Three weeks. Three cities. New friends, new perspectives, and design inspired by Taiwan.
In summer 2026, 15 UW students joined our Design in Taiwan study abroad program across Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan, collaborating with 12 students from the National Taiwan University D-School and 12 students from design programs at National Cheng Kung University.
Together, we explored how design innovation, sustainability, and Taiwanese culture intersect through:
- Visits to the National Palace Museum, Taiwan Design Research Institute, and Taiwan Craft Research Institute
- Studio visits to Dot Design and Home Work Studio, both exploring sustainable design practices
- Making eyeglass frames from recycled plastic at the Trash Kitchen
- Lectures and discussions on the circular economy
- Hands-on workshops in bamboo weaving, wood carving, indigo dyeing, ceramic painting, and tea ceremony
- A visit to organic tea farms in Pinglin
- A boat trip through mangroves to learn about wetland ecology
- Exploring historic neighborhoods and old towns in Taipei and Tainan
- And so much more!
Working alongside students from NTU and NCKU, our students developed design concepts inspired by Taiwanese culture, sustainable innovation, and opportunities in the US market. By the end of the program, teams transformed their ideas into physical prototypes and design visualizations.
But the experience went beyond the studio. Students shared meals and ideas with local peers, experienced Taiwan’s everyday culture, watched sunsets by the ocean, and discovered the vibrant local coffee, food, and pub scenes.
Three weeks of learning, making, exploring, and connecting through design and across cultures.
#DesignInTaiwan #UWStudyAbroad #UWDesign
Hear directly from students:
“Overall, looking back at our program and the things I had done, I am very grateful and satisfied with how the entire trip turned out. While at first, I was very unsure and worried about how the program would be structured, I really enjoyed being able to explore so much of Taiwan and also meet so many new people that I had never met before. In the end, I am very glad I was able to attend this study abroad program in Taiwan and I had such an amazing time!” – Ai Woo Miyasaka
“There’s a big spot in my heart reserved for Taiwan and my friends from NCKU, and I’m already excited to see them again in the future. Thank you Meichun for the wonderful experiences and time spent learning sustainability design!” – Alexa Williams
“I’m beyond grateful and happy to be able to have this opportunity to come to Taiwan and learn a lot and meet amazing and cool people! I will miss all the students here at NCKU and my journeys from Taipei to Tainan. For sure, I will come back and visit again, and hopefully will get to meet everyone again!” – Chandaline Chamnan So
“Design in Taiwan was a step forward in my design experience, a way for me to feel culturally closer to my Chinese heritage. It was full of foods, shopping, sustainable design. It was filled to the brim. Somewhere I will return to in the future.” – Jasmine Anderson
“Our final reflection discussion was really making me think about all we had accomplished over the last three weeks. When I think back to arriving in Taipei, it feels both like it was yesterday and many months ago. We have seen so many beautiful things, met so many wonderful people, and learned so much about design. I am going to value my time here in Taiwan forever and take it with me into my design practices for the rest of my life. I don’t think this will be my last time here, I will definitely be finding my way back eventually.” – Maya Lauren Rasche