From dechnology to Humart – A case study of Taiwan design development

Abstract

Taiwan economic development is a fusion of Dechnology (Design-Technology) and Humart (Humanity-Art) which could be represented as a smile curve, from OEM (Original Equipment Manufacture), ODM (Original Design Manufacture), to OBM (Original Brand Manufacture). The three stages also reflect the tendency of Taiwan design development, from “use” to “user”, from “function” to “feeling”, and from “hi-tech” to “hi-touch”. Based on the Taiwan experience, this paper is intended to study the relationship between Dechnology and Humart which were merged into design thinking to explore Taiwan design development. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to provide designers, companies, and organizations with an idea for how to direct their efforts to meet the requirements of a new proposed design strategy by applying design thinking. Results of this study are also intended to illustrate the interwoven experience of local design and global market in Taiwan’s economy, industry and design development as well to provide a framework for looking at Taiwan’s cross-cultural design development.