"Preserving the Sensibility of Aspiring Designers"... D2B Design Fair Concludes Successfully

Eom Ji-su, winner of the grand prize at the D2B Design Fair. Provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A design contest that sublimates the vibrant sensibility of prospective designers into design has successfully concluded.

The Korean Intellectual Property Office announced on the 1st that it held the awards ceremony for the ‘2021 D2B (Design to Business) Design Fair’ together with the Korea International Trade Association at the Oakwood Premier Hotel in Seoul.

Now in its 16th year, the Design Fair provides young prospective designers with the opportunity to directly experience the process of filing their designs and commercializing them. Additionally, the significance of holding the Design Fair lies in supplying excellent designs awarded in the contest to domestic companies.

This year’s Design Fair proceeded according to the schedule of announcement and submission from April to June, first-round judging and summer school from June to July, second-round submission and application review from July to October, and selection of winners in November.

A total of 3,697 works were submitted during the announcement and submission phase, and after the judging process, 39 outstanding designs were selected as winners, including 1 Grand Prize, 3 Gold Prizes, 15 Silver Prizes, and 20 Bronze Prizes.

The Grand Prize was awarded to Um Ji-soo (Konkuk University Glocal Campus, Photography). Um submitted a mobile sterilization mobility device called ‘Pporreung’ and won the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award.

Um’s work received high marks for adding a bacteria detection sensor and antibacterial function to the existing kickboard handle and equipping the footboard with a sterilization storage compartment, enabling children to safely engage in outdoor activities amid the growing importance of personal hygiene.

Entry of Um Ji-soo's mobile sterilization mobility 'Pporreung,' which won the grand prize at the D2B Design Fair. Provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office

The Gold Prizes went to Go Yu-mi (General) for the desk clock ‘Vase Clock’ combined with a flower vase; Oh Yu-rim and Kim Yoon-young (Myongji University) for designing the canned food can ‘Cut Once,’ which can be cut open simultaneously; and Park Ji-woo (Mokwon University) for designing ‘Impressionism of Korea,’ which inserts Korean landscapes in a Western painting style on the front panel of a safe.

Notably, Go Yu-mi submitted her design in the ‘Corporate Submission Category’ and won a Gold Prize, achieving the significant outcome of signing (or planning to sign) a licensing contract with ‘Piava,’ a home living specialized design brand.

The winning works can be viewed at the awardees’ market on the contest website. Companies wishing to commercialize the winning works or conclude licensing contracts can receive guidance on procedures through the D2B Design Fair Secretariat.

Jung Yeon-woo, Director of the Industrial Property Policy Bureau at the Korean Intellectual Property Office, said, “We expect the D2B Design Fair to serve as a guide for prospective designers to enhance their understanding of intellectual property and to create and utilize actual design rights.” He added, “Reflecting the recent spread of emotional consumption and the increasing value of design, the Korean Intellectual Property Office will strive to support young prospective designers in expressing their works with their own sensibility and developing their competitiveness.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.