This year, Taiwan Tech achieved remarkable success at the Young Ones Student Awards, part of the esteemed New York Art Directors Club Annual Awards. The university garnered one gold, one silver, and three honorable mentions, solidifying its global standing at the 9th position worldwide and securing the top position in the Asia-Pacific region.
"The Windy Day," the award-winning creation by Shi-Qian Xu and Zong-Yi Xie, second-year master's students from the Department of Design at Taiwan Tech, stands out with its unique storytelling approach.
A noteworthy achievement among the accolades was the exceptional performance of "The Windy Day" (https://vimeo.com/804368405), a collaborative creation by Shi-Qian Xu and Zong-Yi Xie. Both master's students in the Department of Design at Taiwan Tech received the prestigious gold award in the Animation category and an honorable mention in the Title Sequence category. It is worth noting that the Animation category witnessed the bestowal of only 10 gold awards worldwide, making this accomplishment truly exceptional.
Screenshot of the award-winning work "The Windy Day" by Shi-Qian Xu and Zong-Yi Xie, second-year master's students from the Department of Design at Taiwan Tech.
Despite being digitally produced, "The Windy Day" embodies the essence of a handcrafted picture book style. The deliberate choice is to reduce the animation frame rate from the standard 24 frames per second to 12 frames per second, adding a sense of motion and creating an atmosphere reminiscent of real photography. The narrative revolves around a group of children flying kites on a windy afternoon. It explores the conflicts arising from loss and the passage of time. The story unfolds as they initially resist acceptance and engage in disputes, witnessing loss along the way. Eventually, they embark on a journey of self-discovery, uncovering new perspectives as they embrace the next chapter of their lives.
"The Windy Day" depicts the story of a group of children flying kites on a windy afternoon.
Zong-Yi Xie stated that the production process of "The Windy Day" took approximately four months to complete. During this period, Zong-Yi Xie was selected for the Ministry of Education's Elite Overseas Training Program in Arts and Design and underwent a year-long training visit at the University of Southern California. Collaborating with Professor Sheng-Wen Hsiao from Taiwan Tech, as well as professors Mike Patterson and Candace Reckinger from the University of Southern California, Zong-Yi Xie and Shi-Qian Xu overcame challenges associated with cross-border and cross-school collaboration, including synchronizing work across different locations and time zones. In the latter two months of production, Shi-Qian Xu had to enlist for military service and could only work on the project during weekends, adding an additional layer of difficulty to the process.
Shi-Qian Xu pointed out that "The Windy Day" serves as a one-minute opening sequence, and actively participating in competitions and winning awards was a strategic step to raise funds for the production of the full-length film. Both Shi-Qian Xu and Zong-Yi Xie believed that besides the time required for pre-production, financial support was crucial for the realization of the animation. Winning awards serves as an important achievement to secure funding grants. The student awards at the New York Art Directors Club Annual Awards place a greater emphasis on design rather than the completeness of the animation, aligning with their strategic decision to submit an entry tailored to the judges' preferences.
Shi-Qian Xu (left) and Zong-Yi Xie (right), second-year master's students from the Department of Design at Taiwan Tech, captured in a photograph taken in Vancouver.
This marks the second time Shi-Qian Xu and Zong-Yi Xie have received this prestigious award. In the previous year (2021), they individually won the gold and silver awards. This time, they collaborated due to both being selected for the Ministry of Education's Elite Overseas Training Program in Arts and Design. Shi-Qian Xu pursued his studies at Sheridan College in Canada in 2021, while Zong-Yi Xie chose the University of Southern California in 2022. They deeply understand the intricacies of animation production and the importance of teamwork, highlighting the necessity of collaborative efforts. Thus, their joint collaboration resulted in yet another remarkable achievement.
In regard to advice for aspiring designers, Zong-Yi Xie believes that the market should not dictate the value of one's work. Instead, creators should maintain a genuine affinity for their own creations and remain true to their original intentions and should lose sight of their initial aspirations. On the other hand, Shi-Qian Xu emphasizes the importance of careful planning and setting clear goals, as creators often find themselves losing their way along the journey. Only through strategic planning can they continue to refine their skills.
The New York Art Directors Club Annual Awards, initiated by the global non-profit organization "The One Club for Creativity" in 1921, is recognized by the Ministry of Education as a premier international competition in the field of comprehensive design.
Shi-Qian Xu (left) and Zong-Yi Xie (right), second-year master's students from the Department of Design at Taiwan Tech, captured in a photograph taken in Vancouver.
