美援計畫前後共持續了15年，對當時的臺灣政經局勢有重大的穩定效果，過去對美援計畫的研究，大多從政經、社會的構面著手，鮮少就美援對臺灣教育，特別是設計教育方面，進行研究，從過去的研究中發現，美援對臺援助的三大重點中，臺灣技術人員的培訓計畫占有很大的分量，其中設計人員的培訓也在計畫的項目中。本研究目的是透過口述歷史的方法進行資料的蒐集與調查，研究中針對郭叔雄、陳敦化、謝牧民、侯平治、王鍊登及梁又照等人進行訪談，主要是了解外籍設計家來臺協助指導的過程、本地設計家的學習經驗與看法，以及外籍設計家對後來臺灣設計教育的貢獻與影響。研究發現，美援對臺設計協助計畫是美國外交全球策略之一，對臺灣的設計援助不僅啟迪臺灣工業設計的發展，更進一步讓臺灣的工業設計教育開始萌芽。設計協助計畫不僅將現代設計思潮與概念帶入臺灣，也間接促成臺灣工業設計教育的誕生。

There are documented accounts of the influential role of U.S. aid in the development of Taiwanese design education. Missing from the historical records of design education, however, are the perspectives of local design practitioners who participated in the design workshops during the period of U.S. aid to Taiwan, 1963 to 1966. Using face-to-face interviews, this study draws upon the insights and perspectives of workshop participants. Specifically, this research explores selected participants' learning experiences, personal interpretations, and private thoughts regarding the workshops and how the workshops impacted their thinking and influenced their professional practice. The study finds that the design workshops from 1963 to 1966 were part of the U.S. global strategy of economic assistance through design during the Cold War era. The design workshops incubated a number of design talents to either fulfill the needs of newly established design institutes or devote themselves to the local design industry. Overall, the local early industrial design education benefited most from these design experts, whereas the local industry did not gain as much of an advantage as its leaders had expected.