Design Portfolio _ Hua-Wen

E xp e r i e n t i al I nt e r i o r Designer

Int er ior Design P o rtfo l i o

Interior design is a narrative that connects people within a space.

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Hua Wen Kao

Hua Wen Kao As a designer with a foundation in the arts, Hua Wen offers a unique perspective to projects. She is passionate about concept thinking and the design process, believing that successful design goes beyond visual appeal—it’s a form of storytelling that connects people through diverse and meaningful experiences.

Honors & Aw a rd s 20 22

W inner of t he G l oba l des i gn Com p e t i t i o n , P R AD A ”AC T I ON I N T H E Y EAR OF T H E T I G E R ”

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Led t he des i gn of t he f i r s t f l a gs hi p s t o re f o r El l e s s e i n Ta i p e i , Ta i w a n

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Led t he des i gn of a pop- up s t ore i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h J a p a n e s e a r t i s t a n d Vo l c o m i n Ta i p e i , Tai w an

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Rec ei ved t he E xcel l ence Awa rd f o r t h e G r a d u a t i o n P ro j e c t

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Awa rded a s chol a r s hi p f or t he B e s t G r a d u a t i o n P ro j e c t

Educat i on 2 02 1-2 02 2

Fa s hi on Ins t i t ut e of Tech n o l o g y MA

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N e w Yo r k , N Y

E xhi bi t i on & E xp e r i e n c e D e s i g n

G PA : 3 .7 5 20 12 -20 16

N a t i ona l Ta i chung E duca t i o n o f U n i v e r s i t y BA

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Fi ne A r t s

G PA : 3 .7

L anguage English (F l uent )

M a nd a r i n C h i n e s e ( N a t i v e )

Ta i c h u n g , Ta i w a n

E xper i enc e Interior Designer

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IKEA

03 / 2023 - Presen t

• Plays a p i vot a l rol e a s a crea t i ve probl e m - s o l v e r i n h o m e f u r n i s h i n g c h a l l e n g e s w i t h i n t h e l o c a l m ar k e t , le adin g t he wa y i n provi di ng i ns pi r a t i o n a l s o l u t i o n s t o c u s t o m e r s .

• U tilize s i nt er i or des i gn t ool s , ens ur i ng a s e a m l e s s a n d e ff i c i e n t i n - s t o re d e s i g n p ro c e s s w h i l e maintain i ng a s t rong f ocus on s i m pl i c i t y a n d b u d g e t c o n t ro l . Ta k e s t h e l e a d i n e m p l o y i n g a f a s t - p ac e d an d dyn a mi c a pproa ch t o des i gn • De mo ns t r a t es a n i n- dept h under s t a nd i n g o f c o n s t r u c t i o n , m a t e r i a l s , a n d l i g h t i n g , t a k i n g o n a l e a de r sh i p ro le in eff ect i ve communi ca t i on wi t h f a b r i c a t o r s a n d b u i l d e r s .

Experiential Designer

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Tessellate Studio

07 / 2023 - 09 / 2023

• Collabo r a t ed wi t h 3 D des i gner s a nd pro j e c t m a n a g e r s i n b r a i n s t o r m i n g s e s s i o n s t o f o s t e r i n n o v a t iv e design c oncept s a nd devel op t he 3 D d r a f t d e s i g n .

• Assumed a l ea der s hi p rol e i n t he L oon C o n s e r v a t i o n p ro j e c t , g u i d i n g t h e d e s i g n p ro c e s s , imple me nt i ng eff ect i ve des i gn s ol ut i on s , a n d c re a t i n g t h e d e s i g n m o d e l s y s t e m .

• Organize d t he des i gn det a i l book a nd f a c i l i t a t e d h a n d o v e r t o f a b r i c a t o r s t o e ff e c t i v e l y c o m m u n i c at e design d et a i l s .

Visual Merchandising Designer

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Yun San Corp

07 / 2017 - 07 / 202 0

• Plan an d execut e i n- s t ore a nd wi ndow v i s u a l d i s p l a y s i n a l i g n m e n t w i t h b r a n d s t y l e s , m a r k e t i n g e ve n t s, an d globa l gui del i nes f or prom i nent b r a n d s s u c h a s K AP PA, Vo l c o m , E l l e s s e , V E J A, a n d L a c o s t e .

• Le ad th e s t ore des i gn proces s f rom con c e p t u a l i z a t i o n t o c o m p l e t i o n , c o l l a b o r a t i n g c l o s e l y w i t h f abr i c at o r s to en sure t i mel y execut i on.

• Trav el to va r i ous s t ores a cros s Ta i wa n, e n s u r i n g t h a t t h e v i s u a l s t o r y a l i g n s s e a m l e s s l y w i t h t h e b r a n d stan dard s .

Ski l l Auto CAD

Phot os hop

Interior Design

Storytelling

Ske tchU p

Il l us t r a t or

Exhibit Design

Draft Design

Re vit

InD es i gn

3D Modeling

Prototyping

V-ray

R et a i l D es i gn

Graphic Design

Concept Thinking

Content

0.1 IKEA x Interior Design

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0.2 IKEA x Interior Design

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0.3 PRADA x Action in the Year of the Tiger x Experiential Design

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0.4 The Art Therapy Project x Experiential Design

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0.5 Ellesse x Store Design

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0.6 Volcom x Pop-up Store Design

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0.1

Interior Design . 2023

St y l e g roup

S ca n d i n a v i a n modern

L i vi ng si t ua ti o n

L i v i n g wi th c hildren

L ong t er m p ri o ri ty

L i v i n g wi th c hildren

L i f e a t hom e a cti v i ty

S to re & o rg a nise, pla y ing, rela xing a nd dining

Si ze

185 sq ft

Welcome to the heart of the home for this family of five​– a safe space to play, store, socialize, relax and do hobbies!​ ​ ne big solution near the sofas provides a designated place for​all their belongings.

O Most items are organized behind doors to​keep the room clutter-free. The children have their own storage​next to the dining table for toys and art supplies. Everything is​easily accessible when it is time to play or clean up. ​Here, they can all be together or together-apart, allowing each​member the freedom to be themselves. They can all paint​around the dining table, or someone can read, and others play​video games or work on puzzles.​

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Overall view

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Moodboard

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Visitor experience

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Create a layered gallery wall of children’s drawings by using brackets and hangers to show them off with pride!

Set up an art studio at the dining table for children to enjoy and unleash their creativity together.

Use a coffee table that provides storage for loose toys and a footstool that offers extra storage for throws.

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Create an organized bookcase by balancing books with storage boxes and decorative objects.

Create a sofa combination that allows the family to be together yet apart – with pieces that combine for movie

Combine an open and closed storage solution to showcase items for daily use and keep the rest organized behind

night or playing video games together.

doors.

Elevations

Wall A

Wall B

Wall C

Wall D

Wall B

Wall A

Wall C

Wall D

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Super White Eggshell 54902

Paint all the walls in Super white.

Wall A – Door paint in blue.

Wall B – After install the BESTA combination, paint the three colors on the wall.

0C-23 Classic Gray

1335 Cactus Flower 2066-30 Big Country Blue

Wall A

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Wall B

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Interior Design . 2023

St y l e g rou p

Int er na t i ona l m o d e r n

L i vi ng si t u a ti o n

L i vi ng t oget h e r ( c o - l i v i n g / c o m m u n i t y l i v i n g )

L ong t er m p ri o ri ty

Sm a l l s pa ce l i v i n g

L i f e at ho m e a cti v i ty

Soci a l i s i ng, d i n i n g , h o s t i n g a p a r t y, s t o r i n g

Si ze

130 sq ft

The celebration hub of this apartment - the dining area for a group of friends who live together. They share not only an apartment but also the fact that their families live far away.

They decided to open their home to friends and neighbours for a celebration. Extra seating and a table are stored in the hallway – easy to set up and ready for guests to arrive. Open and closed storage hide the unnecessary things and create more space for the feast.

Everyone joined the celebration by bringing different foods and drinks to share.

The sideboard next to the table hosts the buffet while the movable trolley functions as a bar for the evening. When everyone has found their place, it is time to enjoy the good food and drinks as well as the company of their chosen family.

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Overall view

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Moodboard

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Visitor experience

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Use the lighting chain to create a festive atmosphere focused on the back of the room and the additional table.

Use a trolley as a bar cart with different kinds of glasses and bottles.

Use the shelving unit to display a buffet on top with extra plates and bowls.

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Hang a paper roll on the wall to display the dinner menu – with a pen hanging from a hook.

Using folding chairs to easily create additional seating for people at a party.

Add hooks and ledges to enhance the wall storage functionality.

Elevations

Wall A

Wall B

Wall A

Wall B

Wall A

Wall B

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Hidden Sanctuary 1375

Wall A – Paint two different colors and use a birch beam as a divider.

Wall B – Paint the entire wall using Olympic Mountains 97.

Olympic Mountains 971 2132-10 Black

birch beam

Wall A

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Wall B

Digital Certificate

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0.3 B r and L oc at i on Year of d es i g n Si ze

Experiential Design . 2022

P R A DA Ne w Yo rk , New York 2022 A cco rd i n g to the spa ce

‘Action in the Year of the Tiger’, launched in December 2021, is an art project that aims to both raise public awareness about the tiger’s serious risk of extinction and celebrate creativity.

Last December, the initiative was open to students aged under 30 from Chinese and international art schools, who were asked to produce their own personal interpretation of this captivating animal, a symbol of power and nobility. The students were given free rein to express themselves however they liked using the languages of painting, design and sculpture.

A special jury, comprising artists Lu Yang, Liu Ye and Goshka Macuga, selected 20 works they found particularly meaningful. The winning designs will be exhibited at a special presentation at Prada Rong Zhai, Shanghai, from 31 August to 18 September.

The Prada Group has also contributed to the conservation of endangered Amur tiger by making a donation to “Walking with Tiger and Leopard” Programme of China Green Foundation.

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Design concept The Tiger symbolizes strength in China, and black and white represent the yin and yang balance of Taoism—the equilibrium between humans and the environment.

These representations of strength and balance are also inspired by elements of Prada’s branding and retail space designs. Half of the image symbolizes Prada’s eyes to observe the status of tigers—shedding light on the habitat crisis that the tiger is currently facing and calling on the public to notice the unseen.

This installation is located in the heart of NYC at the Fashion Institute of Technology. It will bring together people from different neighborhoods and cultures and raise awareness of Prada’s mission for ecological conservation and efforts to restore balance.

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Press release - PRADA Group

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Press release - WWD

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Press release - THE IMPRESSION

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Press release - FIT news

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Press release - SUNY NEWSROOM

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0.4 Experiential Design . 2022

O rg ani za t i on

T h e A rt T h e ra py Project

L oc a t i on

Va n d e rb i l t H a l l, New York

Yea r of d esi g n

2022

Si ze

2500 sq ft

The Art Therapy Project is a nonprofit mental health organization that offers free group art therapy sessions for adults and youth. Through the art-making process and with the guidance of our art therapists, clients gain the tools to explore their emotions, enhance self-awareness, and navigate life’s challenges.

Aligned with its mission, this exhibition creates a space for individuals to embrace self-acceptance and embark on their healing journey, fostering a mindful and present way of living.

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Site visit Vanderbilt Hall was built in 1913 and provides a spectacular setting for both public and private events. As the main waiting room in Grand Central Terminal, its 6,000-square-foot raw space boasts 5 stunning Beaux-Arts chandeliers and sees 200,000 people pass through daily.

Audience • Target : Employees in New York City (Commuters) • Secondary : Tourists all around the world • Tertiary Type : Rechargers

Floor plan Standing : 500 people Square Feet : 6000 ft

Exhibit space

Project goals • Re-define what mindfulness is and how to do it daily.

• Helping visitors to identify their emotions and embrace who they are.

• Teaching people how mindfulness and self-awareness are essential from the inside out.

• A chance to participate in starting mindfulness and releasing pressure.

Emotion Map

Education goals • Knowing the importance of mindfulness and how to become aware in everyday life.

• Learning how to face uncomfortable emotions and stay in the present moment.

• Visitors will learn how to use mindfulness daily and how it can improve their lives.

Experience goals • Creating a sensorial experience to connect with the emotions of the visitors and keep them at the moment.

• An opportunity to participate in improving wellness in this society.

• Using powerful content provides an inner space for visitors to release pressure and start better life habits.

• To utilize the creative process for visitors to explore self-expression and find a new way to gain insight.

Stressed

Self-awareness

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Visual communication The graphic look and feel of the ‘The Color in You’ exhibition showcases modern, natural, and soft colors to represent the overall atmosphere in the collection. The organic shape line serves as a pattern to express the different emotions of each person. The background color reflects the art therapy process, using various colors to represent people’s feelings. It conveys that it affects ourselves and our surroundings in everyday life.

Main color palette

Secondary color palette

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Wayfinding system

Exhibition Area Wayfinding A Wayfinding B

Wayfinding A

Wayfinding B

Dimension according to site

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Wayfinding B

Wayfinding B

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Wayfinding A

Material

Cotton rag paper

Texture paper

Blockboard

Soundproofing

Truss

Structure plan Using trusses to construct the exhibit space and soundproofing to reduce the noise from this crowded train station.

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Visitor experience 01 Life isn’ t complicated. We are 02 When you change, the world changes with you too 03 Right here, right now 04 We don’ t remember days, we remember moments 05 What will you see when you turn around 06 You are the answer 07 Happiness is a choice.

08 Everything start with you.

Experience route

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When visitors scan the QR code, they will see six different lines, each color represents one of the six activities. When people click on a line, there will be audio to guide them on what to experience in each area.

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Detail drawing

Scale : 3/4”=1’-0”

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0.5 B r and L oc at i on Year of d es i g n Si ze

Store Design . 2020

ellesse Ta i p e i , Ta i wa n (Xinyi A13) 2020 700 sq ft

Ellesse opened its inaugural flagship store in Taiwan, and I played a pivotal role in leading the design process—from conceptualization to space design—to effectively convey the brand’s story.

The inspiration for the space design was drawn directly from the brand’s narrative, incorporating elements such as its rich heritage in activities like skiing, tennis, and gym culture. The success of this inaugural store in Taiwan garnered extensive coverage in numerous news magazines, further highlighting the positive reception and impact it had on the market.

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Dimension : mm

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Wall B

Wall A

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Wall A

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Press release - Dappei

The classic Italian casual brand ellesse’s first flagship store in Taiwan, Xinyi Far East Park, has a grand opening! This store design uses the iconic brand LOGO as the design concept, with bright orange and dark orange colors.

And the semicircular LOGO composed of some reddish colors symbolizes the combination of tennis and skiing. Not only the walls and floors of the store are painted with the logo color as the main theme, but the counter decorations also use a large number of tennis props and water. Characteristic elements such as modular bricks echo.

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0.6 Pop-up Store Design . 2017

B r and L oc at i on Year of d es i g n Si ze

V O L CO M Ta i p e i , Ta i wa n 2017 850 sq ft

The pop-up store extended its presence to Shanghai, China; Tokyo, Japan; and Taiwan. I played a pivotal role in curating the experience design and pop-up store layout specifically for the Taiwan location. Throughout this project, I collaborated closely with Hotel V, a renowned and trendy selection store in Taipei, Taiwan.

Our aim was to showcase the creative works of Japanese artists, and the collaboration with Hotel V added a unique touch to the presentation. The entire space, encompassing videos, tangible experiences portraying the artist’s narrative, and a live painting exhibition, was meticulously crafted. The essence of the collaboration seamlessly blended artistic expression with the spirit of Volcom, incorporating elements of life, music, and art.

This distinctive pop-up store collaboration garnered attention and recognition, featuring prominently in various trend magazines.

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Artist with Pop-up store opening

Collection launch

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Pop-up store finish photos

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Window design space Window design

Brand collaboration logo

PVC sticker on the glass window

Artist introduction / video

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Press release - KEEDAN

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Volcom, an internationally renowned lifestyle apparel brand, has always been keen on integrating various arts, cultures and elements into its product designs to bring unique products. This time the brand specially cooperated with two artists from Japan, Toshikazu Nozaka and Usugrow . The two artists took love (Ai), courage (Yuki) and wisdom (Chie) as their creative themes, and brought out their hopes for the future. A new limited series is released. Founded in 1991, Volcom was born out of the spirit of creativity; and produces a variety of products designed for people with a passion and pursuit of life. Tolerate all differences and use creativity and courage to make the impossible possible.

The series includes three themed printed T-shirts, a multi-purpose small bag, wine glasses inspired by traditional Japanese handmade sake glasses, skateboards and scarves. The first Asia-Pacific touring art exhibition and release event organized by Volcom was held on April 14 at the Volcom store in Tokyo, Japan. The art paintings prepared by the two artists for this project were also exhibited at Volcom Sendai and Osaka Station.

The launch event will be followed by tours in Taipei and Shanghai on May 17 and May 19 respectively. The event in Taipei will be held at the famous street culture and skateboarding venue, Xinsheng Tianqiao Skatepark. The Shanghai station event will be held at Brash, a fashionable fashion store full of street and art atmosphere in Jing’an District. In addition to displaying the art paintings and personal art paintings designed by the two artists for this project, the two artists will also attend the event in person and paint on the spot. Volcom has also cooperated with HOTEL V SELECT SHOP, a famous compound selection store in Taiwan, to hold a POP-UP art exhibition. This special series will be first put on sale at HOTEL V on May 5th, and the two artists will be displayed on May 18th. works and put them on public sale.

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Creativity is the pathway to experiencing magic in the world.