hongik industrial design show 2023 unveils tech-advanced projects

HONGIK UNIVERSITY’s INDUSTRIAL DESIGN DEGREE SHOW 2023

In 2023, Hongik University, South Korea highlights the excellence of the students’ work at their annual industrial design degree showcase. During their coursework, they have developed projects that optimistically embrace a technological tomorrow through explorations of speculative futures, mobility design, and digitally-enabled products. In celebration of their creativity, designboom has selected 10 of the show’s projects to give a glimpse into the department’s forward-thinking initiatives.

See more of Hongik’s industrial design projects at their online showcase.

(above and banner) Xor

student: Geonhoo Son / tutor: Kang Hyun Lee

Geonhoo Son — Xor

The XOR project, embodying the mantra ‘Virtual is Real,’ exploits the disparity between the cyber representation and tangible reality to craft whimsical and contemplative design pieces. Within its virtual store, users seemingly purchase a fork or a residential area. Surprisingly, upon delivery, they receive both a digital and a physical version of the object. In a fun twist of meaning, the tangible objects reveal themselves to be something entirely different – the 15cm fork is a 1m lamp, a towering highrise is a quaint bookshelf. By defying user expectations, the brand propels buyers into a philosophical discourse about the intricacies of virtual space.

VOID

student: Hyungmin Ahn / tutor: Kang Hyun Lee

Hyungmin Ahn — VOID

Drawing inspiration from the mandala, the sculptural VOID chair rethinks the pursuit of meditative practice. Its circular empty space elegantly transforms into an ergonomic seat, carefully formed to encourage and support the lotus posture — essential for meditation. Equipped with technology, users have the flexibility to select their preferred meditation program, be it for sleep, tension relief, or mindfulness. The immersive experience is enhanced by directional speakers beneath the headrest, creating a distinct separation between the internal space of VOID and the surrounding environment.

BLENITI

student: Jiwon Park / tutor: Sook Yeon Kim & Kange Lee

Jiwon Park — BLENITI

As augmented and virtual reality weave into the fabric of daily life, the once physically-bound domestic space also expands into the digital realm. BLENITI introduces an XR blended living space that harmonizes the two realities. This immersive digital environment captures the changing landscape of interior design commerce through virtual showrooms that exhibit furniture concepts available on the market. In this digital sphere, personalized experiences are facilitated by an AI capable of executing dynamic commands. Once selected, the products showcased are available for purchase in both their physical and digital versions.

SEIO

student: Yoonjeong Seong & Sumin Woo / tutor: Tate Eunyoung Kim

Yoonjeong Seong & Sumin Woo — SEIO

The versatile SEIO sports board, designed with modularity in mind, is ready for action across diverse terrains, empowering users to enjoy a multitude of sports with a single piece of equipment. Featuring a central, board-based body, a set of attachments adapts the product to activities like surfing, skateboarding, paddleboarding, and snowboarding. Equipped with Bluetooth functionality, the board doubles as a music player, allowing athletes to groove to their favorite tunes.

Beyond Couture : CELINE

student: Yunseo Lee, Hanbyul Oh, & Dahyun Jun / tutor: Jung Kyo Lee

Yunseo Lee, Hanbyul Oh, & Dahyun Jun — Beyond Couture : CELINE

The ‘Beyond Couture: Celine’ is a tech-enhanced, luxury retail space that envisions the future of high-end buying. Spanning three floors, it introduces advanced features such as self-driving vehicles, algorithmically crafted holographic fashion shows, and mixed-reality fitting rooms. These innovations harness digital tools to tailor the shopping experience to each individual. At the core of this endeavor is the promotion of product customization and upcycling, in harmony with Celine’s eco-conscious yet aesthetically driven philosophy encapsulated by the motto “Less is More.”

Momentum

student: Eojin Jun / tutor: Jun Hyuck Eoh & Keun Lee

Eojin Jun — Momentum

With its stylish, curved frame and expansive glass surfaces, Momentum offers a vision into the future of high-performance cars. The fluidity in both exterior and interior design creates an emotionally charged atmosphere, urging the driver to immerse themselves in the meditative power of operating this machine. Going beyond its futuristic aesthetics, Momentum incorporates an eco-conscious approach in its build, featuring hydrogen fuel cells and in-wheel motors. Its lightweight and streamlined design offers a noteworthy alternative to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, setting the stage for the future.

Cheems

student: Gunn Namgoong & Jongwon Lee / tutor: Tate Eunyoung Kim

Gunn Namgoong & Jongwon Lee — Cheems

Cheems is a modular gaming console that employs generative AI, so players can become both creators and consumers of their experiences. This design concept, inspired by intuitive music synthesizers, facilitates the creation of game worlds, characters, and narratives through simple, intuitive inputs to an AI system. This feature not only enhances the gaming experience but also makes game design accessible and engaging, reflecting a shift in how we interact with and influence our virtual playgrounds.

Laika

student: Jihee Kim / tutor: Tate Eunyoung Kim

Jihee Kim — Laika

Picturing a near-future scenario where humans spend extended periods in space, Laika emerges as the optimal health management companion for zero-gravity environments. With the mission of preserving Earth-like health and physical capabilities, Laika provides astronauts with personalized exercise recommendations and instant feedback. This is made possible through a 3D user interface presented via augmented reality glasses, allowing Laika to actively monitor exercise routines and provide real-time updates on health status.

NOVA

student: Seokoo Yeo & Sun-A Choi / tutor: Tate Eunyoung Kim

Seokoo Yeo & Sun-A Choi — NOVA

In giddy anticipation of space tourism, NOVA, a pair of hospitality robots, comes alive to perform basic service tasks for those orbiting earth in the future’s luxury space hotels. The Chef Bot uses three hand modules—standard, harvest, and suction– to prepare meals for guests on board. The Server Bot serves guests by transporting their food and drinks to wherever they need to be. Both Chef Bot and Server Bot share the same modular mobility platform, allowing them to efficiently perform their tasks as instructed by an operator.

Arestage

student: Soomin Hur / tutor: Joo Yun Kim

Soomin Hur — Arestage

Arestage is a ballet-exclusive art stage concept inspired by the gravity conditions on Mars that enable dancers to achieve higher leaps and prolonged suspension in the air. The stage highlights dance movements that differ from Earth, providing a platform for distinct expressions and choreography. The martian stage offers an expansive and elongated canvas, enabling dancers to execute unprecedented heights and mid-air sequences, creating an immersive and imaginative visual experience for the audience.