National Taipei University of Education

Zhong-Wei Lin not only studies arts and design at the National Taipei University of Education, he has already founded the company FeiChing Design, which is dedicated to innovative design projects. “The aim is to advance the sustainable circular economy of brands, packaging and products,” says the young creative. Together with Yu-Ting Chen, Kai-Chieh Hsueh and Hsun-Yu Chang, he developed the SUPPLUS project, which is both thoughtfully conceived and relevant due to the many conflict zones around the world.

Interview with National Taipei University of Education

Red Dot: SUPPLUS is packaging for relief goods that can be subsequently converted into a toilet. In addition, it incorporates plant seeds that are able to germinate on natural compost. What other considerations were behind SUPPLUS?
National Taipei University of Education: With its simple, practical and multifunctional design, SUPPLUS can help solve health and environmental problems in disaster areas. It uses only environmentally friendly materials, which can decompose naturally after one month of use. In addition, the toilet function is helpful for the living environment of refugees as it reduces the spread of bacteria and thus health risks as well. This helps to create a healthier and more hygienic environment.

What inspired the choice of this theme?
In 2022, I went to Europe as a university exchange student and travelled to 14 European countries during this time. I visited various cities and towns and dedicated myself to design research based on my observations of the local geography and people’s lives. During that time, I met many refugees who had become homeless due to wars and natural disasters. I wanted to examine the daily needs of these people and develop a creative solution to address them.

Do you think design could contribute much more to solving humanitarian problems in general?
For me as a designer, it’s not only about making life more comfortable, but also about improving the living conditions of minority groups. A designer’s passion and expertise can contribute to the world by conceptually connecting society, culture and ecology to create innovative ideas that improve safety and sustainability. SUPPLUS designs embody the importance of humanitarianism and may also motivate more people to engage with social issues.

What fundamental role does sustainability play in your work?
FeiChing Design and our design team have long been committed to sustainable innovations. We take environmentally friendly manufacturing, user experience and recycling into consideration. In addition, we are currently working on a series of service processes for SUPPLUS that will improve its feasibility.