Strengthening the Competitiveness of Seoul’s Design Industry

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Design Foundation are fostering a dynamic design industry ecosystem in which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and specialized design firms can grow together, expanding the role of design as a driving force for Seoul’s industrial growth. Through a variety of support programs, SMEs with innovative technologies and ideas are able to enhance the competitiveness of their products and services through design, while design firms gain valuable collaboration opportunities and access to broader business networks.
The Design Industry Development Program provides comprehensive support tailored to different stages of business growth, ranging from building a foundation for emerging design companies to improving products and services, establishing brand identities, enhancing UX and UI, and supporting marketing and market expansion. In particular, the program promotes collaboration between SMEs and design firms in areas such as product design, brand design, and service design, while offering expert consulting and opportunities for promotion and exhibitions to ensure that design translates into tangible business competitiveness.
Looking ahead, the Seoul Design Foundation will continue to view design not merely as a means of improving appearance, but as a key strategy for solving business challenges and expanding market opportunities. Through continued support, the Foundation aims to strengthen collaboration between SMEs and design firms, foster outstanding design products and services, and enhance the global competitiveness of Seoul’s design industry.

Seoul’s representative design festival

Seoul Design Week is Seoul’s signature design festival that explores better lives and the future of cities through design. Bringing together designers, businesses, universities, design institutions, and citizens, the festival showcases Seoul’s lifestyle and the latest trends in the design industry while demonstrating how design connects everyday life, industry, and urban spaces.
The 2026 edition of Seoul Design Week will be held from October 14 to 25 across DDP and various locations throughout Seoul. The festival will feature a diverse range of programs, including the DDP Design Fair, the Seoul Design Week Conference, special exhibitions, design markets, Seoul Design Spots, the Seoul Design Industry Spectrum, and citizen participation events. As one of the festival’s flagship programs, the DDP Design Fair will take place at DDP Art Hall from October 14 to 18, serving as a design business platform that highlights Seoul’s trends and lifestyle.
Combining exhibitions, markets, forums, and networking opportunities, Seoul Design Week offers a comprehensive view of the present and future of the design industry. Centered around DDP, the festival brings together designers, brands, citizens, and experts from Korea and around the world to share new design experiences and further expand the creativity and competitiveness of Seoul design on the global stage.

Seoul Design website, click here

Where Emerging Designers and Small Businesses Connect

DDP Design Fair is a design business platform that connects designers and companies to create innovative products and explore new market opportunities. By fostering collaboration between creative talent and industry, the fair supports the commercialization of ideas and contributes to the growth and competitiveness of Seoul’s design industry.
Since its launch, the fair has brought together designers, businesses, and citizens to showcase design-driven products and lifestyle trends that reflect the creativity and diversity of Seoul. Through exhibitions, business matching programs, networking events, and various promotional activities, participants are provided with opportunities to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and expand their presence in the market.
Held annually as one of the flagship programs of Seoul Design Week, DDP Design Fair serves as a dynamic platform where design, industry, and everyday life converge. Centered around DDP, the fair aims to promote the value of design, support sustainable business growth, and further enhance the global competitiveness of Seoul’s design ecosystem.

DDP Design Fair, click here

Enriching Everyday Lifestyles Through Design

DDP Design Store is a public retail platform dedicated to discovering and showcasing outstanding design products that embody the creativity and lifestyle of Seoul. The Seoul Design Foundation supports a diverse range of creators—including design companies, small businesses, and young entrepreneurs—through open calls, product selection, online and offline sales channels, and integrated promotional and marketing initiatives, enabling their products to reach citizens and visitors from around the world.
The store offers a wide variety of products that bring the value of design into everyday life, including DDP-branded merchandise, Seoul-themed goods, home décor items, stationery, kitchenware, and fashion accessories. From products that reinterpret traditional Korean craftsmanship through contemporary design to lifestyle products that reflect current trends, DDP Design Store presents a curated collection that highlights Seoul’s creativity and distinctive design sensibility.
More than a retail space, DDP Design Store serves as a growth platform that helps promising design products strengthen their market competitiveness. Participating brands gain opportunities to introduce their products to citizens and tourists through DDP, one of Korea’s leading design destinations, while building brand awareness and gaining valuable consumer insights. In doing so, the store contributes to expanding market opportunities for design products and fostering the sustainable growth of Seoul-based design brands.
The Seoul Design Foundation will continue to support the growth of design brands and broaden market access for outstanding design products through DDP Design Store, creating more opportunities for citizens and visitors to experience Seoul’s design culture in their everyday lives.

To visit the DDP Design Store

A Hub for Design Business, Collaboration, and Learning for Young Entrepreneurs

The Seoul Design Startup Center is a design-focused incubation hub established and operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Design Foundation to support young entrepreneurs and early-stage design startups. The Center provides tailored support, including workspace, education, mentoring, networking opportunities, and market access programs, enabling creative entrepreneurs to launch and grow sustainable businesses.
Through a range of step-by-step programs, the Center helps design entrepreneurs transform ideas into products and services and build competitive brands. One-on-one mentoring and consulting sessions, seminars, workshops, startup forums, demo days, and networking events provide practical knowledge and capabilities essential for business growth.
The Center also offers facilities and equipment necessary for product development and business operations, including photo studios, meeting rooms, co-working spaces, and 3D printers. In addition, it fosters a collaborative startup community where resident companies can exchange ideas and develop partnerships. Through these efforts, the Center supports emerging designers in growing into competitive startups and becoming key players in Seoul’s design industry ecosystem.
Looking ahead, the Seoul Design Foundation will continue to support the ambitions and growth of young design entrepreneurs through the Seoul Design Startup Center, expanding a sustainable foundation where design-driven businesses can contribute to job creation and industrial competitiveness.

To go to Seoul Design Startup Center