Cat In The Box Àpẹrẹ Ohun Èlò Ẹ̀kọ́ by Liu Yu Nien

Cat In The Box Àpẹrẹ Ohun Èlò Ẹ̀kọ́ by Liu Yu Nien is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ẹ̀kọ́, Ohun-èlò Ìkọ́ni àti Àkóónú Ìdánilẹ́kọ̀ọ́ Competition Category.

IrinẸ̀kọ́· 2026

Cat In The Box Àpẹrẹ Ohun Èlò Ẹ̀kọ́

by Liu Yu Nien

Client: Cat in the box

Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award Winner in Ẹ̀kọ́ Category

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The Design

About Cat In The Box Àpẹrẹ Ohun Èlò Ẹ̀kọ́

Cat In The Box jẹ́ àkójọpọ̀ àwọn ohun èlò ìkọ́ni tí a ṣẹ̀dá láti ran àwọn akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ ilé-ìwé alákọ̀ọ́bẹ̀rẹ̀ lọ́wọ́ láti kọ́ nípa àṣà ìbílẹ̀ ti Maokong ní Taiwan. Àkójọpọ̀ náà ní ìwé ìkọ́ni àti àbájáde, àwọn ìwé pẹlẹbẹ ìkẹ́kọ̀ọ́ tí a gbé karí iṣẹ́-ṣíṣe àti àpótí ìtẹ̀wé onígi kan. Àwọn ìbòrí ìwé ni a fi igi àdánidá ṣe tí a fi ẹ̀rọ laser gbẹ́ àti gé, àwọn ojú-ìwé inú sì lo bébà ìwé ti Japan. Àwọn àkòrí mẹ́rin ni ó ń darí àwọn ẹ̀kọ́ náà: ọkọ̀ ìrìnnà, ẹ̀kọ́ àyíká, iṣẹ́-òwò ìbílẹ̀ àti ìgbé ayé ẹ̀sìn. Àwọn akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ máa ń ṣàkíyèsí, ṣe, ṣẹ̀dá àti jíròrò, tí wọ́n sì ń kọ́ òye tí ó súnmọ́ nípa ìlú abínibí wọn.

The Recognition

About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award

Cat In The Box Àpẹrẹ Ohun Èlò Ẹ̀kọ́ jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó dára tí wọ́n pàdé àwọn ohun tí iṣẹ́ àti ilé-iṣẹ́ nílò tí a retí láti ọ̀dọ̀ àwọn ẹ̀dá tí a ṣàwòṣe dáradára. Àwọn olùborí Irin ń fi ìjáfáfá ńlá, ìmọ̀ pàtó gíga, òye ògbóǹtarìgì àti agbára ìṣẹ̀dá àwọn olùṣẹ̀dá wọn hàn. A retí pé Cat In The Box Àpẹrẹ Ohun Èlò Ẹ̀kọ́ yóò jẹ́ ẹ̀dá tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó wúlò tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Irin A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ ilé-iṣẹ́ jọ, ó sì ní àwọn ànímọ́ ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ tó péye tí a so mọ́ ìmọ̀ ṣíṣe àti ẹ̀bùn. A bọ̀wọ̀ fún Cat In The Box Àpẹrẹ Ohun Èlò Ẹ̀kọ́ nítorí ìfọ̀kànbalẹ̀ rẹ̀, a sì ṣàwòṣe rẹ̀ láti pèsè ìmúdára ìgbésí ayé tó ń ran ayé lọ́wọ́ láti di ibi tó dára jù.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

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.
Dimensions & Packaging: 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
Tags: Cultural Education, Local Exploration, Creative Co creation, Interactive Materials, Curriculum Guidance, Local Learning
Production 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. All of these materials are highly suitable for mass production, and we plan to provide them to elementary schools to promote Maokong’s local characteristics.
Design 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. External challenges involved limited field data due to weather, insufficient real life images, difficulties in mass producing laser engraved and wooden components, and ensuring the curriculum met educational standards.Through field visits, expert interviews, digital map tools, and modular design, the team overcame information and technical constraints, creating interactive, easy to use teaching materials with cultural depth.
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. The study demonstrates a practical teaching model and provides a reference for local cultural education and cross disciplinary curriculum development, promoting cultural heritage and community engagement.
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.
Project Duration: 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.
Operation Flow: 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.
Team Members: Designer: Chen,Ya-Chieh
Designer: Liu,Yu-Nien
Designer: Lin,Yi-Jyun
Designer: Yan,Jhen-Yi
Designer: Lin,Min-Hsuan
Instructor: Yang, Chao-Ming