New Taipei Children's Design Exhibition: Unraveling the Design Mysteries of Chanel and Dyson Vacuum Cleaners

▲ The exhibition booths and themes are all designed with children in mind, making it perfect for family visits. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau, the same applies below)

Reporter Chen Ruizhong / Comprehensive Report

With frequent afternoon showers in northern Taiwan recently, many parents have been struggling to plan summer activities for their children. The New Taipei City Cultural Affairs Bureau suggests that parents take this opportunity during the summer break to bring their kids to the 2015 Children's Design Exhibition at the Xinzhuang Art Gallery. Whether it’s scorching hot or rainy, visitors can enjoy many classic design works indoors and gain a deeper understanding of creativity.

This year’s Children's Design Exhibition is themed “What is Design? The Fantastic World of Designers,” featuring multiple design exhibits flown in from overseas by nine international designers. These include the iconic Chanel No. 5 perfume beloved by many women, as well as Chanel’s creative idea of adapting men’s suits for women. Other highlights include a cross-section model of the Dyson vacuum cleaner making its Taiwan debut, the Seed Cathedral building materials from the UK Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, and models of the Centre Pompidou and the British Museum.

▲ The innovative design of the roof of the Great Court at the British Museum by Norman Foster, flown in from overseas.

For those interested in fashion design, the exhibition also showcases hat designs by Phillip Treacy, favored by Lady Gaga and the British royal family, as well as Chanel’s classic blazers, allowing visitors to experience the works of master designers up close.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that the exhibition has made numerous adjustments specifically for children. These include exhibition booths designed according to children’s height and narratives used to present the exhibition content. There are also multiple interactive installation zones, and exhibit texts are annotated with phonetic symbols to help children better engage with the design works.

▲ Cross-section model of the Dyson vacuum cleaner.

The exhibition is divided into six major zones, using storytelling to guide visitors through the displays. It showcases over 20 representative works by nine distinguished design masters, covering fashion design (Coco Chanel, Phillip Treacy, Maywa Denki), product design (Droog Design, James Dyson), furniture design (Piet Hein Eek), and architectural design (Thomas Heatherwick, Norman Foster, Richard Rogers). The exhibition runs until October 4, and during this period, there will also be a limited-time free series of workshops called “Little Designers’ Workshop,” allowing both adults and children to experience the charm of design together.

Children's Design Exhibition
Time: July 4 – October 4
Venue: Xinzhuang Art Gallery (3F, No. 166, Hansheng East Road, Banqiao District, New Taipei City)