Korea-Sweden Contest Nurturing Emerging Designers... Eco-Friendly Works Awarded

The award ceremony for the '4th Korea+Sweden Young Design Award' was held on the 9th at the Grand Hyatt Seoul.

The Korea Institute of Design Promotion, the Embassy of Sweden in Korea, and IKEA Korea hold an annual design award competition to increase design exchange between Korea and Sweden and to enhance the capabilities of emerging Korean designers.

Started in 2019 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Sweden, this competition shares the design vision of both countries centered on three core values: innovation, sustainability, and a better future.

This year, under the theme 'Sustainable and Enjoyable,' the competition was held over approximately four months starting from December last year. A judging panel of 11 members, including design experts and opinion leaders from Korea and Sweden, evaluated the entries in three rounds based on creativity, aesthetics, relevance to the theme, and impact.

As a result, designer Kim Yeji, who presented a shoe mat combining user convenience and eco-friendliness (work title: Lupastep (household goods)); designer Park Kyungho, who designed an eco-friendly buoy using oyster shells (work title: Oyster Buoy (safety equipment)); and designer Seol Subin, who designed a chair expressing the history and beauty contained in existing buildings by recycling architectural waste (work title: Pieces of Memory (furniture)) were selected as grand prize winners.

A total of 17 awardees, including the final winners, attended the ceremony. The three grand prize winners will be given various opportunities to advance as global next-generation designers, including a design study tour in Sweden.

Yoon Sangheum, President of the Korea Institute of Design Promotion, stated, "We will continue to contribute to the development of design and the realization of social values in both countries through design exchange and cooperation between Korea and Sweden." Daniel Bolven, Ambassador of Sweden to Korea, said, "I give great applause to the creative efforts of the young Korean designers who participated in the competition, including the winners."

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