My name is I-Wen Chien, a graduate of the Economics Department at National Chengchi University, and I currently hold the position of General Manager at Gukang Co., Ltd. I’m a devoted mother of three and I embarked on a vegetarian journey at the age of 20.

By the age of 30, I had explored nearly 40 countries! My passion lies in child sexual abuse prevention, and my mission revolves around designing eco-friendly, non-toxic products to promote safe and effortless cooking practices, all while adhering to the principles of ESG.

I often think about how to combine kitchen safety with products so that everyone can cook with peace of mind and reduce the occurrence of disasters.

According to the statistics of the fire department, the proportion of fires caused by "stove cooking" ranks first. And my mission is to make products that can prevent human negligence fires caused by empty burns, and to protect the elderly and those with poor memory in the home, hoping people all over the world can be free from the fear of kitchen fires.

Gukang Co., Ltd. was established in 1993 and the core value of our company is "Safety, Innovation, and Green". We base our products on health principles and ensure they adhere to the highest international quality criteria.

We are able to manage everything from product design to function research and development to mold manufacturing. The uniqueness of our goods has been fully patented in numerous nations across the globe, and we have won numerous international innovation prizes and awards of excellence.

Design is not just a beautification process but a way to solve problems without changing how you are used to cooking. We consider the customer's safety and home safety into product design so that our designs can improve living while also promoting safety and ease.

To maximize its value, an excellent design should be both aesthetically beautiful and safe. Our product design considers the fact that elderly people do not easily change their habits over time, so users do not need to change their initial cooking habit and stove at home, which can improve the use of the elders in the household.

Instead, simply replace the switch to "Peace of Mind Off" to use. The cooking process is automatically managed by an AI microcomputer which is simple and convenient to use while also protecting the user's personal safety.

When it comes to products, effective design should go beyond enhancing current functionalities; it should also prioritize safety, convenience, and an overall improvement in the quality of life.

From the user's viewpoint, we've implemented AI microcomputer full automation, eliminated redundant embellishments, and concentrated on accentuating the product's strengths and unique features. Our intention is to seamlessly integrate the product into the user's existing routines without disrupting their habits. This approach amplifies safety, minimizes potential life risks, and ultimately safeguards the well-being of users and their families.

Moreover, through the selection of carefully curated materials, the product's durability is significantly bolstered. When used correctly, this product not only ensures safety but can also serve the user and their family for an extended period.

Caring for the elderly is a prevalent concern in my country. Our company's core mission is to ensure that the elderly can use our cookware at home with confidence and peace of mind. Consequently, product safety takes precedence as the foremost consideration in our design process.

For us, winning this award brings us great confidence and proves that our vision and strategy are on the right track. We hope that more people will see our products and bring home safety and convenience to the world.

The initial concept behind SEFI KNOB and SEFI PAN was to provide protection for the elderly and those with memory impairments within the household. We also considered the fact that cooking above 220 degrees can result in the release of grease and smoke, while temperatures exceeding 240 degrees can lead to chemical reactions and the production of carcinogens. To address this, we integrated temperature monitoring into the product, allowing it to display temperature information and emit alerts as a reminder for the family.

If the flame is not adjusted after the warning, the product will intervene automatically by shutting off the flame, thereby minimizing the risk of a potential accident. We decided to enter this project into the competition to showcase our invention to a wider audience and advocate for the concept of enhancing home safety.

Amid the pandemic, we encountered unforeseen hurdles, including factory shutdowns during mold development. Furthermore, the absence of a standardized stove model in the market compelled our team to conduct comprehensive research on available stoves to guarantee the universal usability of our product in every household.

In the process of product testing, we grappled with various challenges, including ensuring that external temperature and seasonal changes wouldn't impact the product's temperature, enhancing the precision of the pointer sensor, and establishing a reliable connection for automatic flame shut-off without external disruptions. Over the course of two to three years, we made numerous adjustments and iterations, but ultimately, we successfully resolved all these issues.

Seeing people use our design, seeing our design reduce carcinogens, and having our design prevent the chance of disasters in each home.

The majority of designs in our country primarily focus on outward appearance and user-friendliness, aiming to captivate people's attention and fulfill the designer's personal satisfaction.

However, when it comes to cookware, it's imperative to enhance the product's functionality. As a result, we merge form, convenience, and product functionality to craft items that prioritize safety.

In the present day, design encompasses more than just aesthetics; it extends to addressing social concerns, including the pursuit of ESG sustainable practices. Consequently, I anticipate that over the next 5 to 10 years, the design industry will witness an increase in outstanding products that actively consider social responsibility and environmental conservation. I look forward to this transformation.

Always pay special attention to social issues. This is what advice I can offer to students. We should always give back to society, this is something every designer should have ingrained in their minds and hearts.

The world is at your fingertips, the internet is so accessible to everyone! In order to improve one’s design skills, one should collect different opinions, so that they can make a perfect combination of product design and sustainable management of society. Therefore, I would recommend people who want to advance in this area to consult more and watch more, which I believe is the most effective way.

My father has dedicated a lifetime of time and effort to the cookware industry. When he was about to retire, his greatest wish was to develop a product that would automatically turn off the heat so that users and their families could cook with peace of mind. So this product is a vision that either my father and I have always wanted to accomplish.

My father once almost caused a disaster when he forgot to turn off the fire. When this happened, I realized that the possibility of fires caused by cooking can happen in every home despite being careful. And there are very few products on the market that can perfectly reduce such disasters. No one wants a disaster to happen to them or their family. I hope that my family can avoid the possibility of such a disaster, and I also hope that such a problem will become less and less common in society.

Our company's brand has always adhered to our core values of "Safety, Innovation, and Sustainability." We are unwavering in our commitment to utilizing only high-quality materials to craft exceptional products. If I wouldn't personally feel at ease using a product, it wouldn't even make it to the market. With every invention and creation, the materials and safety of the product are our top priorities, without a shadow of doubt.

I am very thrilled to be able to participate in the MUSE Design Awards which is the greatest recognition for me and my team has ever had! I hope that I can create more disaster reduction products in the future, and I also hope that every company will make more of an effort in giving back to society by making more products that are convenient and safe.