Cat-in-the-box's Educational Material Design presents a comprehensive pedagogical ecosystem arranged across a neutral backdrop, demonstrating sophisticated compositional staging that balances asymmetr

Cat-in-the-box's Educational Material Design presents a layered educational children's book composition executed on a warm wood-grain substrate with laser-etched linear illustration and multicolored p

Cat-in-the-box's Educational Material Design presents an open spreads configuration photographed from above, revealing a sophisticated educational apparatus that merges playful illustration with pedag

Cat-in-the-box's Educational Material Design presents a pedagogical encounter captured in medial proximity, where two youthful hands engage in active learning through tactile craft manipulation within

Cat-in-the-box's Educational Material Design orchestrates a pyramidal compositional schema wherein four light-toned wooden shadow-box frames, each approximately square in format and constructed from p

Iron Education, Teaching Aid and Training Content Design · 2026

Cat In The Box Educational Material Design

by Liu Yu Nien

A' Design Award 2026 Iron Winner in Education, Teaching Aid and Training Content Design
Awarded April 15, 2026
CLIENT: Cat in the box
Estimated Number of Design Views: 4,814
Verification code 23B809BBBF · Verify this award

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About Cat In The Box Educational Material Design

Cat In The Box is a set of teaching materials created to help elementary school students learn about the local culture of Maokong in Taiwan. The set includes a teaching and outcome book, task based learning booklets and a wooden printing box. Book covers are made of natural wood shaped by laser engraving and cutting, and the inner pages use Japanese book paper. Four themes guide the lessons: transportation, ecology, local industry and religious life. Students observe, make, create and discuss, building a closer understanding of their hometown.

Cat In The Box Educational Material Design by Cat-in-the-box engages contemporary movements in progressive education that emphasize multisensory learning pathways, constructivist pedagogical philosophy, and the thoughtful integration of analog tactile experiences within increasingly digital educational landscapes, reflecting broader cultural conversations around hands-on learning, environmental awareness through natural material selection, and the value of sustained physical engagement with educational content, the compositional and material achievements evident in this systematic educational toolkit demonstrate sophisticated understanding of visual hierarchy, color theory application in child psychology contexts, and the ergonomic considerations essential to age-appropriate educational design, the careful calibration of chromatic relationships balancing warm natural timber foundations with strategically deployed saturated accent colors suggests deep attention to visual accessibility and sustained engagement without overstimulation, while the precision evident in laser-cut wooden components indicates technical facility with contemporary digital fabrication methodologies married to traditional material sensibilities, the integration of photographic documentation, illustrated narrative sequences, dimensional puzzle elements, and supporting printed materials within a coherent visual and conceptual system speaks to holistic curriculum design thinking that recognizes diverse learning modalities and the pedagogical value of moving fluidly between observational, imaginative, and kinesthetic modes of knowledge construction, thematically, this educational material system appears to explore architectural or environmental subject matter, inviting learners into relationships with built and natural spaces through layered representational strategies that progress from photographic reality through illustrative interpretation to abstract three-dimensional reconstruction, this pedagogical arc from observation through imagination to physical making reflects constructivist learning theory emphasizing active knowledge building rather than passive reception, the material choices themselves carry pedagogical significance, with natural wood surfaces offering warmth, tactile satisfaction, durability, and implicit environmental values, while the clean contemporary aesthetic vocabulary suggests accessibility, clarity, and removal of unnecessary ornamental distraction that might impede learning objectives, the system's modular character, evident in the discrete components that nonetheless share visual DNA through material, color, and formal languages, allows for flexible deployment across various educational contexts and developmental stages, suggesting thoughtful consideration of real classroom dynamics and diverse learning environments, one might observe how this design invites educators and learners alike into patient, sustained engagement with place, structure, and spatial imagination, offering multiple entry points and pathways through its content while maintaining pedagogical coherence, what stories might these materials help young learners construct about buildings, communities, or environments, and how does the movement from two-dimensional observation to three-dimensional creation deepen spatial understanding and environmental literacy in ways that purely screen-based or purely verbal instruction cannot achieve.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: Every town in Taiwan has its own story. This project invites children in Maokong to uncover the hidden stories of their hometown. In collaboration with Wanxing Elementary School, the project combines the depth of educational planning with the warmth of design practice. Focusing on landscape, ecology, local industry, and religious life, we developed courses and interactive learning materials that encourage students to explore their surroundings in daily life. Through observation, creation, and discussion, students gradually rediscover their hometown and experience the unique charm of Maokong.
Dimensions & Packaging: Maokong Teaching and Outcome Book : 17.6 x 25 cm
Maokong Wooden Box : 12.5 x 12.5 × 5 cm
Maokong Learning Book : 17.6 x 25 cm
Tags: Cultural Education, Local Exploration, Creative Co creation, Interactive Materials, Curriculum Guidance, Local Learning
Production Technology: Our books are made with composite materials, featuring covers crafted from natural wood using laser engraving and cutting techniques. The inner pages use high quality Japanese book paper, with interactive spreads designed to make the teaching and outcome books more engaging and interesting. The Maokong printing boxes used in the curriculum are made from pine wood, paired with laser-cut basswood objects; the sturdy outer boxes are suitable for display and storage, allowing children’s creativity to be preserved. The classroom activity books are designed as small task oriented booklets, using ivory paper to make doodle colors stand out while maintaining the paper’s natural texture. All of these materials are highly suitable for mass production, and we plan to provide them to elementary schools to promote Maokong’s local characteristics.
Design Challenge: The main challenge of this project was transforming Maokong’s rich local culture into materials suitable for elementary students. Internal challenges included presenting history, tea culture, religious practices, and daily life in ways that students could understand and engage with. External challenges involved limited field data due to weather, insufficient real life images, difficulties in mass producing laser engraved and wooden components, and ensuring the curriculum met educational standards.Through field visits, expert interviews, digital map tools, and modular design, the team overcame information and technical constraints, creating interactive, easy to use teaching materials with cultural depth.
Project Duration: The project began in July 2025 at the 2026 National Student Practical Project Competition. In March 2026, it was completed with the Muzha Farmers’ Association and Wanxing Elementary School, and was showcased at the 2026 Next Gen Design Exhibition in May.
Operation Flow: This project presents the Maokong cultural teaching books and interactive tools, designed for students to explore their hometown through observation, creation, and discussion. Students interact by flipping pages, using wooden boxes, and completing task-based learning booklets. The materials follow four themes transportation, ecology, local industry, and religious life guiding students step by step through observing, operating, creating, and sharing. This clear and engaging process enhances learning outcomes, strengthens cultural understanding, and fosters a sense of local identity.
Research: This is a design practice study aimed at helping elementary students understand and express Maokong’s local culture. Using teaching books, learning booklets, and wooden boxes, combined with digital guidance and hands-on activities, students observe, interact, create, and discuss local culture. Data were collected through literature, field visits, interviews, and map exploration, with participants being mid grade students at Wanxing Elementary School. Results show that interactive materials improve cultural awareness, creative thinking, and emotional expression. The study demonstrates a practical teaching model and provides a reference for local cultural education and cross disciplinary curriculum development, promoting cultural heritage and community engagement.
Inspiration: The project is set against the backdrop of local cultural heritage in the Maokong area. While current marketing and promotional efforts are abundant, they lack engagement and participation from the next generation. The core challenge lies in effectively building a bridge between the land and residents and the younger generation, in order to ignite student enthusiasm for exploring their hometown and foster civic literacy for sustainable cultural preservation.