No. 1 Design-Specialized Larchiveum in Korea

The Design Larchiveum is a multidisciplinary cultural space that integrates the functions of a library, archives, and a museum. Building on DDP’s spaces and content, the Seoul Design Foundation collects, preserves, researches, and exhibits design resources while developing content that enables citizens and designers to share and experience the value of design.
The DDP Design Larchiveum presents exhibitions and content that highlight contemporary design trends and key issues, the creative processes of designers and brands from Korea and around the world, collaborative projects between companies and designers, and the evolution and achievements of the design industry. Through these initiatives, the Foundation seeks to demonstrate how design extends beyond finished products into research, documentation, education, and exchange.
To establish a systematic archive of design resources, the Foundation continuously collects and utilizes video materials, interviews, digital content, exhibition records, and works from its collections. Permanent and special exhibitions, along with educational programs utilizing various spaces within DDP, will further bring professional design knowledge and creative experiences closer to the public.
Through the Design Larchiveum, the Seoul Design Foundation aims to transform DDP into Seoul’s leading platform for design knowledge, where education, archiving, and community engagement converge. In doing so, the Foundation will continue to promote the value of K-Design and lay the groundwork for the sustainable growth of Seoul’s design culture.
DDP Magazine Library

for Sustainable Life

The Seoul Design Award is an international design award that recognizes designers and organizations creating a sustainable future through innovative solutions to everyday challenges. By celebrating projects that promote harmony among people, society, and the environment, the award highlights the transformative role of design in improving quality of life and driving positive change.
Launched in 2019 as the Human City Design Award, the program was established to promote human-centered design and sustainable urban living. In 2023, it was renamed the Seoul Design Award to embrace a broader range of design practices addressing challenges beyond the urban context. Today, the award recognizes projects that contribute to healthier communities, peace, equal opportunities, energy and environmental sustainability, and resilient cities and communities.
A better future cannot be achieved by a single city alone. It is built through the collective efforts of people and communities around the world sharing experiences and solutions. Through the Seoul Design Award, the Seoul Design Foundation continues to discover and showcase outstanding design initiatives from across the globe while expanding the role and value of design in creating a more sustainable everyday life.

Website of Seoul Design Award

Sustainable upcycling

Seoul Upcycling Plaza is a multifunctional cultural complex dedicated to creating new value from discarded resources through design and innovation. Opened in September 2017 in the Janganpyeong area of Seongdong-gu, the Plaza was established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to promote a circular economy, with the Seoul Design Foundation overseeing its operation and advancing both upcycling culture and the resource circulation industry.
With a total floor area of 23,265 square meters across five above-ground floors and two basement levels, Seoul Upcycling Plaza brings together materials, design, manufacturing, and distribution in one place to support the transformation of waste resources into new products and services. The Plaza offers exhibitions, educational programs, and hands-on experiences that allow citizens to learn about and engage with upcycling, while providing creators and businesses with opportunities to develop products and expand their markets.
Through facilities such as the Materials Bank, Upcycling Exhibition Hall, Dream Factory, and spaces for resident companies, Seoul Upcycling Plaza continues to strengthen the foundation of the upcycling ecosystem. In addition, the Plaza operates a variety of programs—including education, mentoring, and startup support—to help upcycling evolve beyond environmental campaigns into sustainable industries and brands, expanding the practical possibilities of resource circulation.
The Seoul Design Foundation will continue to support citizens in incorporating upcycling into their everyday lives and assist creators and businesses in transforming the value of resource circulation into new products and business opportunities. Through these efforts, Seoul Upcycling Plaza aims to contribute to Seoul’s vision of becoming a leading city for sustainable lifestyles and the circular economy.

Seoul Upcycling Plaza website

Design for All

The Seoul Design Foundation strives to spread the future value of "Universal Design" with all citizens by accompanying the weak. To this end, we will support the spread of universal design awareness and commercialization along with the Universal Design Cooperation Network, and operate the UD Life Platform, a universal design exhibition hall within DDP.
UD Lifestyle Platform is a design platform for research, development and spread of designs under the concept of “Design for All”. The domain of the platform originates from personal homes (UD Home) and expands to urban life shared by all (UD City). In addition, UD producers and consumers (UD People) meet on the platform to share different values and technologies, and create new designs. Universal Design (UD) refers to “Design for All” or in other words, design that everybody can use safely and conveniently regardless of gender, age, nationality and disability. Built on a 1,550㎡ area on the third floor of DDP’s Sallimteo, UD Lifestyle Platform consists of a UD Home for everyday living spaces, UD City featuring urban spaces for communication, and UD Library where one discovers values and inspiration of design. UD Home and City are permanent exhibition spaces where one can learn about the philosophy of universal design and get a glimpse of future lifestyles. The platform also promotes the development of the design industry through governance. UD Library offers a collection of books on designs to read and serves as a community for presenting new design trends. UDP is a platform where people can learn and experience the concept of universal design. It is also a space where new values can be realized. We hope you can experience “Design for All” and learn about designs that will create a better future.

To learn more about
UD Lifestyle Platform

Seoul Universal
Design Center