ddp design fair

This is your second year with us, what`s different from last year?

Each year, the level of completeness at the prototype stage is growing. There were some products that I had doubts about when I first participated and judged, but now the participating designers and makers have understood the intention of the fair. They have realized that they can`t apply to the DDP Design Launching Fair with so-called flimsy products. There are many more products that through the team’s collective efforts, have reached the level needed which is a pleasant difference.

We`d love to hear your thoughts on launching curation. 

It`s more of a suggestion than a criticism, but I think we should move forward in the form of “discovery”. Even though the DDP Design Launching Fair has become a famous fair, it`s not as easy as it sounds to apply for it, and there are still many hidden gems. I think it`s time for full support through discovery, through selection and focus, not through an application process.

I think that doesn’t only apply to launching curation. 

Exactly. I think it would be great if it could also be applied to designer and maker collaborations, where curators find teams and mentor them intensively to elevate their products. I think such products could be globalized.

Are there any brands you`ve fallen in love with that have a unique way of looking at products?

There is a lighting brand that I`m considering selling in my store, and I have to give them a standing ovation for their table lamps. It`s a product that can be compared to table lights from world-renowned brands, and it has the perfect combination of function and design. I think it`s a product that encompasses not only current lifestyles but also the future.

What is a valuable partnership to you?

For me, a valuable partnership is not only about choosing a worthy product, but also about being able to give value to the product. I think that once you add value to a product, you can keep it with you longer and cherish it more. It gives consumers a sense of why they should buy it, not just because it`s expensive or famous, but why they should buy it regardless of price and recognition. As person selling a product, the product and value is the valuable partnership to me.