Press Release
A' Design Award in Education, Teaching Aid and Training Content Design Goes to Cat In The Box Educational Material Design by Liu Yu Nien
Liu Yu Nien recognized for education, teaching aid and training content design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 22, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the A' Design Award in the Education, Teaching Aid and Training Content Design category for Cat In The Box Educational Material Design by Liu Yu Nien, designed for Cat in the box. The result belongs to the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The A' Design Award Explained
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
About Cat In The Box Educational Material Design
Cat In The Box is a set of teaching materials created to help elementary school students learn about the local culture of Maokong in Taiwan. The set includes a teaching and outcome book, task based learning booklets and a wooden printing box. Book covers are made of natural wood shaped by laser engraving and cutting, and the inner pages use Japanese book paper. Four themes guide the lessons: transportation, ecology, local industry and religious life. Students observe, make, create and discuss, building a closer understanding of their hometown.
About Liu Yu Nien
This design practice originates from Ming Chi University of Technology, specializing in the integration of digital media, User Experience (UX), and educational innovation. The work focuses on transforming regional narratives into interactive learning systems that enhance cultural engagement. By synthesizing visual communication with pedagogical depth, the practice develops tangible tools that facilitate heritage preservation and community learning. This methodology prioritizes the social impact of design, bridging the gap between digital interfaces and humanistic values.
Award Record
With this recognition, Liu Yu Nien is a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Education, Teaching Aid and Training Content Design Award
The A' Education Design Award is an international competition recognizing good education products and projects by leading designers and brands worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to education designers, teaching aid designers, training content creators and curriculum developers from all countries. Entries typically include textbooks, e-learning platforms, educational games, training manuals, instructional videos and interactive whiteboards. Awarded education designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/education
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/182861
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/182861
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!182861
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/381068
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.instagram.com/cat_in_the_box.2025/
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Cat In The Box Educational Material Design
- Function
- Educational Material Design
- Category
- Education, Teaching Aid and Training Content Design
- Discipline
- Service Design
- Industry
- Education
- Colors
- Tan, Wheat, Rosy Brown, Gainsboro and Burly Wood
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Cat in the box
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Liu Yu Nien
- Country
- Taiwan (China)
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #182861
Credits
- Team
- Chen,Ya-Chieh, Liu,Yu-Nien, Lin,Yi-Jyun, Yan,Jhen-Yi, Lin,Min-Hsuan and Yang, Chao-Ming
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Every town in Taiwan has its own story. This project invites children in Maokong to uncover the hidden stories of their hometown. In collaboration with Wanxing Elementary School, the project combines the depth of educational planning with the warmth of design practice. Focusing on landscape, ecology, local industry, and religious life, we developed courses and interactive learning materials that encourage students to explore their surroundings in daily life. Through observation, creation, and discussion, students gradually rediscover their hometown and experience the unique charm of Maokong.
- Inspiration
- The project is set against the backdrop of local cultural heritage in the Maokong area. While current marketing and promotional efforts are abundant, they lack engagement and participation from the next generation. The core challenge lies in effectively building a bridge between the land and residents and the younger generation, in order to ignite student enthusiasm for exploring their hometown and foster civic literacy for sustainable cultural preservation.
- Research
- This is a design practice study aimed at helping elementary students understand and express Maokong’s local culture. Using teaching books, learning booklets, and wooden boxes, combined with digital guidance and hands-on activities, students observe, interact, create, and discuss local culture. Data were collected through literature, field visits, interviews, and map exploration, with participants being mid grade students at Wanxing Elementary School. Results show that interactive materials improve cultural awareness, creative thinking, and emotional expression.
- Challenge
- The main challenge of this project was transforming Maokong’s rich local culture into materials suitable for elementary students. Internal challenges included presenting history, tea culture, religious practices, and daily life in ways that students could understand and engage with.
- Realization and Technology
- Our books are made with composite materials, featuring covers crafted from natural wood using laser engraving and cutting techniques. The inner pages use high quality Japanese book paper, with interactive spreads designed to make the teaching and outcome books more engaging and interesting. The Maokong printing boxes used in the curriculum are made from pine wood, paired with laser-cut basswood objects; the sturdy outer boxes are suitable for display and storage, allowing children’s creativity to be preserved. The classroom activity books are designed as small task oriented booklets, using ivory paper to make doodle colors stand out while maintaining the paper’s natural texture.
- Operation and Interaction
- This project presents the Maokong cultural teaching books and interactive tools, designed for students to explore their hometown through observation, creation, and discussion. Students interact by flipping pages, using wooden boxes, and completing task-based learning booklets. The materials follow four themes transportation, ecology, local industry, and religious life guiding students step by step through observing, operating, creating, and sharing. This clear and engaging process enhances learning outcomes, strengthens cultural understanding, and fosters a sense of local identity.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project began in July 2025 at the 2026 National Student Practical Project Competition. In March 2026, it was completed with the Muzha Farmers’ Association and Wanxing Elementary School, and was showcased at the 2026 Next Gen Design Exhibition in May.
- Specifications
- Maokong Teaching and Outcome Book : 17.6 x 25 cm Maokong Wooden Box : 12.5 x 12.5 × 5 cm Maokong Learning Book : 17.6 x 25 cm
- Keywords
- Cultural Education, Local Exploration, Creative Co creation, Interactive Materials, Curriculum Guidance, Local Learning
