While many designers chase trends, Professor Chong-Wen Chen hunts for deeper meaning. Drawing inspiration from his groundbreaking research on sustainable development, this Taiwanese designer and scholar has transformed complex UN development goals into a visually striking trilogy of posters that speak a universal language. Using colored pencils, fountain pens, and wooden road signs, Chong-Wen weaves together art and activism to spell out humanity's most pressing mission: creating a sustainable future for all.

By: Chong-Wen Chen, Designer & Professor, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology

Chong-Wen Chen, a scholar and designer, earned his first Platinum award at the 2025 Graphis Design Awards for his groundbreaking poster series, “SDGs Messages Trilogy.” This unique project reflects Chong-Wen’s dedication to sustainability by transforming his research on sustainable development into powerful visual storytelling that promotes a global commitment to a sustainable future. The trilogy highlights Chong-Wen’s deep understanding of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showcasing his skill in creatively deconstructing textual information to engage audiences with the profound messages behind the SDGs.

The project comprises three posters: “Design for Tomorrow,” “Global Commitments,” and “For Lives & Children.” Each poster is inspired by a distinct theme within the SDGs and conveys a unique yet interconnected message. In an innovative touch, each poster extracts a single letter from each SDG to form a meaningful vertical phrase:

•“Design for Tomorrow” champions forward-thinking in design, encouraging sustainable practices that ensure a brighter future. The poster features an array of colored pencils, symbolizing the diverse tools of design dedicated to fulfilling sustainable principles.

•“Global Commitments” emphasizes the importance of international cooperation to achieve greater sustainability. Represented by fountain pens, this piece symbolizes treaties, agreements, and collective efforts necessary for a sustainable world.

•“For Lives & Children” reflects a compassionate vision for the well-being of all Earth’s inhabitants. Depicted on wooden road signs surrounded by blooms, it symbolizes the path toward a sustainable future for coming generations.

The “SDGs Messages Trilogy” is deeply rooted in Chong-Wen’s academic research, drawing from his influential publications: “Approaching Sustainable Development Goals: Inspirations from the Arts and Crafts Movement to Reshape Production and Consumption Patterns” and “Who Wins and Who Loses in Global SDGs Rankings? Clarifying the Influence of the North-South Divide and Foreign Direct Investment on Spillover Effects,” both published in the esteemed journal Sustainable Development.

In the first paper, Chong-Wen explored how the Arts and Crafts movement of 19th-century Britain can inspire today’s industries and designers to reshape unsustainable production and consumption, leading to the creation of “Design for Tomorrow,” which highlights the role of aesthetics in fostering sustainability. The second paper exposes how advanced countries often meet their SDGs by exploiting resources from developing countries, thereby neglecting the true principle of “Leave No One Behind.” This message inspired “Global Commitments” and “For Lives & Children,” which echo the call for global action on environmental and social justice.

These non-profit posters not only convey critical insights from Chong-Wen’s research but also invite interdisciplinary collaboration with his department, the Department of Cultural and Creative Industries at the College of Innovation and Design, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology. Reflecting the university’s commitment to sustainability, the department fosters a design ethos that combines creative problem-solving with the SDGs.

Chong-Wen hopes that “SDGs Messages Trilogy” will inspire industries, public sectors, communities, researchers, designers, and individuals alike to foster sustainable awareness and work together for a better world for future generations.

Chong-Wen Chen is a professor in the Department of Cultural and Creative Industries at the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan. He is also a graphic and product designer who has earned patents and multiple international awards. Chong-Wen is passionate about leveraging design thinking and methodologies to drive sustainable development and higher education innovation. With over a decade of experience in interdisciplinary studies and design, his research and visual works have been published in renowned and top-ranking journals, including Sustainable Development, Sustainable Cities and Society, Visual Studies, Design Journal, and Design and Culture.

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