MCUT Digital Marketing and Design Students Embark on Kansai Field Study Transforming Perspectives on Cross-Disciplinary Design and Marketing
NEW TAIPEI, TAIWAN — From June 13 to June 23, the Digital Marketing and Design Program at Ming Chi University of Technology (MCUT) organized an intensive 11-day international academic and industrial field study in the Kansai region of Japan. Led by Professor Chin-Hsiang Lin, the cohort of 20 outstanding students engaged in deep cultural and professional exchanges. Grounded in MCUT’s commitment to enhancing students' international mobility and connecting theory with real-world practice, the core theme of this field study focused on "Creative Innovation through Contemporary and Historical Dialogue." The tour aimed to provide students with rich, professional inspiration for their future endeavors in webpage design and digital marketing.
The journey began with a significant academic visit to MCUT’s sister institution, the Kyoto University of the Arts, a premier art and design university in Japan. The delegation received a warm welcome from Professor Hiroichi Sato, a long-time academic partner of the department, alongside Ms. Pin-Yun Tseng, an outstanding MCUT alumna who currently teaches in Japan. In addition to introducing the university's rigorous academic traditions and campus aesthetics, Ms. Tseng shared her personal experiences regarding advanced studies and design practices in Japan. Students from both institutions later dined together at the university cafeteria, deepening the long-standing international friendship between the schools. The delegation was also graciously received by Professor Izumi Tanaka, Chair of the Department of Information Design, who introduced their foundational educational philosophy and core competencies, emphasizing the vital connection between curriculum design and social practice.
In terms of industrial observation and cultural immersion, the students visited "graf," a legendary Japanese design collective established nearly 30 years ago, to witness the pinnacle of "Total Branding"—a philosophy that seamlessly integrates graphic identity, product and furniture design, and culinary experiences. Furthermore, the itinerary perfectly balanced traditional craftsmanship with technological innovation. Students experienced interactive new media and corporate disruptive innovation at the world-class Cupnoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda and the Osaka Science Museum. They also traveled to Sakai, a historic city famed for its traditional crafts, visiting the Sakai Denshōkan and Sakai Rishō no Mori. There, they observed the "IP capitalization of shokunin (artisans)" through compelling storytelling marketing and personally experienced the timeless spatial minimalism pioneered by tea master Sen no Rikyu.
"To cultivate a global worldview, one must first view the world with a mindful heart," emphasized leading professor Chin-Hsiang Lin. This overseas field study allowed MCUT students to witness firsthand how top-tier Japanese enterprises and creative studios translate culture and history into immense commercial value through meticulous visual packaging and experiential marketing. Moving forward, MCUT will continue to invest in global learning, collaborating with top international institutions and distinguished overseas alumni to nurture next-generation digital marketing and design elites who possess both a global perspective and robust practical expertise.
Image (No. 1) Description: Kyoto University of the Arts. MCUT students and faculty pose for a group photo in front of the Ningenkan (Humanities Building) at Kyoto University of the Arts, alongside faculty and graduate students from the Visual Communication Design department; Professor Hiroichi Sato is pictured on the far right.
Image (No. 2) Description: graf Design. A group photo capturing the delegation's industrial visit to the renowned design studio graf; Professor Shigeki Hattori is pictured on the far left.
Image (No. 3) Description: Ninenzaka. A group photo capturing the delegation's industrial visit to the renowned design studio graf; Professor Shigeki Hattori is pictured on the far left.
