ddp design fair

Could you tell us about how the mentoring is going for the designers and makers paired in teams?

Instead of making prototypes driven by the situation, we are developing prototypes based on a clear direction. It means that there are many teams working on eco-friendly products centered on circulation of resources. As we aim to create products, not artworks, we are talking with each other in more detail with a variety of ways, including the temperature felt by consumers, practicality, distribution processes in Korea and even distribution prices.

It looks like two-way communication rather than mentoring.

There are many veteran makers with a lot of experience and a growing number of designers who are making important contributions in the industry as much as popular designers, so I try to be cautious with my position as a curator. That’s why I try to tell as much as possible from the perspective of a consumer, instead of giving advice as a mentor. After all, this is a process of making a product for consumers, and a product survives in the market only when consumers find it attractive and buy it.

You have only seen the initial prototypes, but is there any product that has captured your heart?

I have only seen the initial prototypes, but I could tell from the first sight that there were quite a lot of teams with great potential. Looking at the careers of designers and makers, I was pretty sure that high-quality products will be launched. Also, there was a product I wanted to purchase right away, which was a toy car made of wood. Even though I am not interested in wood and cars at all, I felt that warm materials and generous curves added to the commercial product were designed to evoke emotions that transcend age. Practicality is essential, but I think it is also important to make products people want to keep for a long time. Like this wooden car.

Despite all the expectation and attention, there are some things that could have been better.

Um, to be honest, I could not help but feel I have seen some of the products somewhere else before. The fair’s purpose is to develop and launch new products, but I felt it would have been better if we could put more thoughts into things and bring them to the next level. Of course, they may not be copies of other products in the market, however, this was the impression I got after traveling around the world and seeing a lot of products.

What kind of attitude do you expect from the participants of the DDP Design Fair?

I was also one of the judges two years ago and was surprised to find that the best product selected by consumers and the best product selected by the judges were completely different. The conflicting results show that there is no right answer, however, I think designers and makers should know how to compromise in order to meet consumers’ needs with more adaptability and flexibility. Participants need to have an open mind once they submit their application for the DDP Design Fair.

Returning as a curator for the second time, are there any suggestions you have for the DDP Design Fair?

As well as other curators, I was pleased to see many previous participants joining this year’s fair again and excited to see the DDP Design Fair establishing itself as an unmissable event. I think one of the remarkable achievements is that the fair is recognized as a turning point and a great platform for promotions, especially for domestic designers and makers who work on a small scale or individually. Moreover, I am confident that the fair will be served as a textbook example for more and more people as we archive data for each year’s event. However, we need to enhance the quality of the finished products. This requires a sufficient amount of time. When it comes to product development, the longer it takes, the better it gets. I heard that some people hesitate to participate because of the deadline stress. Wouldn’t it be a lot better if we could have more time to prepare? Also, while designers quickly get information from a variety of sources, makers seem to have a hard time getting information about the DDP Design Fair. I also suggest creating a more accessible platform to attract more talented makers.