ddp design fair

This piece, crafted through simple metalworking, combines functionality with smooth, curved forms. Its design utilizes natural, streamlined curves to offer visual comfort, while offering a soft and graceful tactile experience when held.Though created with a minimalist approach, each element is perfectly harmonized to maximize user convenience. This piece embodies minimalism while reflecting a modern sensibility through its sleek design. It serves various practical functions during reading or work, all the while maintaining its beauty as a decorative interior item.MAKER studio mayreI learned a lot from collaborating with the designer. The process of discussing design concepts, refining the methods, and making adjustments to the product was both fascinating and a huge growth opportunity. Most of my past projects involved creating products based on client requests, so this collaboration gave me a unique chance to understand the designer's thought process and how they approach product development. Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of the differences between designers and engineers, and it was incredibly valuable and meaningful.DESIGNER HYUNGJUN LEECollaboration isn’t always easy, but I learned a great deal through smooth communication with the manufacturing company during the product development process. I had the opportunity to explore new technologies and new materials, which ultimately helped us achieve a better final product. By working closely with the factory, which was part of the manufacturing company’s network, we were able to produce samples and develop the product efficiently, without encountering many challenges.

The Garesansui Vase embodies Eastern beauty, inspired by the traditional Japanese Zen garden. Garesansui refers to the concept that all things return to the earth, emphasizing a profound connection with nature. To highlight Eastern aesthetics, the vase is designed using a low-profile form typical of Ikebana vase collections.Rather than filling the vase entirely, the design encourages a careful and balanced composition of flowers, drawing attention to the natural flow of lines and the harmonious interplay of positive and negative space.Utilizing the unique properties of Zeolite material, the vase showcases a refined yet natural texture, further reinforcing its conceptual design.MAKER by SPRINGI believe the beautiful result came from extensive communication with the designer team. Through future collaborations, I hope to promote Zeolite, an eco-friendly material, and eventually bring it to market. While I usually work alone and follow my own routine process, this collaboration allowed me to experiment with combining metal as a material and enhance my skills through better communication.DESIGNER Kim.This was my first time working with Zeolite, a material I had only heard of before, and it provided an opportunity to explore its potential while gaining a deeper understanding of its strengths and limitations. Through close collaboration with the manufacturer, we designed the product to highlight the material’s natural textures and unique characteristics.Garesansui, a Japanese garden style, depicts landscapes using stones and sand instead of water. Inspired by this concept, our vase was designed as a waterless Ikebana vase for artificial floral arrangements. The design emphasizes the natural beauty of a simple arrangement of two to three flowers within a refined, sculptural form. By embracing the raw texture of Zeolite, we aimed to showcase its inherent beauty and organic qualities.

Dune is a word that refers to a sand hill. Inspired by this concept, we created the Dune collection, a desk organizer shaped like sand dunes crafted from elastic and colorful eco-friendly vegan leather.While showcasing the material’s natural beauty, the design also incorporates industrial elements commonly used in leathercraft to improve efficiency and streamline production.This approach enables mass production, while the DIY format simplifies assembly and reduces shipping materials. The leather can be customized to suit individual preferences and will develop a unique patina over time, enhancing its character.MAKER BlueCollarObjetSince we work with a variety of materials in our workshop, there have been many projects we had to compromise to meet the delivery schedules. However, this collaboration was a refreshing change, allowing us to enjoy the process and focus more on the design aspects.We explored new possibilities by combining different materials and using machinery to process them in various ways.DESIGNER Studio WYSPI believe that through BlueCollarObjet, we were able to explore various materials, which led to the creation of the leather and aluminum combination. By utilizing the company’s machinery and expertise, we explored two different combinations: leather with metal and leather with wood. This project provided an opportunity to learn more about aluminum processing and to explore the possibilities of combining different material properties.

PEAK is not just a mirror; it’s an object designed to elevate the ambiance of a space. Created to stand out even when not in use, it blends abstract shapes inspired by nature with warm, felt materials to enhance its aesthetic appeal.The cone shapes, inspired by mountain peaks of varying heights, bring energy to the space, while vibrant, seasonally inspired colors evoke the ever-changing beauty of nature. To improve practicality, a strap is added at the top, and for safety, an acrylic mirror is used at the bottom to prevent breaking.MAKER TRIPLE HExpanding the sales category posed challenges, but this opportunity significantly advanced product development by enabling close collaboration with designers during the planning process. By merging the seller’s insights with the designer’s creativity, we were able to develop an outstanding product. Moving beyond product development, we aim to work closely with the designer on sales and distribution and hope to maintain a strong partnership even after the end of this project.As a manufacturing company, we have traditionally focused on functionality and utility in our product designs. However, this collaboration encouraged us to think beyond practical use and explore how the product could serve as a decorative object when not in use. The designer's guidance offered fresh perspectives on aesthetics and ornamental elements, inspiring us to create a design that is both innovative and playful.DESIGNER Studio&This collaboration with small business owners was a valuable experience, allowing us to work on more than just design, usability, and manufacturing. We also explored strategies for sales and distribution, gaining insights into both the product’s appearance and its path to commercialization. It was incredibly rewarding to develop a product that satisfied both the small business owner and the designer. Even after the project ends, we plan to stay engaged in the sales and distribution process to support a successful launch.Throughout the process, the manufacturer didn’t simply filter out the designer’s suggestions but offered constructive feedback to build upon them. While the initial design focused solely on felt material, suggestions to experiment with alternatives like wood and aluminum led to exciting results. During the sampling process, we discovered the surprising potential of these materials, and the experience left a lasting positive impression on the collaboration.

This design blanket reflects the unique architectural elements of DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza). Inspired by the curves formed by the repetition of DDP's external panels, the design incorporates these elements into the blanket's pattern and weave. By drawing parallels between the architectural process of DDP and the weaving process, the repetitive panel design was applied to the blanket to create an original souvenir that symbolizes DDP.The blanket not only captures the beauty of DDP but also offers high functionality, transforming it from a simple winter accessory into a piece of artistic value. At the DDP Design Fair, "Like This" and "Beformative" present this special item, celebrating one of Seoul's most iconic architectural landmarks.MAKER LikethixBe formative and likethix have maintained an ongoing partnership, not just at the DDP Design Launching Fair, but on various product developments each year. A notable strength of be formative is the ability to effectively convey the story behind each product. While incorporating storytelling can be time-consuming for manufacturers, be formative has streamlined this process, delivering high-quality results.DESIGNER Be formativeThrough its collaboration with be formative, likethix has not only elevated the design value of its products but also uncovered new market opportunities. The DDP-inspired blanket demonstrates our ability to transcend functionality, offering a product with significant artistic value. This partnership has provided invaluable experience in sustainable design, with likethix impressively balancing aesthetics with a deep understanding of user needs, product challenges, and consumer interests throughout the development process.

The DAILY L2 and DAILY STOOL are part of a new line within the DAILY COLLECTION, designed for the lifestyle brand LIKE THIS. Reflecting on the brand's philosophy of encouraging a mindful life, these pieces were created to offer practical yet unique furniture that seamlessly integrates into any setting.With their minimalist design, the DAILY L2 and DAILY STOOL complement a wide range of environments, delivering an unexpectedly high level of comfort and elevating the daily experience.These versatile pieces effortlessly blend into daily life, making them ideal not just for homes, but also for public spaces like restaurants, educational institutions, and offices.MAKER LikethixSince starting our brand with STUDIO PESI, we’ve worked closely together for the past three years, building a strong and ongoing partnership. STUDIO PESI has provided valuable insights into our designs and offered expert guidance throughout the process. With the support of likethix’s expertise in sales and manufacturing, we’ve been able to collaborate effectively. Through extensive testing to create furniture that offers lasting comfort, we have gained invaluable knowledge, which has led to the development of more refined and sophisticated products. The close collaboration with likethix also allowed us to continually refine our ideas and achieve the best possible outcomes. This partnership has been crucial in creating products we are genuinely proud of. Thanks to our work with STUDIO PESI, likethix has been able to significantly elevate its design value, resulting in the creation of the simple yet special DAILY L2 and DAILY STOOL. This collaboration has been an invaluable opportunity to develop practical, innovative products that seamlessly integrate into both everyday settings and public spaces.DESIGNER STUDIO PESIWe have maintained a long-term collaborative relationship with likethix, and the key factor behind its success has been the generous support provided in the development of high-quality products. Whenever we needed to conduct tests, develop prototypes, or explore new ideas through sample studies, likethix offered unwavering assistance. Even when the designer was firm on certain points, the manufacturer was receptive to our feedback and provided valuable insights. The seamless communication between us played a pivotal role in ensuring the successful creation of exceptional products.

This is a display shelf designed to showcase products as design objects. The concept features angled legs, creating a space that naturally opens and closes, allowing products to be arranged according to their individual characteristics.The triangular space allows products to be arranged in an immersive way, like artwork, while products placed at the center can be displayed in an open area, blending naturally with their surroundings. Additionally, we designed the shelf to highlight the natural texture of the wood, adding accent colors on the sides to give the display shelf a distinct character.MAKER MowolBuilding on the designer’s request for a minimalist design, we introduced a new assembly method that streamlined the structure by eliminating unnecessary components. I believe the experience gained from this project will lead to significant progress and improvement in future structural and assembly work. I hope the side shelf gather significant attention at this exhibition so that it can be developed for mass production in the near future.DESIGNER Kim.This collaboration has been incredibly valuable, especially in developing a new jointing method. Mowol’s expertise in plywood structure design significantly streamlined the process, making it more efficient. The open dialogue regarding the product’s quality was particularly valuable.  Through this partnership, we gained a deeper understanding of the structural dynamics of wooden furniture. Collaborating with Mowol to align the material with their production techniques has been both a meaningful and insightful experience.

We created the Kreis light so that it could harmoniously blend with our daily lives. Inspired by the shapes of the sun and moon—light forms we’ve admired for centuries—and from the circle, widely regarded as the most perfect geometric shape, this design embodies both natural and geometric harmony.The Kreis light features more than just a simple flat circle; it incorporates elements like concentric circles, light emanating from the center, and light spilling out from beneath the circular lampshade. These various light elements evoke a sense of stability and geometric beauty.Instead of relying on commonly used transparent or translucent materials, the design employs metal, allowing light to gently escape from the shape itself. Equipped with adjustable bulbs, users can modify both the color temperature and brightness, making it ideal for various settings, such as a table lamp or mood light beside the bed.MAKER DEASUNGOur primary focus so far has been mass-producing components for ships and automobiles. It was a delightful collaboration to complete the entire product development process together with the designer. By carefully selecting the right aluminum materials and refining the processing techniques for surface treatments, we were able to complete the design into a finished product through strong communication and teamwork.DESIGNER Sujin KimOur objective was to create a lighting fixture that seamlessly integrates as a design element in everyday life. During my undergraduate studies, I was introduced to the manufacturing company and, through multiple visits to their facilities, I gained valuable insights into various materials and surface treatments. When I presented my designs, the manufacturer offered expert advice on the most suitable material and surface treatments for aluminum, which greatly enhanced the final product. This project was my first venture into lighting design, previously having worked on smaller-scale projects. The manufacturer’s support was critical in addressing important factors such as dimensions and weight, enabling us to successfully complete the project. Moving forward, I am eager to create even more innovative products. We plan to mass-produce aluminum-based accessories in the future and will continue collaborating with DEASUNG, which specializes in shaping materials like pipes and rods, utilizing CNC technology for precision.