The Seoul Design Award 2026 is a global design award, endorsed by World Design Organization, recognizing projects that create more sustainable everyday lives through greater harmony between people, society, and the environment. This year, the award received more than 1,200 entries from 91 countries, highlighting the growing diversity of design approaches to social and environmental challenges.

This year’s Grand Prize winner will be selected live on stage. The TOP 10 finalists will be evaluated in real time by a distinguished jury bringing together leading voices from design, technology, business, and public design, with their perspectives and commentary shared live throughout the competition.

The TOP 10 Live Competition jury consists of 9 experts, who will gather in Seoul to evaluate the finalists on stage. Among them are Mauro Porcini, Chief Design Officer at Samsung Electronics; Sungwon Jee, CMO & Executive Vice President at Hyundai Motor Company, Andrea Cancellato, Director of ADI Design Museum in Milan; and Martin Zelger, CEO of DAAily platforms AG, the company behind designboom. Together with the other members of the jury, they will bring diverse perspectives to the projects and offer direct, insightful commentary as the competition unfolds.

The TOP 10 finalists have now been revealed, giving the public a direct voice in deciding this year’s Grand Prize. Alongside the jury’s evaluation, votes cast online and during the live competition will contribute to the final selection. Cast your vote at www.seouldesignaward.or.kr/vote2026

On 14 October 2026 at DDP in Seoul, the TOP 10 finalists will take the stage and this year’s Grand Prize winner will be revealed live. The ceremony will also feature three designboom Special Prizes, selected and presented by designboom, recognizing projects that stand out for their distinctive design approaches and impact.

 

Seoul Design Award 2026 TOP 10 Finalists 

The TOP 10 finalists selected for the Seoul Design Award 2026 represent diverse approaches to creating greater harmony between people, society, and the environment.The selection includes:

Otter Newborn Warmer, a portable conductive warmer designed to prevent neonatal hypothermia in resource-limited settings. Photo credit to Seoul Design Award
LAKAT SUSTAINABLE SNEAKERS, a circular footwear project that transforms pineapple by-products and natural rubber into a more sustainable material solution. Photo credit to Seoul Design Award
Process-Controlled Waste Sorting Rear Module | ET35 rethinks waste management through a modular rear-body system that connects recycling workflows from public drop-off points to frontline operations, improving both working conditions and public recycling services. Photo credit to Seoul Design Award
Suber Design transforms recycled cork into sustainable furniture while supporting vulnerable social groups, combining circular design with social inclusion. Photo credit to Seoul Design Award
Na-Eh Karen Cultural Market serves as both a forest food court and community center for the Karen Indigenous Community, connecting cultural identity with community life. Photo credit to Seoul Design Award
Tablì, a breakthrough capsule-free single-serve coffee system by the Lavazza Group that delivers 100% pure coffee without aluminum or plastic. Photo credit to Seoul Design Award
WheeLog! is a participatory accessibility mapping platform that helps reduce mobility barriers by crowdsourcing the lived experiences of wheelchair users. Photo credit to Seoul Design Award
Reef Tiles by ReefCircular restores marine ecosystems through custom artificial reefs created with region-specific computational design and eco-friendly materials that enable easy installation by divers. Photo credit to Seoul Design Award
Kampung Mrican Phase 1 takes a community-led approach to the redevelopment of a Yogyakarta riverfront, using urban acupuncture to create change within a dense urban village. Photo credit to Seoul Design Award
Rounding out the selection, SMALLrevolution is a design-led closed-loop system that transforms plastic waste into documented and traceable resources and materials, rethinking the entire lifecycle of plastic through circular design. Photo credit to Seoul Design Award

Together, these ten projects demonstrate how design can address pressing social and environmental challenges through practical, inclusive, and resource-conscious solutions—while creating meaningful change in everyday life.

 

Seoul Design Conference 2026

On 14 October 2026, the Seoul Design Award 2026 ceremony will take place as part of Seoul Design Conference 2026, a full-day programme exploring how design can respond to a changing world.

Following the Seoul Design Award ceremony, the programme will feature presentations by recipients of the newly established ESG Design Impact Award, including Hyundai Motor Company, Patagonia, athome, and RHINOSHIELD, offering insights into how leading companies are using design to create positive social and environmental impact.

Session 2, held in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), will explore the future of circularity in electronics — from production and distribution to policy and the global agendas shaping resource circulation.

The day will conclude with a preview of the World Design Congress Seoul 2027, offering an early look at the global design event coming to Seoul next year, hosted by Seoul Design Foundation and World Design Organization (WDO). The session will culminate in a special ceremony unveiling the brand identity for World Design Congress Seoul 2027, marking the next chapter in Seoul’s growing role as a global design hub.

Tags: , ,