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Seoul Design Award 2025: Celebrating Sustainable Innovations in Design

On October 24, 2025, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Design Foundation successfully hosted the 'Seoul Design Award 2025' at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). Now in its sixth year, this award stands out as the only international design accolade focusing on social impact, highlighting innovative design solutions that address pressing global challenges, including climate change, social inequality, and environmental degradation.

Themes Focused on Sustainability

This year’s competition, grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), revolved around four central themes: Health and Peace, Equal Opportunities (Universal Design), Energy and Environment (Upcycling Design), and Cities and Communities. Designers from around the globe submitted around 1,000 projects from 74 countries between March and June, each showcasing their commitment to fostering sustainable living.

A Collaborative Judging Process

The selection process featured a diverse panel of 32 design experts from 21 nations, ensuring fairness and transparency in the judging. They evaluated approximately 60 award-winning projects drawn from around 30 countries. What sets this award apart is its participatory element; global citizens had the opportunity to vote online for the Grand Prize, with 5,500 participants contributing from 48 countries. The top ten finalists then showcased their designs in Seoul as part of the 'Top 10 Live Competition,' competing for the coveted Grand Prize.

The winners were awarded trophies, certificates, and a prize fund totaling KRW 150 million, along with invaluable networking opportunities with peers and experts in sustainability.

The Grand Prize Winner: Jaza Energy Hubs

The highlight of this year's event was the Grand Prize awarded to Nonfiction Design from the USA and Nigeria for their project 'Jaza Energy Hubs.' This initiative tackles energy inequality in rural Nigeria through a model that establishes solar power hubs, paired with a rechargeable battery-sharing system managed by local women. Mardis Bagley of Nonfiction Design stated, "Design is not about technology; it is a process of building dignity and self-reliance." The recognition at the Seoul Design Award underlines the project’s significant impact on local communities.

The New Standard of Sustainable Design

This year's jury emphasized that sustainability is not a distant goal but a necessity of our time. Ezio Manzini, President of the DESIS Network, highlighted that effective problem-solving must derive from the local community, promoting 'relational design' as a key theme among the winning projects. The array of projects judges included this year demonstrated a powerful narrative that transcends the aesthetics, revealing how design fosters empathy and drives social transformations.

Notable Projects from the Top 10

Among this year’s top ten awardees are commendable projects such as:

• - Alusta Pavilion from Finland, promoting multi-species coexistence through an ecological design.
• - Anako's Emergency Folding Cradle from Italy, providing safe solutions for vulnerable groups in emergencies.
• - Crafted Liberation from Australia, advocating women's rights to public spaces through upcycled design.
• - Desert Ark from China, experimenting with sustainable housing solutions in arid climates.
• - Golden Feathers from India, focusing on upcycling feather waste into usable fibers.

Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

As the Seoul Design Award prepares for its 2026 edition, the organizers invite participants worldwide to contribute sustainable design projects. Cha Kang Heui, CEO of the Seoul Design Foundation, expressed that the award will continue to be a platform for promoting global sustainability practices and aims to inspire more designers to engage in creating a sustainable future.

The 2026 edition will kick off in March, continuing to champion innovative design dedicated to societal betterment and environmental protection. For more information on past winning projects and future participation, visit Seoul Design Award.