Better Cities through Design to Improve Life
The Index Project was started in 2002 to educate and encourage people worldwide to draw sustainable solutions to global and social issues. Design and design processes engage in improving the quality of our lives and the community. The project is based on a “design to improve life,” a concept that has been mentioned since 2002. Thus, we take a user-centered design approach and consider their impact on sustainable society, economy, and environment.
Running Festival Opens at Yeouido Park on the 20th (Sat) ... Yeouido Conquiered on Two Feet and Two Wheels
- On April 20th (Sat), the first “Seoul Runners Festival” held at Yeouido Hangang Park... with over 3,000 participants. - Events such as the donation challenge ‘8K Open Run’, running fair, running talk show, etc., were held...Next month, ‘Runners Station’ will opne, - The opening of ‘Yeouido Roller Rink’ under Mapo Bridge, providing a safe and free space for cycling, wheelchairs, etc. - The city aims not only to provide spaces for leisure sports but also to create a ‘healthy city’ through various programs.
[2023 Seoul Design International Forum] A Space for Rest in the City, 'Yoonseul : Seoul through the Eyes of Manridong' Visit
Hello! I am Yeonwoong, a 2023 Seoul Design International Forum supporter. Before introducing the space, I would like to explain about Seoul Design and Seoul Design International Forum. Seoul Design Seoul Design is a vision for Seoul that responds to the challenges facing the community due to various global issues, and enhances the competitiveness of the city and allows everyone to live a happy life. Seoul Design International Forum Seoul Metropolitan Government has been discussing the present and future of Seoul design that citizens want through the Seoul Design International Forum. At the 2023 Seoul Design International Forum, we discussed how our city, Seoul, is currently being illuminated under the vision of "Human-centered City" with world-class designers, architects, and experts. Furthermore, I believe that this forum can provide insights into the role of public design as a "city alchemist" that stimulates new experiences, creates memories, and even enhances the competitiveness of the city through collective memories in the public realm. Before becoming a supporter, I thought of public design as simply a public place for an unspecified number of people, but through this activity, I was surprised to find that emotions and experiences that I thought could only be felt in prepared spaces such as exhibitions or museums can also be stimulated and create memories in the middle of the city. I felt like I had a new experience, and it was a positive stimulation. *** For more information about the Seoul Design International Forum and Seoul Design, please visit the Seoul Design International Forum website.**
Panel Discussion
Panel: Thomas Heatherwick(Founder of Heatherwick Studio), Shigeru Ban(CEO of Shigeru Ban Architectural Design Office), Meejin Yoon(Dean of Architecture and Art Design Cornell University, Partner of Howeler + Yoon Architecture), Choi In-gyu(Director-General, Design Policy Bureau, Seoul Metropolitan Government), Choi So-hyun(Head of NAVER Design & Marketing), Song In-hyuk(CEO of Unique Good Company), Lee Dal-woo(CEO of Studio Maeum) Moderator : Yoon Hye-gyung(Research Professor, Yonsei University)
Nature-Inspired Welcome Pavilion Debuts at Boramae Park for the Seoul International Garden Show
- The Welcome Pavilion, designed as a symbolic icon of the Seoul International Garden Show, now marks the main entrance of Boramae Park. - It functions as a central hub that integrates rest areas, exhibitions, and interactive experiences, and will later serve as a participatory public space. - Together with the “Haneul-Haneul” rest installation, it is expected to enhance the overall appeal of the Garden Show to citizens. - Starting this year, a newly designed Pavilion will be introduced annually as a signature feature of the Garden Show.
Seoul Unveils Three Urban-Friendly Smoking Booth Designs Centered on Public Consideration
- The Seoul Metropolitan Government has unveiled three “Seoul-style Smoking Booth” designs to address social conflict and visual disorder caused by unregulated smoking in urban areas. - The booths are available in three types—Open, Semi-Open, and Enclosed—based on citizen feedback and expert consultation, balancing public utility and functional efficiency. - A pilot installation will begin on April 26 at Cheongnyangni Station Square, with official design guidelines to be distributed in May for adoption by local districts and private facilities. - This initiative aims to safeguard public health, enhance the city's aesthetic quality, and improve the overall street environment through thoughtful public design.