Seoul Design Award 2026
Seoul Design Award 2026 is now open for entries!
Seoul Design Award 2026, a global design award for sustainable life that aims for a harmonious relationship between people, society and the environment, has been recently opened for entries inviting designers who are actively shaping a brighter future in our ever-evolving world to partecipate.
Short description
Seoul Design Foundation is very glad to announce its Seoul Design Award 2026, which celebrates and supports designers with creative solutions for a better daily life.
Eligible for entry are design projects (product, visual, digital/AI, spatial/system, service/experiential/social, etc.) in all fields realized within 5 years by designers, groups and enterprises who contributed to a more sustainable and harmonious future between people and people, people and society, people and the environment, and people and nature.
Seoul Design Award is given to designers, organizations, or companies whose projects have contributed to a sustainable daily life that aims for a harmonious relationship between people, society and the environment.
Design Areas
Area 1. Main Award (Projects or products that are produced, launched, and available for users)
Area 2. Young Designer Award (Design concept mockups, prototypes, plans, etc.)
Area 3. ESG Design Impact Award (Corporate projects in sustainable design)
Focus Area:
➜ Health & Peace — Projects ensuring the health and well-being of all people and promoting sustainable peace
➜ Equal Opportunities (Universal Design) — Projects creating opportunities for all, such as Universal Design
➜ Energy & Environment (Upcycling, Recycling) — Projects for ecosystem conversation and sustainable resource management, such as upcycling
➜ Cities & Communities — Community-oriented projects utilizing sustainable infrastructure and innovative technologies
Evaluation criteria:
➜ Everyday Problems
Does the project address challenges for sustainable daily life, aiming to foster harmony among people, society, and the environment?
➜ Creative Solution
Does the design offer a creative approach to solving the problem?
➜ Social Impact
Does the design’s solution ripple into society?
➜ Vision for the Future
Does it present a forward-looking vision that can be scaled globally?
➜ Feasibility of Design Concept (Applicable to Area 2 only)
Does the concept propose a feasible method of realization based on the expected user experience?
Top 10 teams will give online presentations, followed by public voting and the jury’s final evaluation. The Grand Prize winner among the top 10 teams will be announced at the Award Ceremony in October.
Award Ceremony and Conference is schedulade for October 14, 2026.
Who may enter?
Individual designers, or groups and enterprises with designers from around the world can partecipate in this competition.
Prize:
There will be a total of 60+ winners, awarded with 150,000,000 KRW in prize money:
Main Award
➜ Grand Prize: 1 winner / 50,000,000 KRW
➜ Best of the Best: 9 winners / 10,000,000 KRW (each)
➜ Finalist: 30 winners
➜ designboom Special Prize: 3 winners
Young Designer Award
➜ Best of the Best: 2 winners / 5,000,000 KRW (each)
➜ Finalist: 18 winners
ESG Design Impact Award
➜ Nominated by the jury
There will be also a lot of benefits for all winners.
All winners who attend the ceremony in person will receive a special trophy.
Entry fees:
There is no entry fee to participate!
