Diffusion of Universal Design Culture: Seoul Universal Design Award
Diffusion of universal design culture: establishment of the SUDA
The SMG was the first public institution to promote industries related to universal design by establishing the Seoul Universal Design Award (SUDA) and holding its first public contest in 2021.
“Universal design” refers to a design that is safely and conveniently available to all without discriminating against gender, age, disability, and nationality. Having constructed the Seoul Universal Design Center last year, the SMG has been accelerating its efforts to practice design welfare and spread design culture through the Seoul Universal Design Master Plan.
The SMG aims to discover ideas related to building, space, service, and policy reflecting designs that respect everyone through this public contest, encouraging the contributions of individuals and organizations to urban innovation. Its goal is to spread integrated design culture based on the universal design model of Seoul nationwide.
The public contest is largely divided into two fields: creation of universal design (UD) environment and service and policy. The field of “creation of UD environment” targets parks, squares, buildings, and spaces whose construction or project was completed within the last two years. In the field of “service and policy,” the public contest seeks space operating systems, manuals, service programs, and ideas for policy and institutional improvements.
The examination criteria are the five shared values of Seoul universal design — unrestricted sharing, stable balance, respected diversity, innovative change, and safe space. The final winner will be selected among submitted works that pass the on-site review by experts and civic review groups.
The Seoul Universal Design Center, in charge of hosting the public contest and awards ceremony, plans to conduct various activities to share real-life examples of universal design with people and create a bond of social sympathy. The Center will further expand the legal obligations and applications of the Act on the Guarantee of Convenience Promotion of Persons With Disabilities, Senior Citizens, Pregnant Women, and Nursing Mothers and the Barrier-Free Living Environment Certification.
