ddp design fair

1 Please introduce the company (brand).

Chigong is an eco-friendly brand created through the know-how of EKVision, which has been supplying oral products to dental and health centers for a long time, since 1998, and the collaboration of designers who returned from New York, the mecca of design. Starting with a vintage functional toothbrush, it is growing to introduce various upcycling products and sustainable lifestyle products.

At Chigong, at a time when plastic products are reducing the lifespan of the Earth,
we focused on eco-friendly materials and trendy designs so that convenience-only choices no longer bother the environment.


Starting with a toothbrush, Chigong is growing now to showcase a variety of upcycling products and sustainable lifestyle products

2 How did you start the brand? If you have an interesting story, please share. 

During my long career as a motion designer in the United States, my experience of feeling disappointed in the reality that basic recycling and recycling are not carried out signaled the beginning of the work. Chigong was born with the know-how and experience of my father, who has run a domestic toothbrush manufacturing industry since 1998 after returning to Korea from America , and was first unveiled through Wadiz funding in July last year, now already celebrating its first anniversary. In particular, we tried to capture vintage and kitsch sensibilities different to the uniform eco-friendly design and toothbrush branding. All customers who purchase Chigong feel a "value consumption" mentality that pursues environmental and social values, and the design itself has a new sensibility and unique personality.

3 Please introduce a new product you are making or your most recent product. 

Currently, we are producing the Chigong x Belly Bear 1P toothbrush and tongue cleaner as an exclusive collaboration with Lotte. Bellygom 4P toothbrush, which was introduced at the DDP event, was well received, so we will introduce a new product through an extension contract, and it will be launched around late August or early September.

Chigong's first product, the Chigong episode.0 eco-friendly toothbrush, used PLA material, a corn starch extract, to reduce carbon emissions by more than 70%. PLA material is a sustainable ingredient and compostable material that decomposes within 6 months within a specific climate and humidity. Even if certain conditions are not met, they decompose at a rate of 1/10 compared to ordinary plastics.

Chigong's second product, the Chigong episode.1 eco-friendly tongue cleaner, is made from a material called biomass, an eco-friendly element extracted from sugar cane, and requires carbon dioxide in the air, so it reduces carbon emissions when manufacturing the product. In addition, it has the advantage of generating less harmful substances when incinerated.

Chigong's third product, the Chigong episode.2 Eco-Friendly Charcoal Toothbrush, offers a stable grip with a stylish wood texture and curved custom handles along with the PLA body. In addition, charcoal is coated on the double fine hairs to be effective in removing and deodorizing bad breath and suppressing bacterial reproduction through antibacterial effects. Chigong's fourth product, Chigong episode.3 Fluorine-free toothpaste, is refreshing and clean with a natural surfactant and lemon mint scent. It excludes 11 harmful ingredients, including CMIT, a toxic ingredient in humidifier disinfectants, ethanol, and pigments, and suppress cavities through natural ingredients such as pearl powder, grapefruit seed tea extract, and chamomile extract.

Lastly, the first gift set by Chigong is divided into A and B sets, respectively,
Set A is 5 individual toothbrushes + a 3 piece charcoal brush set + 2 tongue cleaners and 1 toothpaste
Set B consists of 5 toothbrushes, 2 toothpastes, and 1 tongue cleaner.

Chigong's first set of oral hygiene products is a pleasant eco-friendly gift with a sensuous color and trendy design. The recyclable non-coated Earth Pack paper box can also be used for interior design and as a multipurpose storage box.

4 For the people visiting the launch hall, please share the main parts of the booth and the concept of the exhibition.

In addition to the functional characteristics of eco-friendly products, we hope to exhibit the branding of vintage and hip concepts. I hope that even ordinary oral hygiene products can be interior props that contain your own sensibility and that can catch your eye with both products and branding with “newtro”

5 Is there a reason why you decided to participate in the design launch fair? What are you expecting from the fair?

Many toothbrush brands are often not branded or have similar designs, but with Chigong, professional motion designers participated in the entire process from branding to design/marketing. In addition, since we produce high-quality oral hygiene products with my father, CEO of EKVISION, since 1998, has been the OEM for many dental and health centers and large companies such as Modern House and Titad, I am confident that we can introduce functional products.

6 Please tell us about the direction that you want to take your brand in going forward.

Chigong started as an oral hygiene product category, but as a comprehensive total lifestyle brand, we will continue to expand the category to other items. Currently scheduled are vegan cosmetics including hand cream/lip balm made with vegan ingredients, and next year, we plan to expand to 'scent' related categories such as room spray and diffusers.

7 "Various" opinions, thoughts, criticism, and praise for the platform called Design Launch Fair, are all welcome. Please share anything you wish to.

If it was a general and universal product that only emphasized functionality, platforms like Design Fair might have felt distant to us. But beyond the product itself, the brand Chigong was born out of the hands of an incumbent motion graphic designer who worked in New York, so I put a lot of effort into design and branding. It is meaningful to be able to appeal to and promote this to many visitors, and it seems to be an invaluable opportunity for new brands like us.