3D-printed furniture & adaptable lights win 2021 DDP best design award

from bespoke furniture made using 3D-printing to flexible home office lighting, the 2021 DDP best design award recognizes seven best products from south korean collaborations that prompt healthier lifestyle changes. the winners were selected by seoul design foundation and city mayor oh se-hoon from a total of 162 candidates. each presenting new, innovative ideas, the designs were created through the union of the country’s most creative-minded designers and the manufacturing abilities of small businesses.

all images courtesy of DDP design fair

the 2021 DDP best design award is one of the main programs of the annual DDP design fair, now in its third edition. held from 19-25 october at the DDP art hall 1, the occasion not only unites creatives and manufacturers through the literal exhibitions but also design enthusiasts attending and being inspired by the showcase. the platform is an opportunity for designers to realize ideas whilst enabling small business owners to increase the value of their products; creative thinkers are paired with manufacturing and business possibilities. the seoul metropolitan government and seoul design foundation actively supports these collaborations.

‘the DDP design fair enhanced the SMEs, the veins of our public economy, competitiveness in design and provided career opportunities for the youth in design. the event presents a healthy and virtuous cycle within the design industry especially in helping patch up the career ladder. I hope this event marks the take-off of the coexistence for SMEs’ growth support and the enhancement of competitiveness in the design industry of south korea. the seoul metropolitan government will not pull back in supporting this cause,’ remarks oh se-hoon, mayor of the seoul metropolitan government.

under the theme of ‘wonderful life, the beauty in everyday life makes our lives much happier’, 106 teams of small business owners and designers from small- and medium-sized design studios entered the 2021 DDP best design award. design development took five months and three judging stages as submissions were first selected through a curator screening, then voted by citizens, and finally assessed by experts comprising famous domestic distributors, selective shop MDs and buyers. the seven winning designs were evaluated based on the theme, the product’s market performance and the future potential of mass production as well as product quality, exhibition suitability and creativity.

the selected teams were provided with a prototype development fund of 2,000,000 KRW to then showcase at the 2021 DDP design fair. as well as production costs, award winners receive a highly sought-after package of prized benefits, including marketing support, product launches at the DDP design store online and offline, promotions in monthly design and major design newspapers, and online exhibition opportunities such as on pre-funding platforms and featured promotion as star design of the year. last but definitely not least, winners receive 6,000,000 KRW for mass production costs to realize the designs.

the final seven teams are split into three categories: three for furniture, two for lighting, and two for living products. awards include three grand prizes, called the seoul mayor award, and the excellence award and seoul design foundation CEO award totalling four teams.

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS FOR 2021 DDP DESIGN FAIR

studio plastic and JH studio design the single furniture chair, called the butterfly, using 3D-printing technology. inspired by the insect’s subtle yet dynamic movement, the piece raises the possibility of using new fabrication methods for furniture in small businesses. its curving form perfectly fits the body shape of the user.

studio plastic x JH studio

makemake and hwangduck engineering create light now no.1, a flexible and ingenious home office lighting. by accentuating the characteristics of its main material pipe, the design is able to be morphed by hand into various forms, such as a stand, wall-mounted or floor type. it means the lighting can be personalized and shifted to the needs of the user.

makemake x hwangduck

DSLSM and lifethix realize a designer incense holder, called bincense. the object emanates the shared values of emptying and concentrating the mind for well-being. as the incense emits calming smoke and smells, an act of healing is communicated in physical form to people nearby too.

DSLSM x lifethix

SEOUL DESIGN FOUNDATION CEO AWARD WINNERS FOR 2021 DDP DESIGN FAIR

TTTT and give&take design a modular furniture set consisting of a variety of modifiers that can be tailored to the curves, flatnesses and form of various other surfaces. it means the furnishings can be efficiency used in a multitude of situations as well as environments.

TTTT x give&take

afterminutes and outro create a dining chair that reinterprets the traditional, beautiful korean technique of ikseongwan. the modern furnishing pieces reintroduce the artisan method into homes, renewing local craft whilst also bringing a sense of freshness. it delivers the program’s theme by placing beauty in everyday life to makes our lives much happier.

afterminutes x outro

studio mindeulae and sun ui mi ceramic make a set of flower pots that embody the sentiment and significance of soil. the design is formed by combining two properties in harmony: refined silk white porcelain and terracotta. a hole on its top is inspired by the openwork technique used for manufacturing as well as the plum blossoms of dancheong. the bowl can be separated from the body, which, in turn, can then be used as a vase.

studio mindeulae x sun ui mi

intenxiv and sejeonsa realize polyhedron lighting by enhancing the new technologies of 3D-printing. with the light source at the center of the construction, users are able to control the object’s shape as well as the intensity too. the imitations it can form thanks to its innovative fabrication, would have been impossible to create via normal mass production.

intenxiv x sejeonsa