designboom · Creativity & design

Seoul Design Award 2026 Finalists Announced, Public Voting Opens

The Seoul Design Award 2026 revealed its top 10 finalists from over 1,200 global submissions. The award honors designs promoting balance between people, society, and the environment, addressing social and ecological challenges.

The top 10 projects will undergo on-stage evaluations in Seoul on October 14. Global public voting has also commenced online, allowing audiences to participate alongside an expert jury. The award prioritizes social utility and ecological impact.

A nine-member international jury, including leaders from Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor Company, will assess the finalists. Three designboom Special Prize winners will receive dedicated editorial coverage.

The announcement coincides with the Seoul Design Conference 2026, exploring how creative fields respond to global shifts. The conference includes sessions on ESG design and circularity in electronics.

Finalist projects highlight community resilience and circular design. Examples include the Otter Newborn Warmer for low-resource settings and WheeLog! for wheelchair user accessibility mapping.

Other finalists focus on cultural identity and material innovation, such as the Na-Eh Karen Cultural Market forest food hub and Suber Design's cork-based furniture made by disadvantaged groups.

Industrial and material innovations are also featured, including Lavazza Group’s Tablì coffee system, LAKAT Sustainable Sneakers, and Reef Tiles for marine ecosystem restoration.

Systemic solutions include waste sorting and SMALLrevolution's plastic waste conversion. Public voting for the Grand Prize closes on October 7, 2026.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.