In a quiet corner of Tainan—a city known for its temples, cuisine, and warmth—designer Yafen Kuo has created something both delicate and quietly radical: a beetle-shaped chain weight that transforms an ordinary window fixture into a symbol of nature, sustainability, and thoughtful living.
Her project, GAUTSA, recently won the Gold Prize in Product Concept Design at the 2025 Future Art & Design Award UK (Summer Season), earning international recognition not just for aesthetics, but for heartfelt innovation.
“I’m not a trained designer,” Kuo shares candidly. “GAUTSA came from a real request—someone simply wanted a better-designed chain weight. That small question led me here.”
As a parent closely attuned to environmental issues, Kuo found inspiration in biodiversity. She chose the flower beetle as her muse, not only for its elegant form, but as a quiet reminder of the planet’s natural beauty. “The beetle symbolizes the continuation of life,” she says. “I wanted to bring that sense of wonder into everyday indoor spaces—like beside the window, where the day begins.”
Designing GAUTSA was anything but ordinary. Kuo started with a more folkloric shape, but as she worked through technical and manufacturing constraints, the beetle form emerged—organic, sustainable, and beautifully refractive. She engineered small but meaningful details, such as folding lines on the PET body to enhance light refraction and an optional safety suction plate to secure it in homes with children or pets.
Every element reflects her thoughtful balance of function and poetry. “The most exciting part was realizing the piece wasn’t just beautiful—it felt complete,” she says.
GAUTSA is made from recycled PET plastic and a highly eco-friendly metal. Even the packaging is minimalist and sustainable. But beyond environmental values, Kuo hopes users feel something more personal: “I want them to notice how the chain falls smoothly, how light changes throughout the day through the semi-crystal body—and to feel proud of owning something so small, yet meaningfully made.”
Winning the Gold Prize has been both a surprise and a validation. “I didn’t expect to enter a UK design award without submitting a physical object,” Kuo says. “But the platform allowed me to express the heart of the concept—before the product was even finalized. It was simple, accessible, and aligned perfectly with what I believe in.”
Still in prototyping, GAUTSA continues to evolve—but its quiet message remains constant: small objects can carry big ideas, and beauty can begin at the window, with a beetle and a beam of light.
Full Interview
1. Could you let us know a bit more about yourself and what inspired you to pursue a career in creative / design?
I was born and live in Tainan, a southern city in Taiwan known for its temples, delicious food, and warmth—both in weather and in people. I’m not a trained designer. I created the beetle chain weight simply in response to a real market need. I’m not always confident in what I do, but I’m always trying to make things better, step by step.
2. What was the initial inspiration behind this project? Was there a specific idea, moment, or question that sparked its development?
When a customer asked me for a better-designed chain weight than what was already available on the market, I began to think about creating a unique and sustainable alternative. That request sparked the beginning of GAUTSA. As a parent, environmental issues are something I follow closely in my daily life. I believe that biodiversity represents the best state of nature. The flower beetle, a symbol of life’s continuity, became the perfect metaphor. By bringing this small creature into an interior space, I wanted to gently remind people of how refreshing and beautiful nature is—and how we can live in harmony with it, even in the smallest corners of our homes.
3. What was the most exciting or challenging part of creating the work?
Soon after deciding to design my own version, I originally imagined a shape inspired by a local folktale. But as I considered manufacturing limitations and cost, the form gradually evolved into a nature-inspired beetle. Balancing aesthetics with practicality was both the most exciting and most difficult part. Especially rewarding moments came when I came up with small yet thoughtful details—like the folding lines on the back of the PET body to create light refraction, and the optional safety suction plate to prevent the chain from swinging too freely near children or pets. These details made me feel the piece was not only beautiful, but truly complete.
4. What feeling or experience do you hope users have when they interact with GAUTSA?
I hope users feel how naturally and smoothly the chain falls, and that the chain weight can exist not only as a functional piece but also as a beautiful ornament beside the window. I also hope they enjoy how the light changes throughout the day as it passes through the semi-crystal-like PET material. At the same time, I want users to feel happy and proud to own this small object—knowing that it was created with minimal carbon impact. We use recycled plastic and one of the most eco-friendly metals available, and even the packaging is designed with sustainability in mind.
5. How was your experience taking part in the Future Art & Design Award UK?
I was so surprised—and delighted—that I could join a UK design award without needing to prepare a physical product. It was wonderful to express my design concept and receive positive feedback before moving into production. The process was refreshingly simple, low-cost, and aligned perfectly with the sustainable values I care about.
Finally, I attached a photo of my unfinished yet beetle. These 3D printed prototypes still look rough for different testing— but let's expecting the final beauty.
