SEOUL DESIGN AWARD 2026 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
THE Seoul Design Award 2026 officially opened its call for entries, marking its 7th edition as the global award dedicated to addressing social and climate issues through sustainable design. In a symbolic milestone for the program, designboom is proud to announce a publishing partnership to highlight the growing international standing of projects that have a positive impact. Since its launch in 2019, the award has seen explosive growth of 1,100%, reaching 941 entries from 74 countries by 2025. This rapid development highlights the award’s role as a leading platform to highlight how design can transform everyday life and lead the world towards a more sustainable future.
Submissions are only accepted in English through the Seoul Official Design Award website until the closing date on 30 June 2026.
Seoul Design Award 2026 opens call for entries | all images courtesy of Seoul Design Award
A DESIGN PLATFORM THAT IS CHANGING THE WORLD
Seoul Design Foundation, the force behind the awardoperates on the belief that design is a transformative tool for improving everyday life and moving the world towards collective sustainability. Kang Heui Cha, CEO of the Foundation, sees the platform as a vital reason for designers to drive change through positive impact. For the 2026 edition, the award sharpens its focus on the entire life cycle of a career, from the raw potential of students to the large-scale influence of global institutions.
the award seeks designers who drive change through positive impact
CHAMPIONSHIP DESIGN THAT SOLVES REAL PROBLEMS
The Seoul Design Award seeks to discover a new generation of designers who prioritize social responsibility alongside aesthetics. A major change to the 2026 edition is the expansion of the Young Designers Award – formerly known as the Concept Award – which is specifically designed to capture the creative thinking of undergraduate and postgraduate students worldwide.
While the Main Awards focus on completed, realized products currently in use, the Young Designers Award invites unrealized proposals, including mock-ups and prototypes, to promote future talent. In addition, the ESG Design Impact Award recognizes outstanding sustainable projects led by companies and institutions, proving that ethical design is now a mainstay of global industry.
the award recognizes outstanding sustainable projects
To facilitate this global exchange of ideas, the program will select more than 60 winners in its various categories. In addition, three designboom Special Award winners will be recognized, who will receive exclusive selected editorial coverage to give both projects and designers significant international exposure. All winners will also receive a detailed scorecard featuring assessments from global experts, providing tangible feedback to improve their practice and build a professional network for sustainable design.
The program culminates in October with an official award ceremony and international conference held at the iconic Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul. This gathering serves as a global stage for dialogue, complemented by a series of parallel programs presented in collaboration with global companies committed to sustainability.
Award Ceremony 2025
Winner 2025
