Design Development in Newly Industrialized Countries under Protectionist Policy: The Case of Taiwan's Household Appliances Industry from the 1960s to the 1980s

Abstract

This study follows the historical evolution of Taiwan’s household appliances industry and reviews the establishment of design divisions in domestic household appliance manufacturers, including Tatung and Sampo. By examining historical documents and conducting interviews with senior industry personnel, this study explores the ways in which household appliance companies respond to domestic consumer characteristics. Further, this paper analyses the companies’ industrial policies in the mid-1980s under international economic liberalization and the technical support received from overseas partners.