Messages from the Design World
“Seoul is where design's next chapter begins. I wouldn't miss it.”
“As a designer based in Seoul, I can't wait to welcome the world. This city was built for this moment.”
“The World Design Congress has always been a compass for our profession. In 2027, that compass points to Seoul — a city that proves design can move at the speed of culture.”
“Korean design has spent the last decade quietly reshaping how the world sees, reads, and lives. Gathering in Seoul isn't just timely — it's overdue.”
“As a designer based in Seoul, I can't wait to welcome the world. This city was built for this moment.”
“We face challenges no single discipline can solve alone. The Congress in Seoul is a rare chance for designers across borders and fields to think together — and act together.”
“The World Design Congress has always been a compass for our profession. In 2027, that compass points to Seoul — a city that proves design can move at the speed of culture.”
“Korean design has spent the last decade quietly reshaping how the world sees, reads, and lives. Gathering in Seoul isn't just timely — it's overdue.”
“Seoul is where design's next chapter begins. I wouldn't miss it.”
“Every generation needs a place to argue about the future. In 2027, that place is Seoul.”
“Design that ignores its neighbours solves nothing. I'm coming to Seoul to listen as much as to speak.”
“The best congresses don't just showcase work — they change how you practice. Seoul 2027 will do exactly that.”
“Seoul understands that design is culture in motion. That's why the world should gather there.”
“We keep designing for people we never meet. The Congress in Seoul is a chance to finally meet them.”
“I've watched Seoul become a place where ideas move fast and mean something. Count me in for 2027.”
“Craft and technology are not opposites. Seoul is the perfect city to prove it.”
“Seoul understands that design is culture in motion. That's why the world should gather there.”
“We keep designing for people we never meet. The Congress in Seoul is a chance to finally meet them.”
“I've watched Seoul become a place where ideas move fast and mean something. Count me in for 2027.”
“Craft and technology are not opposites. Seoul is the perfect city to prove it.”
“The best congresses don't just showcase work — they change how you practice. Seoul 2027 will do exactly that.”
“Design that ignores its neighbours solves nothing. I'm coming to Seoul to listen as much as to speak.”
“Every generation needs a place to argue about the future. In 2027, that place is Seoul.”
“Seoul is where design's next chapter begins. I wouldn't miss it.”
“Korean design has spent the last decade quietly reshaping how the world sees, reads, and lives. Gathering in Seoul isn't just timely — it's overdue.”
“The World Design Congress has always been a compass for our profession. In 2027, that compass points to Seoul — a city that proves design can move at the speed of culture.”
“As a designer based in Seoul, I can't wait to welcome the world. This city was built for this moment.”
“We face challenges no single discipline can solve alone. The Congress in Seoul is a rare chance for designers across borders and fields to think together — and act together.”
“Seoul is where design's next chapter begins. I wouldn't miss it.”
“Every generation needs a place to argue about the future. In 2027, that place is Seoul.”
“Design that ignores its neighbours solves nothing. I'm coming to Seoul to listen as much as to speak.”
“The best congresses don't just showcase work — they change how you practice. Seoul 2027 will do exactly that.”
“Craft and technology are not opposites. Seoul is the perfect city to prove it.”
“I've watched Seoul become a place where ideas move fast and mean something. Count me in for 2027.”
“We keep designing for people we never meet. The Congress in Seoul is a chance to finally meet them.”
“Seoul understands that design is culture in motion. That's why the world should gather there.”
“We face challenges no single discipline can solve alone. The Congress in Seoul is a rare chance for designers across borders and fields to think together — and act together.”
“As a designer based in Seoul, I can't wait to welcome the world. This city was built for this moment.”
“Seoul understands that design is culture in motion. That's why the world should gather there.”
“We keep designing for people we never meet. The Congress in Seoul is a chance to finally meet them.”
“I've watched Seoul become a place where ideas move fast and mean something. Count me in for 2027.”
“Craft and technology are not opposites. Seoul is the perfect city to prove it.”
“The best congresses don't just showcase work — they change how you practice. Seoul 2027 will do exactly that.”
“Design that ignores its neighbours solves nothing. I'm coming to Seoul to listen as much as to speak.”
“Every generation needs a place to argue about the future. In 2027, that place is Seoul.”
“Seoul is where design's next chapter begins. I wouldn't miss it.”
“Korean design has spent the last decade quietly reshaping how the world sees, reads, and lives. Gathering in Seoul isn't just timely — it's overdue.”
“The World Design Congress has always been a compass for our profession. In 2027, that compass points to Seoul — a city that proves design can move at the speed of culture.”
“We face challenges no single discipline can solve alone. The Congress in Seoul is a rare chance for designers across borders and fields to think together — and act together.”
“Seoul is where design's next chapter begins. I wouldn't miss it.”
World Design Congress 2027 Seoul Preview Event Registration Now Open!
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Welcoming Remarks
Kang Heui CHA
CEO of the Seoul Design Foundation
Greetings. I am Kang Heui CHA, CEO of the Seoul Design Foundation.
It is a great honor and pleasure to embark on the journey toward the 35th World Design Congress (World Design Congress 2027 Seoul) here in Seoul—a city that has grown into a world-class design hub centered around the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP).
On October 14, 2026, the Seoul Design Foundation will host the World Design Congress 2027 Seoul Preview, taking a bold step toward next year’s main event. Building upon the legacy of the London Congress, which highlighted “Design for Planet,” this congress will put into action our core theme and slogan: “Think, Make, Change.”
In particular, this congress will serve as a premier forum bringing together cutting-edge discourse on the convergence of AI and design—a defining theme of our era—alongside industry-academic collaboration to address global challenges. Through papers and poster presentations submitted by leading scholars, researchers, and industry leaders worldwide, we will deepen the academic rigor and focus on concrete, actionable solutions that extend beyond imagination and theory into real life and industry applications.
Following the 22nd Congress in 2001 and the World Design Capital (WDC) Seoul in 2010, returning to DDP for the World Design Congress 2027 Seoul marks a landmark milestone that will demonstrate the impact of the design industry and culture both in Korea and across the globe.
Starting with the Preview event this October and leading up to the main congress in 2027, we invite the global design community and future generations to join us in shaping this meaningful journey. The Seoul Design Foundation looks forward to welcoming you to the most innovative and memorable stage.
Thank you.
Kang Heui CHA
Pradyumna Vyas
World Design Organization(WDO) President
Greetings. I am Kang Heui CHA, CEO of the Seoul Design Foundation.
It is a great honor and pleasure to embark on the journey toward the 35th World Design Congress (World Design Congress 2027 Seoul) here in Seoul—a city that has grown into a world-class design hub centered around the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP).
On October 14, 2026, the Seoul Design Foundation will host the World Design Congress 2027 Seoul Preview, taking a bold step toward next year’s main event. Building upon the legacy of the London Congress, which highlighted “Design for Planet,” this congress will put into action our core theme and slogan: “Think, Make, Change.”
In particular, this congress will serve as a premier forum bringing together cutting-edge discourse on the convergence of AI and design—a defining theme of our era—alongside industry-academic collaboration to address global challenges. Through papers and poster presentations submitted by leading scholars, researchers, and industry leaders worldwide, we will deepen the academic rigor and focus on concrete, actionable solutions that extend beyond imagination and theory into real life and industry applications.
Following the 22nd Congress in 2001 and the World Design Capital (WDC) Seoul in 2010, returning to DDP for the World Design Congress 2027 Seoul marks a landmark milestone that will demonstrate the impact of the design industry and culture both in Korea and across the globe.
Starting with the Preview event this October and leading up to the main congress in 2027, we invite the global design community and future generations to join us in shaping this meaningful journey. The Seoul Design Foundation looks forward to welcoming you to the most innovative and memorable stage.
Thank you.
Kang Heui CHA