Taiwan Today
Date: May 3, 2016
Dazhi Market in central Taipei’s Zhongshan District recently saw the signs of its stands
The operator of a dumpling store at Taipei’s Dazhi Market displays a new store sign designed by Aaron Nieh. (Courtesy of the TCG Department of Cultural Affairs)
renovated, reflecting ongoing efforts in the city to give new vigor to traditional community spaces through the input of designers and graphic artists as Taipei hosts the 2016 World Design Capital events.
Taipei City Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs announced April 28 the completion of sign reinstallation projects at Dazhi as part of The Taipei Design, Action! initiative, which seeks to explore street aesthetics. On eight older street blocks in Taipei, 52 stores were selected to have their signs redesigned, with Dazhi having the first nine cases in the stalls selling such items as dumplings, pork and vegetables.
Aaron Nieh, designer of three new store signs, views it as a great experience to discuss and cooperate with store operators to create something different from his past works. “My style is usually quite cold and now I’ve learned to work on more relaxed, cheerful designs,” he said, recalling his childhood habits of accompanying his mother to traditional markets full of food materials and with a warm human touch, which characterize many other such places all around Taiwan.
DCA head Beatrice Hsieh considers the renovated Dazhi stores a brilliant example of infusing design creativity in everyday activities. “In the past, urban development or marketing projects were mostly focused on larger scales and bigger cases, with designers usually working for elite groups,” she said. “Now top designers, illustrators and architects are invited to contribute their creative ideas to a common community scene, too.” [FULL STORY]
