seoul design award 2025 announces top 10 finalists with early voting for grand prize

seoul design award 2025 opens global early voting

Seoul Design Award 2025, the global platform dedicated to design for sustainability, has announced its Top 10 finalists projects and opened global early voting for the Grand Prize. Out of hundreds of submissions worldwide, the international jury of 32 experts selected outstanding projects for their creative approaches to social, environmental, and urban challenges. Until October 22, 2025, citizens around the world are invited to take part in shaping the outcome by early voting for the Grand Prize among the Top 10 projects via the official Seoul Design Award website.

Some of the highlights include China’s first 3D-printed concrete structure, modular solar-powered stations meant for rural, underserved communities, the transformation of unwanted Iranian women’s headscarves into stadium seats, and upcycled chicken feather waste. 

set for October 24, 2025 at the iconic Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, the Seoul Design Award 2025 Conference & Top 10 Competition spotlights the Top 10 projects | all images courtesy of the Seoul Design Award

Pre-registration is open until October 20

Seoul Design Award represents designs for sustainable daily life that aim for harmony between people, society, and the environment, spanning areas like Health & Peace, Equal Opportunities, Energy & Environment, and Cities & Communities. Set for October 24, 2025 at the iconic Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, the 2025 Conference & Top 10 Competition spotlights the Top 10 projects through live presentations streamed worldwide, with citizens playing a key role in selecting the Grand Prize winner through both early and live voting. Beyond the competition, the conference brings together designers, scholars, industry leaders, and the public to explore how sustainable design can scale to transform communities and daily life.

Early voting contributes to the Grand Prize, ensuring the voices of people worldwide are reflected in the outcome. Alongside the professional jury’s assessment, the integration of citizen input highlights how design can inspire collective responsibility and foster a truly global dialogue. This is what makes the Award unique and special in the world. By engaging with users and expanding the reach of projects, it encourages designers to participate more actively and be inspired in creating sustainable projects.

out of hundreds of submissions worldwide, the international jury of 32 experts selected outstanding projects for their creative approaches to social, environmental, and urban challenges

Top 10 seoul design award finalists projects

Alusta Pavilion for Multispecies Encounters by Suomi/Koivisto Architects (Finland): a clay-based pavilion that creates habitats for humans, insects, and birds, encouraging ecological dialogue and multispecies co-living

Anako – Emergency Folding Cradle by Anako team (Italy): Humanitarian design co-created with vulnerable communities, providing dignity, safety, and resilience in crisis conditions.

The Borrowing Project by hidden-domain studio (Taiwan): A circular exhibition model that reuses borrowed materials through reversible design, minimizing waste.

The City of Indigenous Arts by Estudio MMX (Mexico): An urban revitalization project celebrating indigenous heritage through architecture, public spaces, and cultural restoration

Crafted Liberation by RK Collective (Australia, Iran): A participatory project transforming unwanted Iranian women’s headscarves into symbolic stadium seats, turning oppression into empowerment

Jaza Energy Hubs by Nonfiction Design (Nigeria, USA): Modular, solar-powered hubs delivering clean, affordable energy to rural communities while empowering local economies

Soft Solids Lighting by Daydreaming Objects (Denmark, Lithuania):  Lighting design crafted from natural wax and upcycled components, combining durability, softness, and emotional connection to nature

Golden Feathers by Golden Feathers – 6th Eco-Fiber Pioneers (India): A circular solution that upcycles chicken feather waste into sustainable fibers, reducing landfill and pollution

project info:

name: Seoul Design Award 2025 | @seouldesignaward

early voting deadline: October 22, 2025

conference venue: DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza)

conference date: October 24, 2025