GOLDEN PIN DESIGN AWARD 2025

DELVE INTO 5 FASCINATING WORKS FROM THE GOLDEN PIN DESIGN AWARD 2025 WHICH ADDRESSING SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL ISSUES

TEXT: KITA THAPANAPHANNITIKUL
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOLDEN PIN DESIGN AWARD

(For Thai, press  here)

The 2025 Golden Pin Design Award Ceremony—one of the most prominent events in the Asian design community—was held on December 5 at the Taipei Performing Arts Center. After a rigorous evaluation of 90 projects across four categories, 22 projects ultimately emerged as winners—representing Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, the United States, Poland and Thailand.

While each award-winning project offers a unique perspective on design, Uwe Cremering, CEO of iF International Forum Design GmbH and a member of the final selection jury, noted that many shortlisted works excelled not only in aesthetics and innovation but also in addressing real-world needs, which lead to a meaningful impact—a key quality shared by all of this year’s award-winning designs.

Therefore, art4d invites you to explore five designs from this year’s Golden Pin Design Award which deliberately address sustainability and social issues

Starting with the Product Design category, there are two standout works that not solely began with aesthetics, but with a desire to solving critical problems for vulnerable areas

The Aquacendo LightUp Filtered Bottle combines three essential functions: it serves as a portable water bottle, features a filtration system that eliminates 99.99% of bacteria and microorganisms, and includes a solar-powered LED cap for nighttime use. Every component—the cap, handle, and body—is designed to be modular, allowing for easy disassembly and customization. Beyond simplifying maintenance, this modular approach significantly extends the product’s overall lifespan.

Aquacendo’s LightUp Filtered Bottle by Yee Gee International Co., Ltd. (Product Design)

Aquacendo was founded on the vision of Ray Ko, a 16-year-old from Taiwan. Following a trip to regions in Africa that lacked basic infrastructure, Ray witnessed firsthand the critical shortage of clean water and light, essentials for survival. This experience led to the creation of the Aquacendo LightUp Filtered Bottle, a design that serves as a powerful reminder to the global community that many people in various parts of the world are still waiting for vital assistance.

Another Best Design award winning project, the SOMO Solar Lighting System by Sonnenglas®, shares a similar origin story. Sonnenglas® is a German company known for its flagship product, the ‘Sun Jar’—a portable lantern designed like a glass jar that functions as both a container and a lighting device. The SOMO Solar Lighting System is a detachable lighting module integrated into the lid, which can be charged via both solar energy and USB-C.

Sonnenglas® SOMO Solar Lighting System by Sonnenglas GmbH (Product Design)

Beyond providing a lighting solution that is safer than kerosene lamps, Sonnenglas® is committed to enhancing the quality of life for African communities through fair trade principles. Examples include the glass lanterns handcrafted by artisans in Eswatini and special collections featuring the work of Johannesburg artists, seamlessly integrates technology, sustainability, creativity, and social responsibility into the aspect of design.

Moving into the Communication Design category, the most eye-catching entry is undoubtedly the special edition poster for Studio Ghibli’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984). The film tells the story of a post-apocalyptic future and humanity’s struggle to coexist peacefully with nature.

This Taiwan-exclusive poster was designed by JOEFANGSTUDIO in collaboration with illustrator Steven Tung. The artistic direction draws inspiration from ancient bestiaries, featuring vintage paper tones, sketch-like linework, and torned edges. The giant insect Ohmu is rendered on such a massive scale compared to the protagonist, Princess Nausicaä, appears tiny—vividly illustrating the grandeur of nature in contrast to the humans, a creature who perpetually seek to destroy it.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind – Taiwan Exclusive Poster Design by JOEFANGSTUDIO (Communication Design)

In addition, JOEFANGSTUDIO has previously designed posters for several other Studio Ghibli classics, including Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Spirited Away. You can explore more of their work at https://joefangstudio.com.

In the Spatial Design category, the standout project is the Taichung Green Museumbrary, designed by SANAA in collaboration with Ricky Liu and Associates. Spanning 58,016 square meters, this landmark integrates an arts museum and a public library within a single complex. The architecture consists of eight interconnected yet distinct volumes, wrapped in a silver-white aluminum mesh facade. This skin reflects the surrounding atmosphere while providing a sense of transparency, openness, and fluidity allowing the architecture to dissolve into the urban scene, presenting culture and nature as inseparable entities. The building’s layout is designed for a fluid transition between various programs, blurring the boundaries between ‘learning’ (the library) and ‘communication’ (the art museum), and harmoniously merging the two into a singular experience.

This year also celebrates a winner from Thailand: LACY STEPS by TROP: terrains + open space, founded by Attaporn Kobkongsanti. LACY STEPS is a 9.3-meter-deep courtyard located within the Yanlord Arcadia residential project in Shanghai. Its defining feature is a three-level, stair-like structure crafted from white metal mesh walls, which serves to bridge spatial boundaries while filtering sunlight for the area below. This structure functions as a versatile multipurpose space, accommodating relaxation, performances, reading, and more—offering a sculptural experience that seamlessly flows with the surrounding nature.

LACY STEPS by TROP: terrains+open space (Spatial Design)

Besides the highlighted projects, there’re still many other distinguish works across the four categories—Product Design, Communication Design, Spatial Design, and Integration Design—that were not mentioned here. This also includes the winners of the Golden Pin Concept Design Award and the Special Annual Award.

Also, detailed information on all 22 Best Design winners of the Golden Pin Design Award 2025, the 3 Best Concept of the Year recipients from the Golden Pin Concept Design Award, and the 3 Special Annual Award winners can be found at https://goldenpin.org.tw/goldenpin/en.

For those who wish to experience these works in person, all of this year’s finalists are currently on display at the Golden Pin Design Award 2025 Exhibition. The showcase is held at the Taiwan Design Museum within Taipei’s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and will run until April 26, 2026.

goldenpin.org.tw