[Consumerwide - Jinil Kang Reporter / Yohan Bok Reporter]  Seoul Design 2023, which is the representative design festival of Seoul hosted by Seoul Metropolitan City and facilitated by the Seoul Design Foundation and presents new designers and design works while sharing design and industry trend information, began on October 24th. Based on the theme Valuable Life, they are offering various programmes, including a design exhibition, a design conference, a design market, events, and side events in Seoul DDP (Dongdaemun Plaza). They are presenting twenty programmes, including a design exhibition, conference, and side events, in cooperation with domestic and overseas businesses, designers, and small businesses, aiming to interpret the role of design for a sustainable future from an ESG perspective. The reporter participated in Seoul Design 2023 on the 27th for this field report.

Dongdaemun Plaza Eoullim Square was quiet at 11 a.m. on that day. An associated person from Seoul Design 2023 said that it had been crowded with visitors a day prior, but today it seems not many people were around yet. But they expect to have many people during the weekend again." The paid exhibition had fewer people, and an exhibition based on a theme attracted many visitors. At the theme-based exhibition, we could see a collection of 24 people, including musical actor Kim Hoyoung, singer CL, brand consultant No Heeyoung, and cook No Heeyoung, with the theme of "clever coexistence". Each exhibition told us their stories when we scanned QR codes that are placed everywhere on smartphones. What caught the eyes of the reporter was an attachment bag by Oh Sehoon, the mayor of Seoul Metropolitan City, which he takes on every field trip. Besides, we were able to listen to the stories of 24 people while seeing their precious collections.

The Up Plus Young Designer Brand Exhibition was beneficial, in which 13 businesses participated, including BMW Korea Future Foundation, Gujeongmaru, Deorigin, Solwoltowel, and Amorepacific. We could check out university and industry corporate work in the domestic area, which demonstrates the ESG value of businesses and the idea of students aiming to design ESG-designed products. What interested me were tools that are designed for washing hair in a unique and fun way. These special tools were designed by Amorepacific and the "Amuredo team", a group formed of students of industrial design studies at the University of Seoul, and rewarded at an outstanding level. 60 excellent products and launching products of 12 design studio businesses in domestic and overseas areas, among 182 collaboration products invented by small businesses and designers, are exhibited at the 2023 DDP design launching fair. Brand-new designs, including the accessory tray, which expresses fine aluminium manufacturing technology and design, and a side event, which minimised environmental pollution along with suitable meterials, were pleasing to the eye.

The Eoullim Square was made with a business exhibition and pop-up, the Zerowaste Pavillion, a global ESG trend market, and a refurbished design market. Lush Korea and Ikea Korea pop-ups got the attention of viewers at the business exhibition and pop-up session.

Zerowaste Pavillion, which is made out of waste materials from Hansolpaper, Gujeongmaru, and Hansolhomedeco in corporation with Yoo Leehwa, the CEO of the ITM archtect office and Seoul Design 2023 space curator, attracted many visitors. The Zerowaste Pavillion is a shelter for citizens who do not leave any trash after deinstallation.

Children enjoyed time while drawing pictures using tools that were placed in the field. The adults rested on the chairs. At the mangrove playground, which is made of environmental materials, young adults enjoyed riding on seesaws and slides.

The Korean disaster temporary house model, which Shigeru Ban designed, was exhibited at Seoul Design 2023. The house utilises materials that are easily found in Korea, and it's a module form that can be easily installed, deinstalled, and reinstalled. You even have access to the house after taking your shoes off.

A market that satisfies consumers of various tastes, from overseas ESG-branded products to environmental living collections, was facilitated in the outdoor space, including Eoullim Square, Miraero, and Palgeori. Here you may find another joy of consumption. Each market was crowded with visitors.