This year’s Seoul Design Week will take place at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and various locations throughout the city from October 15 to 26. Under the theme DESIGN, DESIGNER, DESIGN LIFE, this year’s programming focuses on highlighting designers, with the aim of expanding the value of the design industry.

One of the most anticipated events is the DDP Design Fair (October 15–19). The latest in lifestyle products demonstrating the power of Korean design will be on display, featuring over a hundred lifestyle brands and designers beloved by the trendsetting MZ generation. Visitors can also get a glimpse into the next crop of emerging talent at the Young Designer pavilion, where experimental works by university student designers will be on display.

Nearby, the Seoul Design Week Conference (October 17–18) will run concurrently at the DDP Design Lab’s Design Hall over two days. Day 1, themed Design & Designer, will explore the identity and role of designers in the age of AI, while Day 2, under the theme Design Life, promises to redefine perspectives and solutions on personal taste and examine the role of design in a society saturated with choice and preference in the era of AI. Design, AI, and branding specialists and opinionmakers on Seoul’s aesthetic identity will share their insights on the essence and future of design.

Organized in JANDI Sarangbang on the 4th floor of the DDP Design Lab, the Seating Seoul exhibition will showcase the creativity of Korean designers through chairs. Featuring 100 designers, the exhibition will explore the cultural and contemporary sensibilities of Seoul through the medium of chairs, inviting visitors to reflect on the creativity of design. Meanwhile, at the Igansumun Exhibition Hall, the exhibition APPENDIX: Practice, Thought, Made will feature experimental works by twelve of Seoul’s leading design studios presenting design not merely as a means of production, but as a continuous process of negotiation and decision-making, seeing design as a practice where ideas emerge, evolve, and dissolve. Serving as a contemporary design archive, the exhibition will reexamine the very essence of design practice and execution. Other events include the Exhibition Talk at the Design Hall (October 19) and the Sit & Talk docent-led tours at the JANDI Sarangbang (October 15–26, twice daily). Both programs are free of charge and will offer visitors deeper context and understanding of the works. Going beyond traditional exhibitions, they will blend public engagement with artistic expression to offer a refreshing experience for visitors amid their everyday lives.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Design Market (October 17–19 and 24–26), held at the DDP Palgeori outdoor space, will operate as an open-air marketplace where locals and tourists can engage directly with over 200 lifestyle brands. More than just a shopping venue, it will serve as a platform for meaningful interaction between designers and visitors.

Beyond DDP, over 150 locations across Seoul including galleries, cafes, and showrooms have been designated as Seoul Design Spots to serve as inspirational spaces, sparking creativity and design thinking among international visitors, students, and designers.

This October, Seoul Design Week 2025 promises to offer an unrivaled opportunity to engage with designers and creative businesses up close.

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Company Name: Seoul Design Foundation
Contact Person: Areum
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Country: South Korea
Website: https://seouldesign.or.kr/