Design Students Present Ceramic-Inspired Projects at 2025 Osaka Expo
Students and faculty from NTNU’s Department of Design took part in an international exhibition at the 2025 World Expo venue in Osaka, presenting original works that reinterpret regional Japanese crafts and local industries. Their participation was part of the exhibition HYOGO × TDRI: The Fusion of Craft and Design – A Taiwan–Hyogo Co-Creation Project to Enrich Everyday Life, jointly organized by the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) and the Kobe Fashion Association. The event highlighted collaborative projects between Taiwanese designers and traditional industries in Hyogo Prefecture.
From April 25 to 30, Adjunct Lecturer Yu-Jui Chou led seniors Alice Wen, Joanna Kuo, Angelina Shih-Yuan Lee, Tsung-Huan Tsai, and Po-Yu Yang in exhibiting their work at Gallery West, a designated exhibition area at the Osaka Expo site. Their team, known as KEV Design Studio, presented under the title Awaji Roof Tile × KEV Design Studio, National Taiwan Normal University Design, as part of a broader collaboration exploring new applications for regional Japanese materials and techniques.
The project was developed in response to TDRI’s international co-creation program, launched in 2024. The initiative brings Taiwanese designers to Hyogo Prefecture to engage with local crafts and products such as Tamba ware ceramics, Awaji roof tiles, Kobe leather, and Toyooka bags. Through hands-on collaboration with artisans and producers, the program examines how these materials can be reimagined for contemporary use.
The NTNU team’s project reinterpreted Awaji roof tiles in a set of three functional design objects:
• Scented Tiles – Incense Holder with Storage, a concept by Alice Wen, draws visual inspiration from traditional rooftops and integrates Awaji’s incense-making heritage.
• The Key to Connecting the Home – Modular Key Rack with Lighting, by Joanna Kuo, references the architectural language of Japanese houses and evokes a sense of warmth and welcome.
• The Sound of Raindrops – Umbrella Stand Crafted with Tile Techniques, developed by the full team, captures the sight and sound of rain dripping from roof eaves, translated into a tactile, usable object.
The project demonstrates how traditional materials can be brought into modern life without losing their cultural and aesthetic integrity. It was one of the most noted pieces in the exhibition, recognized for its thoughtful integration of heritage and design.
Other featured works included eco-conscious flower vessels that paired Taiwanese orchids with Tamba ceramics, sustainable hats combining Kobe leather and recycled materials from Taiwan’s Changhua region, and contemporary handbags made from banana fiber and horticultural mesh. Together, the projects highlighted Taiwan’s growing engagement with sustainable design and international creative partnerships.
The exhibition was organized around the themes of 'blue ocean, white light, and green breath,' referencing the shared coastal and industrial identities of Hyogo and Changhua. Six teams presented a total of eight works, reflecting the breadth of design dialogue between Taiwan and Japan.
NTNU’s participation reflects the university’s continued emphasis on global exchange and applied design education. The Department of Design will continue supporting students in collaborative international projects that link classroom learning with real-world creative practice.