Latest news with #SeoulDesignFoundation
Business Wire
25-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Seoul Takes Over Paris – Seoul Design Foundation Sets the Global Stage at Maison&Objet Paris
SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The soul of Seoul is heading to Paris—and it's not coming quietly. From September 4 to 8, 2025, the Seoul Design Foundation (SDF) will make a bold entrance at Maison&Objet Paris, one of the world's top three design fairs, accompanied by 20 of the city's most innovative design brands. Under the evocative slogan 'Seoul My Soul,' this exhibition will not only highlight Seoul's rich heritage and cutting-edge design but also stake its claim as a global creative powerhouse. This isn't just an exhibition—it's Seoul's declaration of design identity to the world. Through this participation, the Foundation aims to enhance Seoul's global design presence and communicate the city's creative potential, cultural depth, and technical innovation to a broader audience. Share The Seoul pavilion will be located in Hall 7, Gift & Play section, occupying approximately 180 square meters. Visitors will encounter a wide spectrum of creative works, ranging from trend-forward lifestyle products to reimagined traditional crafts and eco-conscious design pieces that address both current needs and future directions. Participating brands are grouped under three thematic categories. The Living Trend section features 8 brands offering lighting, compact storage furniture, eco-friendly kitchenware, and stylish bathroom accessories—products that embody Seoul's current lifestyle sensibilities and are already gaining popularity both online and offline. The Contemporary Interpretation of Tradition section includes 5 brands that transform traditional Korean materials—such as hanji (paper leather), mosi (ramie), najeon (mother-of-pearl), and embroidery—into modern interior objects and fashion items, bridging cultural heritage with contemporary aesthetics. The Sustainable Design section introduces 7 brands showcasing recycled textile bags, paper leather pouches, eco-activewear, and mindful kitchen items. These products represent the embodiment of Seoul's urban sustainability philosophy, where environmental responsibility meets design excellence. Beyond simply organizing an exhibition, the Seoul Design Foundation provides comprehensive support for participating brands to expand globally. This includes everything from pre-show preparation, booth construction, on-site interpreting, logistics, buyer engagement, and marketing to post-show consultations and export support—helping these companies build sustainable momentum in the international marketplace. Through this participation, the Foundation aims to enhance Seoul's global design presence and communicate the city's creative potential, cultural depth, and technical innovation to a broader audience. The booth will also feature Seoul-themed goods developed by the Foundation, offering visitors a friendly and memorable introduction to the Seoul brand. Since its establishment in 2009, the Seoul Design Foundation has served as a key institution supporting the city's design ecosystem through the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). It continues to foster creative talent, promote local businesses, and expand global networks—solidifying Seoul's reputation as a leading city of design and innovation.
Korea Herald
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Dongdaemun park to light up with immersive media art show from July 31
Dongdaemun History and Culture Park, located near Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Jung-gu, central Seoul, will showcase immersive media art on its historic stone walls and green spaces around the park for the first time this summer. The Seoul Design Foundation announced Thursday that it will host Seoul Light DDP 2025: Summer from July 31 until Aug. 10, marking the first time for the Seoul Light DDP event to be held during the summer. The event, launched in 2019, has positioned itself as one of Seoul's signature media art festivals, traditionally taking place in the fall and winter only on the DDP grounds. Seoul Light DDP also earned further international recognition in February this year when it won the iF Design Award after having earned the Red Dot Award and IDEA Bronze in 2023. Every evening from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., visitors to the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park will be able to enjoy large-scale media art displays under the theme of 'Timescape: Texture of Light.' Regarding this summer's Seoul Light DDP, a Seoul Design Foundation official commented that it 'goes beyond' the previous media art format. 'Going beyond the previous media facade format displayed on the DDP's 222-meter-long walls, we've expanded the exhibition to cover the entire park area and the newly created water space (in the park),' said a Seoul Design Foundation official. 'We believe this will create an even more immersive experience for visitors.' This year, a media facade along the walls of Hanyang Doseong — also known as the Seoul City Wall — along with installation artworks and laser art of seven different themes will be showcased. Artwork using fog and lasers will be displayed at the new water space in the park. 'For the summer season, the newly created water space in the park will help visitors cool off from the summer heat while enjoying media artworks,' an official from Seoul Design Foundation added. The event will also kick off on July 31 with an opening ceremony, featuring a fashion show with hanbok, South Korea's traditional clothing. The fashion show will be organized in collaboration with traditional hanbok brand Geumdanje and the pattern-driven modern hanbok label Oueur. 'Seoul Light DDP is an artistic experiment that transforms the city itself into a stage for our senses. It is a public media content that is completed by light, people and space,' said Seoul Design Foundation CEO Cha Kang-heui. 'The combination of the historical landscape of the Seoul City Wall and the modern architectural beauty of DDP will present a new artistic experience and model where city and art coexist for its visitors.'
Korea Herald
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Design Miami to be held at Seoul's DDP in September
World-renowned design fair to hold first exhibition in Asia titled 'Illuminated: A Spotlight on Korean Design,' Sept. 1-14 As South Korea's dynamic design scene steps into the global spotlight, Design Miami is coming to Seoul in September, marking the design fair's first-ever exhibition in Asia. The Seoul Design Foundation is teaming up with the world-renowned design fair to host an exhibition titled "Illuminated: A Spotlight on Korean Design" at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Jung-gu, central Seoul -- a landmark designed by Zaha Hadid -- from Sept. 1 to Sept. 14. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Design Miami serves as a global platform for collectible design, bringing together a diverse network of galleries, designers, brands, experts, collectors and design enthusiasts through a variety of curated events and experiences. Each Design Miami fair features museum-quality 20th- and 21st-century furniture, lighting and objets d'art from the world's top expert-vetted galleries, as well as showcasing immersive design collaborations with well-known brands. The upcoming exhibition will be held at the Yigansumun Exhibition Hall, a multipurpose hall at DDP that hosts a wide range of programs, including design exhibitions, performances and other events. Utilizing both floors of its 1,000-square-meter indoor space and the outdoor plaza, the exhibition will create a multilayered and dynamic experience for visitors. The exhibition centers on the theme "Illuminated," exploring how light brings clarity and brilliance. It will showcase a diverse collection of innovative artworks that highlight Korea's distinctive design identity and creativity. The exhibition will showcase Korea's finest design works to a global audience, boost DDP's reputation as a leading design hub, and open doors for broader partnerships between Korean designers and international brands, according to the Seoul Design Foundation. "We hope that the fair will highlight South Korea's vibrant cultural presence and showcase Seoul's potential as a leading creative city," Cha Kang Heui, the CEO of the Seoul Design Foundation, was quoted as saying in a press release.
Malaysian Reserve
12-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Final Call for Entries: Submission Deadline Nears for the Seoul Design Award 2025
SEOUL, South Korea, June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Seoul Design Foundation announces that the submission period for the Seoul Design Award 2025 is drawing to a close. Designers around the world are encouraged to complete and submit their entries before the deadline. Now in its sixth year, the award continues to grow exponentially with submissions increasing from 75 in 2019 to 575 from 65 countries in 2024. The 2025 award reflects the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and introduces four categories: Health & Peace, Equal Opportunities, Energy & Environment, and Cities & Communities. Expanding its eligibility, the competition is now open to not only individual designers but also to organizations, groups, and companies from around the world. This year's competition sees a significant increase in opportunities, with 61 winners to be announced up by 38 from 2024. A total of 150 million KRW in prize money will be distributed, including a 50 million Grand Prize, 10 million for each of the nine Best of the Best winners, and 5 million for Concept Award recipients. Awards are divided into three categories: Main Awards for implemented projects or products; Concept Awards for prototypes or unreleased design proposals, welcoming submissions from university students; and an Honorary Award recognizing exceptional international contributions to sustainable design. Two special prizes will also highlight excellence in inter-organizational collaboration. For the first time, the award introduces live judging to determine the Grand Prize winner. The top 10 finalists will present their work in front of both jurors and the public at the award ceremony, with real-time evaluation ensuring greater transparency. The jury, expanded to 32 members from over 20 countries, including Ezio Manzini (Italy), President of DESIS and a globally respected scholar in design for social innovation; Patricia Moore (USA), President of Moore Design Associates; Pradyumna Vyas (India), the incoming President of the world's largest design organization, WDO (World Design Organization); Dawn Lim(Singapore), Executive Director, Design Singapore Council); Kun-Pyo Lee (Korea), Professor of UX Design at THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY and a pioneer in human-centered UX design; EunSook Kwon (Korea), Chair of Industrial Design at GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY and a prominent figure in academic industrial design. Kangheui Cha, CEO of Seoul Design Foundation, remarked, 'The Seoul Design Award is a platform to celebrate designs that promote harmonious coexistence among people, society, and nature. We aim to continuously discover groundbreaking ideas that inspire positive change.' Submission Period: March 17 ~June 30, 2025, 3:00 PM KSTLanguage: English onlyAward Ceremony: October 2025, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)For details and submission, visit
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Final Call for Entries: Submission Deadline Nears for the Seoul Design Award 2025
SEOUL, South Korea, June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Seoul Design Foundation announces that the submission period for the Seoul Design Award 2025 is drawing to a close. Designers around the world are encouraged to complete and submit their entries before the deadline. Now in its sixth year, the award continues to grow exponentially with submissions increasing from 75 in 2019 to 575 from 65 countries in 2024. The 2025 award reflects the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and introduces four categories: Health & Peace, Equal Opportunities, Energy & Environment, and Cities & Communities. Expanding its eligibility, the competition is now open to not only individual designers but also to organizations, groups, and companies from around the world. This year's competition sees a significant increase in opportunities, with 61 winners to be announced up by 38 from 2024. A total of 150 million KRW in prize money will be distributed, including a 50 million Grand Prize, 10 million for each of the nine Best of the Best winners, and 5 million for Concept Award recipients. Awards are divided into three categories: Main Awards for implemented projects or products; Concept Awards for prototypes or unreleased design proposals, welcoming submissions from university students; and an Honorary Award recognizing exceptional international contributions to sustainable design. Two special prizes will also highlight excellence in inter-organizational collaboration. For the first time, the award introduces live judging to determine the Grand Prize winner. The top 10 finalists will present their work in front of both jurors and the public at the award ceremony, with real-time evaluation ensuring greater transparency. The jury, expanded to 32 members from over 20 countries, including Ezio Manzini (Italy), President of DESIS and a globally respected scholar in design for social innovation; Patricia Moore (USA), President of Moore Design Associates; Pradyumna Vyas (India), the incoming President of the world's largest design organization, WDO (World Design Organization); Dawn Lim(Singapore), Executive Director, Design Singapore Council); Kun-Pyo Lee (Korea), Professor of UX Design at THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY and a pioneer in human-centered UX design; EunSook Kwon (Korea), Chair of Industrial Design at GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY and a prominent figure in academic industrial design. Kangheui Cha, CEO of Seoul Design Foundation, remarked, "The Seoul Design Award is a platform to celebrate designs that promote harmonious coexistence among people, society, and nature. We aim to continuously discover groundbreaking ideas that inspire positive change." Submission Period: March 17 ~June 30, 2025, 3:00 PM KSTLanguage: English onlyAward Ceremony: October 2025, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)For details and submission, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Seoul Design Foundation
