The Graduate School of Design at the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech) officially launched the 13th International Design Study Forum Conference and International Design Workshop (IDSFC 2026) on July 3. Under the theme "Design Beyond Borders," the event is being held in Design Building I and Design Building II, bringing together design researchers, professional designers, and industry representatives from Germany, Macao, Japan, Costa Rica, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. A total of 75 research papers are being presented during the conference, reflecting the diversity and vitality of contemporary design research.
Since its establishment in 2014, IDSFC has grown into one of Taiwan's leading international platforms for design exchange. This year's program integrates the academic conference with an international design workshop, combining scholarly research with local practice to explore topics including human-centered design and society, interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural locality, and the future of design.
President Chang,Chuan-Yu of YunTech noted that, in addressing major global challenges such as artificial intelligence, population aging, sustainable development, and international cultural exchange, design has evolved beyond the creation of form and function. Instead, it has become an important medium connecting technology, the humanities, society, and local communities. He expressed his hope that the conference and workshop would inspire greater interdisciplinary collaboration, foster innovative thinking, and expand new horizons for both design research and professional practice.
The event also features two keynote lectures delivered by distinguished international scholars. On the first day, Professor Matthias Wölfel of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Germany, presented a keynote titled "Designing for Social Interactions: Bridging Realities in the Age of Ambient Intelligence." His presentation explored adaptive and context-aware interfaces, emphasizing how future technologies should enhance rather than replace human interaction, thereby creating products, services, and environments that are both inclusive and socially connected.
On the second day, Professor Wen-Wei Yu, Director of the Center for Frontier Medical Engineering at Chiba University, Japan, delivered a keynote entitled "Individualized Physical and Cognitive Function Support for Community-based Healthcare." Focusing on the challenges posed by super-aged societies around the world, he discussed how community-based healthcare and interdisciplinary collaboration can extend medical services beyond hospitals into homes and local communities, helping older adults maintain independence and a high quality of life.
Through paper presentations, keynote lectures, and an international cross-cultural design workshop, IDSFC 2026 provides a platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration among researchers, designers, and young scholars from diverse disciplines and cultural backgrounds. Members of the public interested in exploring how design can improve people's lives are warmly invited to participate.
For more information, please visit the official conference website:
https://idsfc2026.wixsite.com/home
For inquiries, please contact:
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Group photo from the opening ceremony.
Professor Matthias Wölfel delivers the keynote lecture.
President Chang,Chuan-Yu presents a certificate of appreciation to Professor Matthias Wölfel.
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