ICID Student Victor Wu Redefined Retired Parts, Won A’Design Sustainability Award

In 2020, NCKU ICID student Victor Wu was invited by NCKU’s C-Hub to work on a project in collaboration with KPMG and the Taiwan Power Company. Called “Returning Home”, this project aimed to find solutions for retired power distribution equipment and materials. Inspired by how Taipower workers were reusing retired parts, Victor focused on re-interpreting galvanized steel utility pole components and considered how other end users could also use them. Thus, “Rebloom”, a new modular end-of-life design was created.

Through Rebloom, student Victor Wu imagines a second life for these retired parts without compromising their original function as structural load-bearing utility crossarm components. By enhancing the crossarm beam with additional holes, Rebloom explores the possibilities of further use before conventional recycling. Investigation into the life cycle of hot-dip galvanized steel and a comparison of carbon footprint showed that Rebloom would reduce carbon intensity by over 70%. It could also be potentially used across all of Taipower’s utility yards.

In 2021, Rebloom was featured in two circular economy exhibitions by Taiwan Power Company. It was also recognized with a 2023 A’Design Award for Sustainable and Green Product Design, and was displayed in the Taiwan Design Research Institute’s 2024 Taiwan Design Expo at the Tainan Art Museum Building 2.

During the exhibition, Taipower Department of Environmental Protection Director Yuan-Long Liu expressed his optimism of future application of the design within their facilities.

The design process not only involved product planning but also, through collaboration and brainstorming with C-Hub, KPMG, and various departments of Taiwan Power Company, elevated the potential for rethinking future power distribution components with a “start with the end in mind” approach.