Design Miami, the world's premier international collectible design fair, made its historic Asian debut at Seoul's Dongdaemun Design Plaza on Monday, marking a significant milestone for both the global design community and Korea's expanding influence in the international collectible design market. The inaugural event represents a full-circle moment for the organization, which first honored the DDP's architect Zaha Hadid as Designer of the Year at its very first edition in 2005.
The 14-day exhibition, titled "Illuminated: A Spotlight on Korean Design," presents an impressive collection of over 170 works created by designers from both Korea and around the world. The showcase features pieces presented by 12 international galleries, four Korean galleries, and 20 independent designers, creating a comprehensive view of contemporary design excellence. The exhibition will run through September 14th in collaboration with the Seoul Design Foundation, with Herald Media Group serving as the premier media partner.
Speaking to reporters at the opening press conference held at DDP's Design Lab, Design Miami CEO Jen Roberts emphasized the profound symbolic significance of choosing Seoul and specifically the Dongdaemun Design Plaza as the venue for this landmark event. "The DDP holds great significance to Design Miami. Zaha Hadid received the inaugural Designer of the Year Award at Design Miami's first edition in 2005, and now, 20 years on, we feel we have come full circle," Roberts explained, highlighting the meaningful connection between the pioneering architect who designed the plaza and the fair's origins.
Roberts also noted the remarkable transformation in Korean design's global standing over the past decade, reflecting on how dramatically the landscape has changed. "Ten years ago, Korean design didn't have much presence, but today, Korean designers are taking on educational roles and serving as influential players. Collector participation has also grown steadily, from just one participant 14 years ago," she observed, underscoring the rapid growth and increasing international recognition of Korean design talent.
Seoul Design Foundation CEO Cha Kang-heui characterized the collaboration as a strategic move to enhance Korean design's global profile and establish Seoul as a major design destination. The partnership came to fruition in April when Cha proposed the joint event to Roberts during Milan Design Week, one of the world's most important design gatherings. "Design Miami is the most influential platform leading global design direction and discourse worldwide," Cha stated, emphasizing the significance of bringing this prestigious event to Korea.
Looking toward the future, Cha expressed ambitious goals for Korea's role in the international design community. "This year marks a starting point. Through this event, we expect Korea to become a major hub for design and art," he said, positioning the inaugural Seoul edition as the foundation for long-term growth and international recognition.
The Seoul exhibition operates under Design Miami's innovative new "In Situ" initiative, which represents a departure from traditional fair formats by focusing on localized experiences that recognize and celebrate regional design communities. This approach emphasizes curated presentations over commercial booth arrangements, creating a more immersive and culturally relevant experience for visitors. Organizers explained that this format allows for deeper engagement with local design culture while maintaining the high standards and international perspective that Design Miami is known for worldwide.
