Top designers at the Sept. 19-21 forum to inspire audience in design, life


A design forum organized by Herald Corp. is once again set to start a discussion on the role and impact of design next month, hosting leading designers, architects and artists.

Launched last year, the Herald Design Forum has positioned itself as a major design forum in Korea, inviting acclaimed figures in the field and attracting local audiences looking for inspiration.

The forum, titled “Re-imagine! Herald Design Forum,” will shed light on the increasing importance and significance of design at the national, economic and cultural levels under the theme “Design Changes the World” from Sept. 19-21 at the COEX exhibition hall in Samseong-dong, Seoul.

The second Herald Design Forum is expected to receive much spotlight with the participation of high-profile designers and artists, as did last year’s forum, which featured brand futurist Martin Lindstrom, nation-branding specialist Simon Anholt and industrial designer Karim Rashid. 

Japanese architect Tadao Ando, British industrial designer Bill Moggridge and automobile designers Chris Bangle and Peter Schreyer are among those coming to Seoul to share their knowledge and expertise this year.

Ando is expected to discuss how nature inspires him and his building designs that emphasize nature, culture and spiritual values at the first session of the forum on Sept. 20.

Bruce Duckworth, the award-winning creative director of the brand design agency Turner Duckworth, will also be participating along with other key figures including Chinese artist Zhang Xiaogang, one of the key figures in Chinese contemporary art, and Japanese designer Kenya Hara.

Duckworth won the Design Lions Grandprix in 2008 with his Coca-Cola advertisement and also led the design competition this year as jury president.

Xiaogang, a best-selling artist whose works sell for millions of dollars around the world, will talk about the boundaries between art and design and the new Chinese art trend at the forum.

Hara will share his design philosophy and experience in developing Muji as one of the major global lifestyle brands, overseeing more than 700 products, with the audience at a session of the forum.

Other highlights of the three-day event include a session in which automobile designers Bangle and Schreyer will talk about recent design trends, innovations and future trends.

“We are expecting a heated discussion between the two well-known designers and stimulating exchanges with the audience about innovation in design related to everyday objects like cars, smartphones and electronics,” said a forum organizer.

Bangle, a former BMW design chief and now the head of his eponymous design agency and a master designer of Samsung Electronics, will attend the forum for the second time.

Shreyer has been hailed as one of the top car designers with his contribution to the Audi TT design as well as the recent K series of Kia Motors. His K series design has been praised as having created a signature automobile design for Kia Motors.

Bangle and Schreyer will conduct a joint special session and talk about new global design trends and how design can satisfy costumers, followed by an auction where design sketches by the two auto designers as well as works of the Japanese architect Ando will be on sale.

Six months’ subscription to The Korea Herald and Herald Business will be offered as well.

In the run up to the forum, The Korea Herald will hold a design presentation competition for university students.

Participants in the PT competition will discuss how design shapes the world, its importance and prospects.

Finalists will be given the opportunity to hold a presentation in front of VIP guests attending the forum, who will then pick the winners on Sept. 20.

The three winning teams will receive awards of 3 million won ($2,600), 2 million won and 1 million won.

Last year’s winning team D.A.S. said: “We’ve never participated in any competition. We decided to apply this time because we would be able to attend sessions hosted by leaders in their fields and have dinner with them and listen to their insights on design and life.”

“We will never forget the moment when we talked to Chris Bangle over dinner and when Martin Lindstrom suggested he would write a recommendation letter for us,” they said.

Registration for the design forum is open through Sept. 7 at www.interpark.com.

For more information, visit herald-forum.com or call (02) 2152-5053.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)