Promotion: design festival Taiwan Design Week has returned, taking place between 7 to 15 December, following its inaugural edition last year.

The exhibition, entitled The Gateway, has been eagerly expected by designers and technologists in the region, given the significance of machine learning technology on design. Over 28 Taiwanese and 6 international design teams are featured with more than 17 events taking place.

Taking place in the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei, the design week was organised by the Taiwan Design Research Institute.

The design festival in Taiwan's capital has been supported by the Industrial Development Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The organisers expect the festival to further enhance the country's creativity around AI and design and draw in interest from other countries.

A rich programme of events will explore the intersection between technology and creativity, especially around how the acceleration in artificial intelligence is impacting design, architecture and art.

Talks and exhibitions have invited attendees to look at how machine learning tools can serve as both a catalyst and a tool for design talent.

The festival has not shied away from concerns around AI, asking questions about whether AI will replace human roles and broader anxiety around machine learning software.

"These exhibits explore the diverse possibilities of integrating generative AI into work and life," said the organisers.

The Synthetic Storyteller installation by Studio MMR and Jimmy Wei-Chun Cheng uses AI to predict lifestyles through individual design choices, imagining a future where smart homes meet emotional needs with personalised spaces.

The Every Building's OOTD exhibition by Yu-Zih Wang of Tung Hai University AI environmental design programme uses the technology to create architectural plans from the patterns found in textiles.

The festival's talks programme also features a discussion highlighting an AI-driven future. It is led by representatives from the Design Council in Busan, in partnership and the World Design Organisation alongside a host of Taiwanese designers.

The forums also cover diverse topics, including the Design Research Forum, which serves as a preliminary event for the 2025 International Association of Societies of Design Research (IASDR) conference in Taipei.

This forum showcases Taiwan's ongoing research into AI's ecosystem and industries.

The week will also feature the Golden Pin Design Award (GPDA) ceremony on 13 December, celebrating global design and innovation.

The first edition of Taiwan Design Week took place in 2023 following the theme Elastic Bridging, with more than 100 designers and 54 interdisciplinary local organisations exploring a range of design mediums.

This year's Taiwan Design Week has also, for the first time, chosen a partner country: Poland. An exhibition featuring a selection of posters and typography designs conveying the stories and emotions of Poland will be on show. Meanwhile, Phantoms of Tomorrow offers a powerful reflection on the future of our planet through the lens of design.

Images and renders courtesy of Taiwan Design Week.

Taiwan Design Week 2024 takes place from 7 to 15 December 2024, serving as a critical platform for exploring how AI will shape the future of design and creativity.

See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Taiwan Design Week as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.