Overview
The Seoul Design Award 2025 honors designers, organizations, and enterprises whose projects contribute to a sustainable daily life and promote harmonious relationships between people, society, and the environment. Since its inception in 2019, this prestigious international award recognizes creative solutions addressing everyday challenges aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Open to global participants, the award continues Seoul’s commitment to advancing social impact through design.
Why You Should Participate
The Seoul Design Award is the only global design competition entirely focused on sustainable daily life. By entering, participants gain international exposure, receive expert feedback, and get the opportunity to present their work to a global jury. Winners benefit from global promotions, networking opportunities, and the chance to speak at a major design conference. With no entry fee and substantial prize money, it is an unmissable opportunity for designers looking to showcase impactful projects and grow their global presence.
Key Highlights
- Eligibility: Open to individual designers, groups, and enterprises from all countries.
- Design Areas: All design types completed within the past 5 years, including product, visual, digital/multimedia, spatial/system, service/experiential/social.
- Award Categories:
- Main Award (Realized projects)
- Concept Award (Prototypes, mockups, plans)
- Focus Areas:
- Health & Peace: Promoting health and sustainable peace
- Equal Opportunities (Universal Design): Inclusive and accessible design
- Energy & Environment: Upcycling and eco-friendly innovation
- Cities & Communities: Sustainable infrastructure and technology for community development
Entry Fees
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All Categories | Free |
Prizes and Recognition
| Award Type | Winners | Prize (KRW) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Award | 40 | Projects realized within the past 5 years | |
| Grand Prize | 1 | 50,000,000 | Selected from Top 10 finalists via live screening and voting |
| Best of the Best | 9 | 10,000,000 (each) | Top 10 projects in 4 focus areas |
| Finalists | 30 | – | |
| Concept Award | 20 | Design ideas, prototypes, methods | |
| Best of the Best | 2 | 5,000,000 (each) | |
| Finalists | 18 | – | |
| Honorary Award | 1 | – | Given to a person for lifetime contribution to sustainable design |
Winner Benefits
For All Winners:
- E-Certificate
- Permanent award logo usage
- Global expert feedback
- Invitation to award ceremony and networking party
- Exposure through global Press Day
- Featured in newsletters, social media, and website
- Inclusion in the Sustainability Trend Report e-book
For 12 Best of the Best Winners:
- Total prize fund of 150 million KRW (approx. $102,000 USD)
- 3-night hotel stay
- Partial round-trip airfare
- Invitation to speak at the International Design Conference (Top 10 Main Award winners only)
- Finalists attending the ceremony receive a special trophy
Submission Details
Projects must be:
- Designed within the last 5 years
- Related to the designated focus areas
- Created by individuals, groups, or companies with design background
Accepted formats include:
- Products, visuals, multimedia, service/system design, and more
- For Concept Award: mockups, plans, and prototypes
All submissions are evaluated through a multi-stage jury process, including live presentation for top finalists. Additional documents and interviews may be requested during evaluation.
Important Dates
| Phase | Date |
|---|---|
| Submission Period | March 17 – June 30, 2025 (3PM KST) |
| Screening Period | July – September 2025 |
| Citizen Vote | October 2025 (TBA) |
| Live Screening & Award Ceremony | October 2025 (TBA) |
How to Join
- Prepare your design project or concept (must be within the last 5 years)
- Choose the appropriate award category (Main Award or Concept Award)
- Complete the submission form and upload required files
- Submit your entry before June 30, 2025, 3PM (KST)
[Apply through the registration link] (registration link)
Judging Criteria
- Everyday Problems: Relevance to sustainable daily life
- Creative Solution: Originality and design innovation
- Feasibility (for Concept Award only): Can it realistically be developed or implemented?
- Social Impact: Influence on individuals and communities
- Vision for the Future: Scalable and future-forward thinking
Screening Process:
- First Round (July–August)
- Second Round (August–September)
- Final Screening (September)
- Live Award Ceremony (October – Grand Prize announcement)
