I YING NIEN

Category: Accessories

Competitions: Taiwan Region

Inspiration: The inspiration for this project is derived from Kuah-pau, also known as Gua bao, a traditional Taiwanese food. The initial idea emerged from an ordinary moment in daily life. While deciding what to have for dinner, I happened to notice a snack placed on my roommate’s shelf, which led me to reflect on the country and culture behind it. This fleeting moment made me realize that many foods in everyday life actually carry distinct historical and cultural backgrounds. Although Taiwan is internationally known for its diverse cuisine, many dishes can still be traced back to the cultural context of Chinese culinary traditions. However, Gua bao has, through historical evolution, local adaptation, and renaming, gradually diverged from its original form and developed into a food identity that represents Taiwanese culture. This led me to recognize food as a microcosm of human history. Even when originating from the same cultural roots, food continuously evolves into distinct forms through time and regional differences. The transformation of Gua bao not only reflects the evolution of culinary culture but also reveals the formation of identity and localization. Therefore, I chose Gua bao as the inspiration for this project. Design Concept: Gua bao (Kuah-pau), locally known as the “Tiger Bites Pig,” serves as the conceptual foundation of this design. The linguistic meaning is translated into tangible structural and material expressions. The opening of the bag is designed using a frame clasp structure, symbolizing the biting motion of a tiger, corresponding to the “tiger” element. The main body of the bag is made of pigskin, representing the “pig” element. Through the use of materials and structural interpretation, the design strengthens the conceptual connection between form and cultural meaning. In terms of structure, the side profile is developed based on the folding logic of a wallet, forming layered contours that resemble the layered structure of a Gua bao filled with its ingredients, thereby echoing its structural characteristics. The surface of the bag is constructed using weaving techniques. The interlaced structure creates a soft and fluffy tactile quality reminiscent of the texture of Gua bao itself. At the same time, it symbolizes the interwoven and mutually shaping relationship between food and cultural history, further extending into the idea of cultural sustainability and diversity. In the context of cultural homogenization driven by globalization, culinary cultures are increasingly losing their local distinctiveness, while regional identities are gradually being diluted. Through this project, I attempt to use Gua bao as a cultural symbol of Taiwan, transforming a traditional food into a contemporary design object. By reinterpreting local identity through diverse modes of expression, culture continues to evolve within changing times, ensuring its continuity through transformation, and ultimately responding to the concept of cultural sustainability.

Category: Apparel

Competitions: Taiwan Region

當我們想起蝴蝶結時總會伴隨著禮物，而好的環境正是來自大自然的贈禮，因此我結合蝴蝶結和警戒線的概念去進行設計，不僅警惕我們應當珍惜大自然給予的禮物，也以繩結的概念作為人與自然環境的共生維繫。 蝴蝶結象徵： 1.蝴蝶結的環狀結構寓意為資源循環。 2. 藉由手綁蝴蝶結的設計元素，表達即便蝴蝶結鬆脫了也可以重新再綁，以此呼應資源再利用。 3. 模擬纏繞的設計代表人與環境維繫且密不可分 4.紅黃兩色交錯的蝴蝶結分別象徵禮物的緞帶和警戒線 設計重點： 以棕色做基底，喻為自然土地，而在這之上將象徵禮物緞帶的紅色皮革以及代表警戒線的黃色皮革交錯環繞，並模擬設計成纏繞在身體上的樣子，提醒著人們應該好好珍惜環境，並且環境的變化都與人緊密相關。 1. 黃色皮革上有WARNING和警告圖標的雷雕。 2. 腳上纏繞的紅色皮革有雷切的洞，代表自然給予的禮物逐漸在被破壞。 3. 腰上的圓環分別繫著紅色和黃色的皮革象徵兩者之間的連結和與環境走向。 4. 背後和褲頭的蝴蝶結皆為手綁。 5. 褲管上的線條為喇叭褲的剪接線，並且縫份故意外露作為裝飾。 When we think of bow ties, gifts always accompany them, and a good environment is a gift from nature. Therefore, I designed it with the concepts of bow ties and warning lines, not only to cherish the gifts nature offers but also to use knots as a means for coexistence between humans and the natural environment. The bow symbolizes: 1. The ring-shaped structure of the bow symbolizes resource circulation. 2. By incorporating design elements such as tying a bow by hand, it expresses that even if the bow is loose, it can be re-bound, thereby echoing resource reuse. 3. The design of simulated entanglement represents a close and inseparable connection between humans and their environment. 4. The intertwined red and yellow bow ties symbolize the gift's ribbon and warning line, respectively. Design point : With brown as the base, it symbolizes natural land, surrounded by red leather for gift ribbons and yellow leather for warning lines, mimicking designs that wrap around the body, reminding people to cherish their environment, which is closely tied to human changes. 1. The yellow leather features lightning carvings with WARNING and warning icons. 2. The red leather wrapped around his feet has holes in the cut, symbolizing the gradual destruction of gifts bestowed by nature. 3. The rings around the waist are adorned with red and yellow leather, symbolizing their connection and orientation towards the environment. 4. The bow ties on the back and pants are tied by hand. 5. The lines on the pants are cut from bell-bottom pants, and the seams accidentally reveal themselves as decorative elements.