Organizer Information
The Ministry of Education Taiwan, through its Department of Higher Education, organizes the Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC), one of the largest international student design competitions in the world. The competition is executed by the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), specifically through its Department of Architecture. Over the years, TISDC has become an important global platform for emerging designers, encouraging cross-cultural creative exchange and promoting Taiwan as an international hub for innovation and design education.
The competition consistently aligns itself with global creative and social concerns, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and invites young designers to engage with pressing contemporary issues through artistic and design-based responses. TISDC has earned international recognition for both its scale and the prestige of its jury panels, which include respected professionals and international design associations from around the world.
The 2026 edition continues this legacy by supporting experimental, socially engaged, and future-oriented design practices from students globally.
Title & Description
Taiwan International Student Design Competition 2026 – “Resilience”
The 2026 Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC) invites students and emerging designers worldwide to submit innovative projects responding to the theme “Resilience.”
This year’s theme encourages participants to reflect on how societies, individuals, environments, and technologies adapt to constant transformation and uncertainty. The competition seeks creative proposals that explore balance, inclusivity, sustainability, coexistence, and adaptability in an increasingly interconnected world.
Participants are encouraged to respond through original design concepts that address social, environmental, cultural, technological, or emotional resilience. TISDC positions design not merely as aesthetics, but as a tool for imagining sustainable futures and proposing meaningful solutions to contemporary global challenges.
The competition welcomes projects ranging from conceptual and speculative work to practical and implementable solutions across multiple design disciplines. Winning projects will receive international exposure through exhibitions, publications, media promotion, and networking opportunities with industry professionals and organizations.
With total prize funding reaching approximately NT$4 million (around US$130,000), TISDC is considered one of the most significant student design competitions internationally.
Categories
- Product Design
- Visual Design
- Digital Animation
- Architecture & Landscape Design
- Fashion Design
The competition supports interdisciplinary and experimental approaches as long as the work fits within one of the official categories.
Eligibility
The competition is open internationally to:
- Students currently enrolled in senior high school, college, university, or postgraduate programs
- Fresh graduates graduating in 2026
- Newly admitted students enrolling in 2026
Applicants must:
- Born after April 27, 1996
- Be under 30 years old at the time of registration
- Submit valid proof of enrollment or graduation
Female applicants who have given birth before the age of 30 may receive a two-year age extension for each child born.
Both individual and collaborative/team submissions are accepted. Participants may submit multiple projects, but the same project cannot be entered into multiple categories.
Program Benefits & Awards
TISDC offers substantial financial awards and international recognition opportunities.
Grand Prix
- 1 overall winner, NT$400,000 (approx. US$13,000), Trophy, and certificate
Gold Prize
- One winner per category, NT$250,000 (approx. US$8,000)
Silver Prize
- One winner per category, NT$150,000 (approx. US$4,500)
Bronze Prize
- One winner per category, NT$60,000 (approx. US$1,800)
Honorable Mention
- Multiple winners, NT$10,000 (approx. US$300)
International Design Association Special Prize
- At least 15 winners, NT$30,000 (approx. US$1,000), selected by international design associations
Environmental Sustainability Award
- 3 winners, NT$100,000 (approx. US$3,000), Includes travel subsidy support for attending the award ceremony
Special Region Award
- 6 winners, NT$30,000 (approx. US$1,000)
- Prioritizes submissions from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Malaysia
Additional benefits include:
- International exhibition opportunities
- Publication in annual competition catalogs
- Media promotion
- Visibility to companies and industry professionals for potential collaborations
- Participation certificates and finalist certificates
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed online registration form
- Student ID or enrollment certificate
- Graduation certificate for recent graduates
- Proof of date of birth (passport, ID card, driver’s license, etc.)
- Half-body portrait photograph of the creator
- Explanatory posters (A3 format, JPG, RGB, 300dpi)
- 1:1 ratio project images
- Video presentation links (YouTube or Vimeo if applicable)
- Highlight clips for animation entries
- Optional video explanations
Digital Animation entries additionally require:
- 30–60 second highlight clip
- Full video up to 10 minutes
All files must follow the technical specifications provided by the organizer.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 6 July 2026
- Preliminary Selection: 26 July – 2 August 2026
- Finalist Announcement: Mid-September 2026
- Final Selection: September – October 2026
Location
Taipei, Taiwan
Additional Details
- Entries must be entirely original and created by the applicants themselves.
- Works involving plagiarism or copyright infringement will be disqualified.
- Previously awarded TISDC projects may not be resubmitted.
- Winning participants agree to allow the Ministry of Education to use submitted materials for educational, exhibition, publication, and promotional purposes.
- International winners may be subject to a 20% tax on prize money according to Taiwanese regulations.
- Jury panels will consist of domestic and international experts from different creative disciplines.
- Evaluation criteria vary slightly by category but generally prioritize creativity, thematic interpretation, aesthetics, and presentation quality.
- Winners may gain future collaboration opportunities through exposure to companies and institutions following the competition.