The Yilan Chair Design Competition 2017

Description

The original idea was to use innovative design in a way that connected to nature and daily life, while also reflecting the county government’s long term vision of developing Yilan into a “children’s dreamland” and “city of innovation.” The event has also been used as a focal point for the development of cultural and creative industry producing furniture, stationary and toys.

The Yilan Chair Design Competition is the first design competition brand to be based on a city and one of only a handful of design competitions around the world to focus on “children’s chairs.” Over the past four years, more than 2,600 works have been submitted and in 2016 a new record was set with works from 25 countries. Through the competition, invitations extended to professional designers and exhibition promotion programs, the event has worked closely with the local timber and traditional handicraft sectors. In addition, it has also evolved from an international design competition into a major platform where talented designers can meet and exchange ideas. As a result, the Yilan Chair Design Competition has become an important cultural and creative furniture international competition brand.

As the competition enters its fifth year, the solicitation of works this year is divided into two categories: “Creative” (Group A) and “Practical” (Group B). Works submitted to Group A seek to identify children’s chairs best able to tell the story of Yilan; (Group B) looks for works that can be mass produced and marketed. The jury panels for both groups base their determinations on the different core spirit of each category, though the broader aim is to attract a wide range of submitted works to gradually develop the Yilan chair industry and boost the “Yilan chair” brand, so that such items are sought after whether for oneself or as gifts.