seoul design 2023 award announces eight winning visionaries of tomorrow

seoul design 2023 award

Seoul Design 2023 stands as Seoul’s premier design festival, uniting domestic and international companies, designers, and small businesses with a shared vision of leading trends and realizing social value. From October 24 to November 2, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul became the vibrant epicenter for boundary-pushing collaborations and original products, highlighted by eight teams honored for their contributions. 758 participating designers, 52 companies, and representatives from 21 countries all came together to celebrate craftsmanship, technology, and a profound understanding of societal needs.

(above) Seoul Design 2023 Award announces eight winning teams | image © Leejemin

(banner) image © Leejemin

all images courtesy of Seoul Design Foundation

Having worked with small business owners and young talents, including students from design universities or departments, Seoul Design 2023 marked a crescendo of creative synergy, celebrating the dynamic blend of global visionaries, corporations, and enthusiasts of the field. Through diverse programs such as exhibitions, conferences, markets, and workshops, the festival serves as a platform for sharing information on design and industry trends, while also spotlighting emerging products and creators. Hosted at DDP, in Seoul, the 2023 edition drew the participation of 758 designers, 52 companies, and representatives from 21 countries, engaging a combined total of 1.2 million online and offline visitors.

Recognized for its efforts in highlighting outstanding products/projects among participating teams, the platform honored eight teams in various categories, including the best team in the Corporate + Young Designer Brand Exhibition and the best design, launch, and activity teams in the DDP Design Launching Fair.

Seoul Design 2023 award ceremony

image © Leejemin

the eight winners

The Amoredo team, a collaboration between Amorepacific and University of Seoul’s Industrial Design Major students, stood out as the leading force in the ‘Corporate + Young Designer Brand Exhibition’ category. This particular project emphasized partnerships between design universities and both local and global companies, aiming to create environmentally friendly products and brands tailored to the perspectives of Millennials and Gen Z. Inspired by the question, ‘How great would it be if you could wash your hair in an easy and fun way?’ Amoredo embarked on an imaginative exploration of people’s hair washing habits, unveiling numerous possibilities for this everyday task and suggesting a selection of specialized tools to make hair washing easy and enjoyable for everyone.

Amoredo by Amorepacific and University of Seoul’s Industrial Design Major students

Focused on nurturing and recognizing groundbreaking and competitive design creations, the DPP Design Launching Fair, awarded winners across three specific categories: Best Design, Best Launching, and Best Activity. Within the ‘Best Design’ segment, spotlighting the top four products from a pool of 182 creations stemming from the collaboration of makers’ manufacturing technology and designers’ concepts, along with one popular product chosen by public vote, one of the recognized creations was Extension. Envisioned by Thinker (maker) and Studio Look At (designer), Extension stands as a side table crafted amplify the perception of space through its reflection on the floor. Its design incorporates a storage compartment within the column, enriching the overall feeling of openness and dimension. Made from stainless steel, the product’s column exhibits a hairline finish, coupled with a polished base, creating a heightened reflective impact. Notably, the design prioritizes sustainability by minimizing processes that could lead to environmental pollution, such as powder coating and coloring, thereby accentuating the beauty of the material.

Extension by Thinker (maker) x Studio Look At (designer)

The second ‘Best Design’ winner is the Vibe Radilamp, capable of creating a unique ambiance by finely adjusting light direction and distribution. This design is a versatile fixture that allows for precise adjustments, catering to individual preferences. Embracing a ‘double-sided stand light’ concept, it offers a warm glow at the front, providing color temperature control spanning from 2700-6000k. On the flip side, it offers RGB color temperature control, presenting a palette of 16 million color options, enabling the creation of diverse atmospheres tailored to different hobbies and preferences.

Vibe Radilamp by Mudix (maker) x Kyunghyun Yoon (designer)

Following is ‘Circular Connection,’ an accessory tray symbolizing connection and harmony. Made by Saehyun Tech in collaboration with designer Contour Studio, the elegant and distinctive accessory tray, inspired by the shape of a circular pill, is available in different sizes and depths to accommodate a variety of accessories, both large and small. This multifunctional and aesthetically pleasing piece seamlessly complements any room, elevating interior aesthetics.

Circular Connection by Saehyun Tech (maker) x Contour Studio (designer)

XCIX became the fourth winner of the ‘Best Design’ category through online voting. Put together by Sisan Lee (maker) x Byungseop Kim (designer), XCIX is a living accessory utilizing discarded aluminum chunks. The props were designed by finding wasted materials, identifying their properties, and finding design aesthetics in the process of processing the materials. Using cut and disposed aluminum chunks, the artist bent the materials through banding techniques and drilled holes to join them with bolts, creating products that are both functional and aesthetic.

In the ‘Best Launching’ segment, intended to recognize outstanding design studios introducing new products, the recipients included MO-ON, the creator behind The Bell, a portable light inspired by the form of a chime bell, as well as Obicuum Air Camper – a portable vacuum cleaner designed for camping. The brand was committed to creating a positive impact through design, and define it as a new, viable, and valuable endeavor. Through this Green project, they emphasize environmental responsibility and sustainability, aiming to shape future life. Additionally, their original perspective interprets the world, people’s needs, and problems, ultimately striving to generate diverse and ground-breaking values.

the Bell by MO_ON

Concluding with the ‘Best Activity’ category, which highlighted products from earlier DDP Design Launching Fairs that successfully made their way into the market, the awardees included Heim, a collaborative effort between Nami Furniture and H.O.U. Design. The project stems from the question ‘How can we establish a space for harmonious coexistence among pets?’ ‘Heim’ strengthened its competitiveness by marketing single-person households living with cats in a small space.

Cat Tower Heim by Nami Furniture (maker) x H.O.U. Design (designer)

Another awardee of the same category is Tea Garden Rug – a water-washable material adorned with a nature-inspired pattern. Created by Likethix (maker) and Be formative (designer), the rug captures the serenity of a tea plantation, designed to evoke relaxation. Although the initial response was somewhat modest due to its unassuming design, the DDP Design Launching Fair process helped in promoting and expanding the reach of the product through various channels.

Tea Garden Rug by Likethix (maker) x Be formative (designer)