Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

Mayor Hau Lung-bin met with Johan Ku – one of the winners of the 11th Gen Art’s Style International Design Competition – at city hall on December 22. Ku claimed first place in the competition’s Avant-Garde category.
Hau praised the curriculum of the city’s vocational school system for producing outstanding alumni such as Ku and New York Yankees pitcher Wang Chien-ming; Ku attended Songshan High School of Commerce and Wang graduated from Taipei Physical Education College.
During their conversation, the mayor stressed the importance of students to find their own “paths” to success, and going to college is not the only answer. He cited Daan Vocational High School, Nangang Vocational High School, and Songshan High School of Commerce, noting that the students of these schools often participate in international competitions on a regular basis. By winning awards and trophies, these students have more opportunities in securing job offers than their peers from standard high school and universities.
The mayor invited Ku to attend the 2011 IDA World Congress in Taipei and showcase his works at the event. Accepting the invitation, Ku expressed his hope of seeing more talents from Taiwan being recognized by the international community for their achievements, allowing them to proudly say: “I come from Taiwan!”
Ku talked about how the support for designer competitions from both the public sector and private sector help to cultivate young talents. The support is vital for future designers, attracting the attention of the global community and making London one of the fashion capitals in the world.