Mayor Oh Se-hoon's design-driven approach is making Seoul an even more appealing city on the global stage.
A Global Forum was held to enhance the value of Seoul's design initiative led by Mayor Oh Se-hoon and explore the role and future development direction of Seoul as a world design capital and a leading design city.
World-renowned design experts, including Dr. Prof. Peter Zec, CEO of Red Dot, and Craig Kiner, Associate Director at Zaha Hadid Architects, who designed DDP, emphasized the role of design in shaping a sustainable urban future.
On Wednesday, the 27th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that the 2024 Seoul Design International Forum (SDIF) was held at the Art Hall 2 of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP).
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the forum, which aims to share insights on the systematic implementation of the "Design Seoul 2.0 Project" announced last year and the development of a vibrant and attractive design city of Seoul, enhancing the city's capacity as a global design city and improving the quality of life of citizens through design.
The city has been hosting the international forum to share various achievements and explore development directions, including design for solving social problems, universal design, and design that enhances the city's attractiveness and elegance.
First, Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Dr. Prof. Peter Zec, CEO of Red Dot, and Craig Kiner, Associate Director at Zaha Hadid Architects, held a special dialogue on the theme of "Landmark, the Driving Force of Urban Competitiveness."
The dialogue delved into Seoul's design vision and urban design strategies for becoming a global city. Mayor Oh shared the achievements of Seoul as a world design capital and strategies for urban development through design with Dr. Prof. Peter Zec, and exchanged opinions with Craig Kiner on the role of DDP, a Seoul landmark designed by architect Zaha Hadid, and ways to strengthen urban competitiveness using architecture.
The afternoon forum began with a keynote speech by Dr. Prof. Peter Zec on "Designing for a Better Quality of Urban Life."
The main point was that raising citizens' awareness of design and architecture and creatively transforming the city can create a successful model that simultaneously enhances both urban competitiveness and the quality of life of citizens.
In the first session, under the theme of "Strengthening Global Design Capacity Led by Cities," presentations were given on ▲DDP, Trends and the Future (Craig Kiner) ▲City, Design, and Artificial Intelligence (Lee Sang-in, Design Leader) ▲Hidden Landmarks (Chris van Duijn).
Craig Kiner explained that DDP, designed to commemorate the selection of Seoul as a world design capital, challenged conventional concepts from the early stages of design and construction, and has since become an indispensable place in the lives of Seoul citizens. He also examined the role of DDP as a cultural infrastructure component and a catalyst for cultural transformation and future strategies.
Lee Sang, Design Leader of TikTok, a global short-form video media, presented a comprehensive perspective on how AI technology can redefine urban functions and change citizens' lives more deeply, and suggested directions for creating a citizen-centered city through design.
Chris van Duijn, Partner at OMA, examined the role and concept of landmark architecture through recent cases and explained how landmark projects can develop cities by prioritizing community participation, functionality, and flexibility, rather than simply being aesthetic expressions.
Following the presentations, a panel discussion was held with Hyun-Kyung Lee, a professor at Yonsei University, as the moderator. Sung Jungggi, the first Korean designer at IDEO, and Dahyong Chung, co-artistic director of the Korean Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, joined the speakers to have an in-depth discussion on leading global design culture, strengthening design industry competitiveness, and expanding design value sharing based on their experiences.
The second session began with a keynote speech by Birgit Marger, President of the Service Design Network, on "Service Design for a Better City," which covered the topic of designing a smart life. Birgitta Margraf introduced specific examples of service design, stating that 21st-century design is innovating public services and driving digital transformation, and how governments around the world are adopting design as a strategic agenda.
Subsequently, presentations on the theme of "Design for the Future" were given by ▲Jeffrey T.K. Valino Koh, Professor at Singapore University of Technology and Design, on "Design for Transition: Designers' Change for a Sustainable Future" and ▲Kim So-hyeon Kaya, Specialist at LG Electronics Design Management Center, on "The Meeting of AI and Design: Organizational Culture, Personalization, and Ethical Leadership in Companies."
Professor Jeffrey Goh emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in design education and practice to address sustainability issues, arguing for the need for design that goes beyond human-centered design to include the needs of non-human actors and future generations. He also stated that qualified designers should accept their roles as agents of change and contribute to building a more just and sustainable future.
Kim Kaya, a specialist at LG Electronics Design Management Center, shared the impact of AI on organizational culture and product design and the need for designer involvement at the early stages of design. She also examined privacy and ethical issues arising from AI personalization services, using on-device AI technology as an example, and introduced the role of design leadership in balancing human-centered values and corporate interests.
Following the presentations, a discussion on "Design for the Future" was held with Kwon Hyo-sun, a professor at Kookmin University, as the moderator, along with the presenters of Session 2 and Jeong YounLee, a professor at Seoul Graduate School of Media. They conducted an in-depth discussion on how innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence, are affecting public services across our lives and how they are influencing our lives.
The "2024 Seoul Design International Forum" can be viewed on the forum's online platform (www.sdif.org) and the Seoul Metropolitan Government's official YouTube channel (Korean/English).
In particular, the online forum platform contains over 150 pieces of content, including various design policies promoted by Seoul since 2013, presentations from the Seoul Design International Forum, interviews, and design cases, allowing anyone to easily access the desired information.
This year's forum materials will also be posted on the online platform, and detailed information about the event can also be found there.
Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, "I have always emphasized design as a key growth engine that can further enhance Seoul's competitiveness, and now many people agree that design is a key factor in driving the happiness of citizens and urban competitiveness."
He added, "Through the further upgraded 'Design Seoul 2.0 Project,' we will make every effort to create a city where everyone wants to live and visit, a 'charming city' that awakens and impresses the daily lives of citizens, by taking Seoul to the next level and realizing a 'design that awakens and impresses the daily lives of citizens'."
