Cross-Cultural Bamboo Craft Design Collaboration: An Interview Review of Taiwanese Design Assistants and Nicaraguan Craftsmen

The Taiwanese government has initiated several bamboo projects in Central and South America. This study focuses on the 2015–2020 Nicaraguan Bam-boo Cultivation and Craft Production Efficiency Improvement Project, which successfully trained 1,000 local households to produce various bamboo products using industrial methods. Through work reports and qualitative interviews with three Taiwanese design assistants, the study presents insights into cross-cultural collaboration. Effective communication with locals re-quired step-by-step processes or demonstration methods. The design assistants enhanced local artisans’ design concepts, craftsmanship, packaging, photography, and basic aesthetics. The experience was both challenging and fulfilling for the assistants, improving their international perspective and cultural acceptance. Interviews with four Nicaraguan artisans revealed that bamboo has become essential for furniture, construction, and daily products. Composite materials like wood and rattan are adapted to the local environment, and high-quality products require significant effort in assembly and finishing. This study aims to explore the impact of cross-cultural collaboration on craft works.