In Italy, many Renaissance-era items are enclosed in glass for display in historic spots. This way of presentation that mixes old and new means that cultural resources are preserved but visitors can still fully appreciate them. Now, with traditional crafts meeting contemporary design, the beauty and simplicity of the old can be translated into modern flair.

From October 18 to 20, in Hall 1 of the Taipei World Trade Center, the National Taiwan Craft Research Institute and the Taiwan Design Center presented works from collaborations beween eight local craftsmen and eight international award-winning designers. They combined modern design concepts with traditional crafts, using bamboo, ceramics, traditional dyes, and silver to create 19 stylish items including an electric fan, a laptop bag, a Chinese chess set, and jewelry. It was another successful blending of these two worlds.

The value of such interdisciplinary cooperation is in breaking boundaries and venturing into the unknown. The bracelet "Ice Silver" promoted at the exhibition by Ko Ti-chieh, head designer at IPEVO and lecturer in Shih Chien University's Department of Industrial Design, is an example. He describes the first time he saw the silverwork of Lin Meng-chen from the arts group Chifeng Silverwork, and how he was taken in by its "old Taiwan" flavor.

"I tried to find a style that was shared by contemporary design and folk arts. Without changing the essences of the crafts, I wanted to bring in my design viewpoint and create a new classic style," he says.

For that reason, when designing "Ice Silver" Ko chose to use a simple, transparent structure to encase the silver, which appears to be floating inside. The delicate silverwork is protected, and another dimension is added to the visual aspect of the piece. The two sides are purposely left open to stress the bracelet's profile. The embedded silver is reminiscent of the intricate carving often seen on temple pillars in Taiwan, adding a traditional religious beauty to the modern style of the bracelet.

"This work was almost orphaned," says Lin as he describes the difficulties of collaboration. To realize the transcendent ideas of Ko, they had to experiment with many different ideas. Just getting the silver and the transparent structure together took much effort. The two materials bend and expand differently, so if the pressure was too strong the piece wouldn't take the proper shape and the materials would not seem to be as one. They only solved the problem by accurately figuring in the amount of space that would be created when the material expanded.

"Master Lin said that making this project work was a matter of pride and that we had to succeed no matter what," Ko said at a press conference for the exhibition. He spoke easily, but the dazzling final result reflected the challenges.

There are still not enough finished products of such collaborations for a "creative culture industry" to take off. Products will also have to be marketable. Taiwan Design Center vice president Huang Chen-ming says that these 19 works are to be marketed internationally. A marketing strategy is being created, and they should be rolled out by the end of the year. Also, the National Taiwan Craft Research Institute and the Taiwan Design Center have announced a strategic alliance to continue to promote such collaborations.

The traditional and the modern can be worlds apart, yet they can also merge in the stream of culture. In the dialog between craft and design, new avenues are opening for Taiwan's culture and industry.

The bracelet created by Ko Ti-chieh and silversmith Lin Meng-chen.

Chen Chun-hao and bamboo weaver Chiu Chin-tuan collaborated on a laptop bag.

Chou Yu-jun and bamboo weavers Chen Kao-ming and Su Su-jen collaborated to create an electric fan.

Liao Chun-hao and hand-dyeing artist Liu Chun-ching's perpetual calendar.

Eight craftsmen and eight designers cooperated in creating nearly 20 works. It's the first collaboration between traditional Taiwanese craftsmen and international designers.