Towards a new paradigm: applying industrial design processes to the craft bamboo industry

The craft bamboo industry in Taiwan has been in steady decline since 1985. In recent years, the government has attempted to stimulate this industry by promoting this craft as a distinct form of national culture and identity; however there is a disconnect between the desires of national policy objectives and the effort required to raise the state of play in Taiwan's bamboo crafts and product sectors to compete on a global scale and attain a desirable level of demand. The research aims to demonstrate that an industrial design-led approach is required within the craft bamboo industry to revitalise the sector.