Islands Helping Islands, Bonds Beyond the Seas
During the 2026 Pacific Islands Forum held in Palau, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented the Pacific Prosperity Exhibition, showcasing the achievements of long-standing partnerships between Pacific Island nations and their international partners. Under the theme “A Voyage into Tomorrow,” the exhibition evolved from its initial curatorial vision into a fully realized experience, bringing ideas and stories to life.
Through immersive visuals, interactive technology, and spatial design by archicake design,the exhibition transformed the outcomes of international policies and partnerships into an immersive narrative rooted in Austronesian maritime culture—one that visitors could see, feel, and actively experience.
Guided by the idea that “It Takes an Island to Understand an Island,” the exhibition invited visitors to rethink the connections between islands. The ocean is more than a geographical divide; it is a bridge that connects cultures, emotions, and a shared vision for the future.
Beyond Borders: From Storytelling to Realization
When diplomatic achievements go beyond policies and statistics, how can we make international collaboration truly visible and meaningful?
As the Prosperity Partnership Initiative spans multiple countries and sectors, the exhibition focused not on the amount of information presented, but on how visitors could understand and connect with it. Through interactive experiences, complex policies were translated into a visual language that transcended cultural boundaries and created emotional resonance.
Yet the challenges of bringing this vision to life extended far beyond the visuals themselves. Organizing an exhibition overseas meant navigating cross-border communication, technical complexities, and team coordination—challenges we had to overcome, one step at a time.
Beyond Viewing: A Shared Vision Across the Ocean
Created in collaboration with MIXCODE, an animation and visual storytelling studio, the exhibition's main narrative film reimagined the deep-rooted partnerships between Taiwan and Pacific Island nations through a warm and delicate visual language. Rather than presenting individual project achievements one by one, the film placed the connections between islands at the heart of its storytelling. Through ocean-inspired imagery and an emotionally expressive visual approach, it portrayed the meaningful bonds of mutual support, shared resources, and collective growth. By moving beyond the formal language of diplomacy, the film revealed the human connections and emotional depth behind international cooperation, transforming complex diplomatic themes into a heartfelt and engaging story.
At the heart of the exhibition, an interactive touchscreen table drew inspiration from Palau’s traditional storyboards (Itabori). Just as these traditional artworks bring legends to life through vivid symbols and imagery, we sought to simplify complex narratives through visual storytelling.Abstract policy concepts were translated into intuitive and accessible visual storytelling, highlighting the achievements of cooperation between Taiwan and Pacific Island nations across various fields. This approach allowed visitors to appreciate the visuals while intuitively understanding the stories and messages behind them. After exploring these collaborative achievements, visitors were invited to leave their wishes for a shared future on the touchscreen table. Once visitors signed their messages, Palau’s iconic marine creatures gently swam outward from the central island into the surrounding waters, symbolizing how the spirit of mutual support transcends oceans and national borders, connecting island nations across the Pacific. The experience guided visitors on a journey from understanding and connection to active participation. Visual storytelling made complex policy information more approachable, while interactive technology invited visitors to become part of the narrative. Rather than presenting diplomatic achievements as a one-way display, the exhibition transformed them into a meaningful exchange—one that visitors could understand, experience, and econnect with on an emotional level, leaving a lasting impression beyond the exhibition itself.
Turning the Distance Between Islands into a Path Toward Connection
Bringing an international exhibition to life requires seamless coordination across every stage, from technical integration and equipment installation to on-site execution. With the support of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Taiwan in Palau, the Palau Taiwan Business Association, and members of the local Taiwanese community, creative ideas were transformed into reality far from home.
During the exhibition, Palauan President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. visited the venue, along with diplomatic envoys and representatives from the United States, Japan, and Australia. The distinguished guests expressed their appreciation for the exhibition. Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lin Chia-lung, also extended his gratitude to the team for their dedication and efforts. Echoing the exhibition’s theme, “A Voyage into Tomorrow,” this experience brought islands closer together through technology and art, transforming international cooperation from policy commitments into a shared vision for the future—one that could be seen, felt, and experienced together. It Takes an Island to Understand an Island—and the Ocean Is Where Connection Begins.
Media Coverage
◦ FM Lin attends Pacific Prosperity Exhibit
◦ Palauan President Attends Exhibit Highlighting Taiwan's Pacific Contributions
Organizer ｜ Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Executive Organizer｜Taiwan Design Research Institute, TDRI
Curatorial Team｜archicake design
Interactive Design & Project Execution ｜ iF Plus
Executive Director｜Poyu Wang
Project Director｜Rita Yeh
Project Manager｜Rita Yeh , Te wei Liu
Content Producer｜Kiki Huang , Vicki Huang
Visual Designer｜Hsuan-Hsuan Ku
UI/UX Designer｜Elise Chen
Technical Artist & Interactive Programmer｜Jay Wu
2D Animator｜Aaron Chang
3D Animator｜9Grid Design
Hardware Engineer｜Wei Xin You
Animation Production｜MixCode Studio
Sound & Music Designer｜Yujun Wang
Hardware & Technical Integration｜PROJECT MEDIA CO., LTD.
Media Documentation｜FIXER Photographic Studio