Since being designated a City of Design by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and selected as
the World Design Capital in 2010, the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) has successfully
hosted numerous major design events. Beyond that, it has actively leveraged design to address
social issues and contribute to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).
In line with these efforts, the SMG and Seoul Design Foundation has been hosting the Seoul
Design Award, an international award now in its sixth edition, since 2019. It recognizes designers
who use creativity to tackle everyday challenges and foster harmonious, sustainable relationships
between people, society, and the environment.
Each year, designers from over 80 countries, aiming to drive social change through design, submit
their work to the Seoul Design Award. A panel of 32 design leaders from more than 20 countries
serves as juries, providing valuable feedback. Acknowledged by international design experts, the Seoul Design Award is the world’s only design award dedicated to sustainable daily life.
We look forward to welcoming participants to Seoul Design Award 2025, which celebrates
and supports designers with creative solutions for a better future.
• Host/Organizer: Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Design Foundation
• Purpose: To promote the values of design by showcasing outstanding projects that creatively
address everyday challenges
• Theme: To promote the values of design by showcasing outstanding projects that creatively
address everyday challenges
• Eligibility: Individual designers, or groups and enterprises with designers from around the world
• Design Areas: All designs within the past 5 years
(Product, visual, digital/multimedia, spatial/system, service/experiential/social, etc.)
• Focus Areas
- Health & Peace: Projects ensuring the health and well-being of all people and promoting sustainable peace
- Equal Opportunities (Universal Design): Projects creating equal opportunities for all, such as Universal Design
- Energy & Environment (Upcycling, Recycling): Projects for ecosystem conservation and sustainable resource management, such as upcycling
- Cities & Communities: Community-oriented projects utilizing sustainable infrastructure and innovative technologies
• Cost: None
• Award Details
[Area 1] Main Award (40 winners)
- Grand prize: 1 winner / approx. 34,000 USD
- Best of the Best: 9 winners / approx. 6,800 USD (each)
- Finalist: 30 winners
[Area 2] Concept Award (20 winners)
- Best of the Best: 2 winners / approx. 3,400 USD (each)
- Finalist: 18 winners
Honorary Award: 1 winner
• Winner Benefits
[Benefit for all winners]
- E-Certificate
- Permanent use of the award logo
- Global expert feedback
- Invitation to the award ceremony and networking party
- Promotion through the global "Press Day" event
- Global promotion through newsletter, social media, etc.
- Archiving on the award website
- Introduction in the Sustainability Trend Report e-book archive
[Additional benefits for 12 best of the best winners]
- Total prize money of approx. 102,000 USD (all prize money includes tax)
- Invitation to speak at the International Design Conference
(only for the Top10 Main Award winners)
- 3-night hotel accommodation
- Partial support for round-trip airfare
• Key Dates for 2025
- Submission Period: March 17(Mon) – June 30(Mon), 3PM (KST)
- Screening Period: July - September
- Citizen Vote: October (TBA)
- Live screening & award ceremony: October (TBA)
