Seoul Design Week turns city into sprawling creative showcase

Seoul will transform into a vast design exhibition during its Design Week, connecting 150 destinations spread across five districts in the city. The 12-day event, from October 15th to the 25th, will focus on the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) but will also encompass Dongdaemun, Seongsu, Yeonhui, Seochon, and Apgujeong under the theme "The Design Recipe."

At the DDP, the DDP Design Fair will showcase 79 lifestyle brands in an exhibition organized around consumer preferences rather than product categories. The event will also highlight the work of approximately 100 students from 20 university design teams who have collaborated with various companies, including Hyundai Motor, Oxfam, Goobne, the Korean Red Cross, and Davich Optical.

These projects will demonstrate how ideas created by young designers can be translated into tangible products, spaces, brands, and commercial projects. In addition to the fair, the Seoul Design Week Conference will explore how Seoul's urban environment and lifestyle serve as a source of inspiration for creativity. Notable speakers include architect and professor Yoo Hyun-jun, as well as officials from the Seoul city government.