670,000 visitors attend 2026 Seoul Design Week

The 2026 Seoul Design Week concluded on October 25 after attracting 670,000 visitors across five districts. The event featured 1,204 projects from 91 countries for the Seoul Design Award, marking an approximately 16-fold increase in submissions compared to the first event.

2026 Seoul Design Week has concluded after attracting 670,000 visitors over 12 days. This year, the event expanded beyond Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) to connect design spaces across five districts in Seoul, broadening industrial exchange and international cooperation through programs involving domestic and international design companies and talent.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Design Foundation announced that 670,000 people visited the 2026 Seoul Design Week, which was held from October 14 to 25. The event featured 871 companies and brands, 370 designers, and 353 university students.

This year's event took place in the 20th year since Mayor Oh Se-hoon declared "Design Seoul" in 2006. Building on the achievements of integrating design into urban spaces and the daily lives of citizens, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to expand international design exchange through the World Design Congress to be held in Seoul next year.

Approximately 80 brands participated in DDP Design Fair

As part of the industry-linked programs, the DDP Design Fair, co-hosted with 29CM, saw participation from approximately 80 brands. Held under the theme "A Market Full of Tastes," the event attracted 35,000 visitors over five days. Through programs linking experience with purchasing, consumers were able to encounter design products, while participating brands could observe market responses.

Programs were also established to support the industrial field experience of young designers. In the "University Collaboration Program Special Pavilion," products and content developed by 20 university design teams and approximately 100 student designers based on corporate tasks were showcased. Participating students experienced practical training, expert mentoring, and exhibition planning.

The event space expanded from DDP to the whole of Seoul. The "Seoul Design Road" was operated to connect 150 design spots across five districts—Dongdaemun, Seongsu, Yeonhui, Seochon, and Apgujeong—allowing citizens to experience various design spaces and content.

In Seongsu, "Seoulness" was presented, reinterpreting the daily life and spaces of Seoul from a design perspective, while in Yeonhui, the "Design Open Studio" was held, opening design studios, architectural offices, and exhibition spaces.

Exhibitions introducing the works of domestic and international designers were also held at DDP. "Collective Seoul," featuring 10 Seoul-based design collectives and approximately 140 designers, and "Studio Practice," which introduced the work of 8 design studios from 6 countries, welcomed visitors. Overseas institutions, including the Italian design education institution POLI.design and the Spanish food design studio FONDO, also participated in the exhibitions and exchange programs.

Seoul Design Award 2026 receives 1,204 projects from 91 countries

The Seoul Design Award 2026, held alongside Seoul Design Week, saw 1,204 projects submitted from 91 countries. This represents an approximately 16-fold increase compared to the 75 submissions of the first event. Designs addressing social issues and sustainability—such as medical, environmental, mobility, urban regeneration, and resource circulation—were introduced, and approximately 10,000 citizen votes were reflected in the selection of winners.

The Grand Prize was awarded to the "Otter Newborn Warmer" by the US-based non-profit design organization Design that Matters. It is a portable warmer developed to maintain the body temperature of newborns even in environments lacking electricity and medical resources.

The newly established "ESG Design Impact Award" was presented to seven companies: Hyundai Motor Company, Patagonia Korea, At Home, RHINOSHIELD, Pulmuone, Samsonite, and OpenAI Korea.

Expanding international exchange ahead of 2027 World Design Congress

Programs addressing international design agendas were also conducted. At the Seoul Design Conference, held under the theme "Think·Make·Change," domestic and international designers and corporate representatives discussed the role of design in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), industrial changes, and the possibilities of human-centered design. The UNEP circular design program addressed the role of design in establishing resource circulation in industry and daily life, as well as directions for international cooperation.

During the "2027 World Design Congress Seoul Preview," the official brand identity and slogan "Think, Make, Change" for the World Design Congress to be held in Seoul next year were unveiled. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to continue preparations for the World Design Congress based on the foundation of domestic and international exchange formed during this event, and will strengthen support for the overseas expansion of domestic design companies and talent.

Cha Gang-hui, CEO of Seoul Design Foundation, said, "Seoul Design Week is a platform where citizens discover new tastes and brands, and designers and companies meet new markets and connect with the world. We will work to ensure Seoul can become a center of global design."

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