feeling we all love. But it’s not just about making something that looks cute. I’ve always been obsessed with the idea of memory and emotional attachment. To explore that, I integrated second-hand textiles and reclaimed fabrics into the leather. I love that these materials already have a "past life"—they carry their own stories and lived experiences. Mixing them with leather allowed me to challenge the idea that leather has to be stiff or formal. I wanted to prove it can be soft, intimate, and full of soul. The whole process was very hands-on, involving a lot of experimental stitching and material hacking. By hand-making every piece, I’m trying to bridge the gap between functional objects and storytelling. For me, this work is an invitation to slow down and reconnect with those warm, familiar moments through touch. It’s my way of showing how sustainability and emotional design can come together to keep our memories alive in the objects we use every day.