The deadline is approaching! Before 30 June, Seoul Design Award is inviting global designers to submit impactful, sustainable projects. A newly confirmed jurors of 32 global leaders will judge this year’s entries. This is a unique opportunity to gain international recognition for your sustainable design project. Entries close at 3:00 PM KST on 30 June, and all applications must be submitted in English.
Now in its sixth year, Seoul Design Award is one of the few international design awards solely dedicated to recognizing design solutions that tackle real-world challenges. Founded by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2019 and organized by the Seoul Design Foundation, the award celebrates projects that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aim to improve society, communities, and the environment. With 81 countries participating since the award’s launch in 2019, the Seoul Design Award has rapidly become a key platform for global dialogue on design for good.
The award is open to individual designers, collectives, companies, and students. Submissions are categorized into four SDG-aligned categories: Health & Peace, Equal Opportunities, Energy & Environment, and Cities & Communities. A total of 61 awards will be presented in 2025, including the Main Award for realized projects, the Concept Award for mockups and prototypes, and Honorary & Special Awards for leadership and collaboration in sustainable design. The total prize fund is 150 million KRW (approx. USD 110,000), including a Grand Prize of 50 million KRW, Best of Best Awards of 10 million KRW each, and Finalist and Concept Finalist Awards of 5 million KRW each.
This year, the Seoul Design Award introduces a new live presentation format for selecting the Grand Prize. Ten finalists will present their work in person during the October award ceremony at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul. The Grand Prize will be determined through a combination of scores from global jurors and participating citizens, making it a uniquely participatory design award experience.
The 2025 jury panel features 32 experts from over 20 countries, representing a diverse range of fields such as design policy, architecture, sustainability, product design, and universal design. Some of the notable jurors include Ezio Manzini (Italy) – President of the DESIS Network and a world-renowned scholar in sustainable social innovation; Patricia Moore (USA) – Pioneer in universal design and aging, recipient of the WDO World Design Medal (2022); Andrea Cancellato (Italy) – Director of ADI Design Museum-Milano and President of Federculture; Pradyumna Vyas (India) – WDO President-Elect and Senior Advisor at the Confederation of Indian Industry; and Dawn Lim (Singapore) – Executive Director of the DesignSingapore Council.
“This is your opportunity to share solutions that make a difference,” stated Kang Heui Cha, the CEO of the Seoul Design Foundation. “The Seoul Design Award recognizes design’s potential to create real and lasting social value. We invite changemakers from every region to share their vision for a more sustainable and inclusive future.”
Learn more and submit your work at www.seouldesignaward.or.kr
