The “Marketing and Advertising Service” program at Chung Yuan Christian University, offered by the Department of Commercial Design and the Department of Business Administration, adopts an interdisciplinary collaborative approach. It aims to assist non-profit organizations and social enterprises in solving problems and creating social impact through professional and creative practices. This year, students have engaged in activities such as ecological challenges, interactive picture books for parent-child interactions, second-hand sustainable markets, and the establishment of cooperative websites. These initiatives demonstrate the integration of service-learning and university social responsibility, while conveying the spirit of interdisciplinary practice: “From ZERO TO HERO” to the wider society.
Chung Yuan Christian University held the “From ZERO TO HERO” press conference on the morning of May 24th at the Taipei NGO Hub. This student-initiated and organized event showcased the outcomes through works, posters, videos, and other forms of presentation. Each group also prepared short skits to demonstrate the creativity and care of Chung Yuan students. For instance, the “Ubag Team,” promoting the Ubag second-hand bag recycling program, performed a humorous skit using personified yellow plastic bags, prompting reflection on whether there is excessive waste in our daily lives.
In addition to the impressive presentations by each group, the highlight of this press conference was the main visual concept of “From Zero to Hero.” This interactive poster-based visual featured small dots symbolizing individuals. When touched, they would come together to form a larger pattern, representing the collective power of everyone. The designer, Shi Hao-yun, who pursued a double major in commercial design and information systems, explained that this interdisciplinary approach allowed the integration of two fields of expertise in the design process. Shi Hao-yun stated, “While an individual’s power is limited, a group of people can surpass limitations and become catalysts for breakthroughs.”
The “Marketing and Advertising Service” program at Chung Yuan Christian University has been offered for over 17 years, combining the marketing expertise from the Department of Business Administration and the creative design skills from the Department of Commercial Design. This year, the program was supervised by seven instructors. Ding Jie-yuan, a faculty member from the Department of Business Administration, mentioned that the four student groups showcased the advantages of interdisciplinary collaboration in various fields such as community care, cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and creative design. Throughout the process, they faced difficulties and disagreements, but they also gained the skills and nourishment required for future careers.
