ddp design fair

You have participated as a curator since the first fair. What makes this year’s fair special compared to the previous ones?

I think the biggest difference this year is that we focused more on smaller things. We used to pay more attention to the collaboration itself, which was mostly about the appearance and scale. However, this year’s fair is more about quality and reflects each individual's emotions a lot.

What is the reason behind this?

Many of us have been spending more time indoors while we are going through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This made us communicate more with objects and spaces, perhaps considered insignificant, we had never paid attention to until the pandemic came along. It seems that we are starting to care more about things that are familiar but considered unimportant. We are now having a huge interest in things that used to be regarded as minor and trivial. Emotions coming from interest in our surroundings, concerns about our environment and relationships with people were fully displayed in the initial prototype. I could see that designers and makers have developed unique styles of their own. One more noticeable change is that designers and makers are embracing the collaboration, which once seemed as something alien to them, as a very natural process, and it looks like they are trying to find more meaning beyond the collaboration.

Could you be more specific about finding more meaning beyond the collaboration?

All designers and makers must have had a purpose when they created something, however, as time goes on, they feel frustrated and start to question, “Am I creating something that would end up becoming a white elephant?” I’ve been there, done that. Even though they thought they had made something useful, once the spotlight swings elsewhere, they start to question, “Why did it fade into insignificance?” I have noticed their efforts to find answers. I have also been encouraged by how hard they tried to offer greater usability and practicality and extend the product life cycle.

You may feel like you are growing together with the fair. How do you feel?

I feel great pride in growing together with the fair every year. It is surprising how different things are now than they were even just 4 years ago, so I am already looking forward to how innovative and different it will be in the future. I still have great ambitions for the fair. I hope to discover star designers in Korea through the DDP Design Fair.

What advice would you like to give to designers and makers who have participated and will participate in the DDP Design Fair?

We are now living in a world where the role of people who design and make things is becoming increasingly important. It also comes with greater responsibility. A small object can have a huge and good influence on the other side of the world, so I hope designers and makers can gain more confidence and courage in this aspect. However, this should not be confused with arrogance. It is a pity to see an eye-catching cover letter that does not focus on the basics but looks pretty on the outside. It is also important not to be misled or swayed by “someone else’s creation” seen from social media. We all lead different lives anyway, so there is no need to be envious or self-conscious about following the trend. The more time you spend to stay true to yourself and do what you love, the clearer the path becomes for you.

This year’s theme for the DDP Design Fair is “Beautiful Life”. What is a beautiful life to you?

I think a beautiful life is seeing other people enjoying objects or spaces I created. Designers cannot be happier when they are able to increase happiness through interaction based on relationship and interest. It is because if there are more designers who can have a positive impact on the lives of others, even with small and trivial things, the world will become more beautiful.