Monthly <Design> Nov Issue. Toward a City of Empathy and Inclusion, SDIF 2025
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Universal design of Yokohama City Current events in design
The evolution of universal design in Japan Yokohama City is an area with a population of 3.77 million. Its area is about three quarters of Seoul, and it is divided into 18 wards. It started with a population of 500 150 years ago, and after the port was established, the population increased. However, the rapid population increase between 1960 and 1970 caused problems in urban development. Yokohama is currently a city with a significant aging population. Although this is a problem for Japan as a whole, based on the analyzed data, the population growth trend of Yokohama City is expected to peak in 2019. After that, the proportion of the elderly population is expected to continue to increase, and it is expected that one-third of the total population will be elderly by 2030. Looking at the map showing the aging population, it is like looking at the history of how Yokohama's housing development has taken place. The beginning of universal design in Japan was triggered by the Tokyo Olympics 50 years ago. The Tokyo Olympics, held in 1964, introduced the use of pictograms to solve the problem of communicating with foreigners. In 1965, Braille blocks were introduced, and actual installation began in 1967. In 1969, awareness of the need to make the city accessible to wheelchairs increased. Braille blocks were first introduced in the provincial cities to the western part of japan, which is also the case with barrier-free access in Japan, which started in provincial cities rather than the capital. -
Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP): A Hub for Art, Design, and Exhibitions
What is Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)? DDP was designed by the world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid. It serves as a space where design trends are shared, promoted, and initiated. It also provides a platform for cultural exchange, offering visitors diverse and enriching experiences. -
Seoul Design International Forum 2025✨: Attractive City of Seoul - Designing a Better Global Life (Event Information)
Hello! Here’s some exciting news for those interested in design, cities, and a sustainable future. The Seoul Design International Forum 2025 will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19, 2025, in the Multipurpose Hall, 8th floor of Seoul City Hall. This forum will be a gathering to share visions and strategies for leading Seoul as a world-class design city, bringing together renowned speakers and experts from Korea and abroad. We’re truly looking forward to it! -
The Necessity of Introducing Pedestrian Application for the Visually Impaired to Build a Smart City Based on Universal Design
Accessibility means that disabled and non-disabled people can use all services and products equally, and it can be said that it is in line with universal design that pursues design for everyone. So, how can people with disabilities communicate externally? They are being helped by various assistive technologies. Assistive technology refers to all products, equipment, software, or systems that help individuals with disabilities to achieve their full potential. As the concept of assistive technology becomes universal, the paradigm for disability has changed. As a representative example, screen readers and electronic information terminals are assistive technologies that help visually impaired people to communicate, and include screen readers and electronic information terminals. With technological help, visually impaired people can independently perform various tasks, such as searching the Internet and writing documents. Today, these assistive technologies are being applied in a way that provides convenient services to anyone rather than being a technology only for the disabled. For example, audiobooks, which existed in the past as a service to help visually impaired people in reading, are now becoming universal as a technology for everyone, as it has become one of the types of reading that non-disabled people can choose according to their needs. -
City, Design and AI
What should a city in the age of artificial intelligence aspire to be and what value should it provide to its citizens? This talk provides a comprehensive view of how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are redefining how cities function and transforming the lives of their citizens on a deeper level. Today's rapidly evolving artificial intelligence is more than just a technology, it's revolutionizing society as a whole. However, how these changes are specifically realized in urban environments and how they should be integrated into the daily lives of citizens is still an area that needs further exploration. This talk will explore how artificial intelligence technologies can substantially improve urban environments and provide meaningful value to both individuals and communities. It will analyze the current state of AI's development and future possibilities, exploring not the technology itself, but the design potential of the technology - how it can evolve to focus on human connection, empathy, and convenience. Furthermore, it will share insights and lessons we can learn from examples of cities and countries around the world that are already using AI to revolutionize the way cities function. This talk will provide an in-depth discussion of how the future of AI can transform our cities into smarter, more livable spaces, and point the way forward for creating citizen-centric cities. In this new era driven by AI, cities need to rethink their role as platforms to enhance the lives of their citizens, not just adopt technology. -
3rd Pre-forum for 2022 Seoul Design International Forum Part2
TALK 2. Values in daily lives that were changed by the public design
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Seoul City's "Yes! Kids Zone!" has won a prestigious global design award
- 'Adolescents Obesity Problem Solution Design' wins prestigious award from US-based DMI (Design Management Institute) in 2023 - First Domestic award for a 'Public Institution'... Design encourages voluntary activities with exploration concepts from five countries - The city vows to continue expanding lifestyle design to support healthy and stable life across all stages of life. -
Highlight of September: Seoul Design International Forum 2025 – Pre-Registration Now Open!
Hello! I’m Lia, supporter of the Seoul Design International Forum 2025. This September, the 6th Seoul Design International Forum (SDIF 2025) will be held, bringing together experts from Korea and abroad, along with diverse stakeholders, to discuss creative visions and design blueprints for a sustainable Seoul and enhanced urban competitiveness. -
[Special Interview] Craig Kiner
1. What was it like to return to Korea and visit DDP, a place you personally contributed to designing? It was a pleasure returning to Seoul to attend the Seoul Design International Forum 2024. I was involved with the design, development and construction of DDP over 6 years. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the facility once again. Considering the facility is now10 years since completion, the building has performed well. SDF and SMG have been superb guardians of DDP organising a broad programme of events to ensure the facility remains a key component of the cultural infrastructure and life of Seoul, with art, fashion, music and design at the forefront. -
[2023 Seoul International Design Forum] Visited the 'Yes! Kids Zone' Designed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Experienced Public Design!
Yes! Kids Zone is a space designed to address the growing problems of obesity, depression, and lethargy among adolescents who have limited opportunities for physical activity due to their academic-oriented lifestyle. Yes! Kids Zone is located in Hanti Park and the surrounding school routes, and is located right in front of the Daechi Police Station. -
SMG Universal Design
Until now, the public sector has prioritized efficiency enhancement through ‘standards’ in terms of service provision. Today, we are rapidly moving from mass production from the perspective of suppliers to the era of small batch production from the perspective of consumers. Because it is a smart era armed with various information and technologies, the standard framework alone cannot satisfy the diverse needs of citizens or lead to an affluent life. At this point, we need to think about who public design is for. WHO; Who is Universal Design for? Citizens who do not have disabilities and are still young do not feel the need to be specially considered by someone in their daily life. However, according to statistical data, the rate of congenital disability is only 5%, and temporary or situational disability that can be experienced in daily life accounts for a much larger proportion than permanent disability. Therefore, when we consider universal design in the public domain, we need to approach it from the perspective of various lives and situations, rather than looking only at people with disabilities. The diversity of physical conditions such as height, strength, dexterity, balance, attention, etc., the difference in language ability based on language and expressive power, the difference in sensory ability such as hearing, sight, and touch, and the difference in cognitive ability such as comprehension and intellectual ability that should be considered -
The Direction of the Design in The Age of New Normal ‘To Empathize with Costumers and Design New Connections through Design Thinking’
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social systems that operated through human connections fell into sudden stagnation. The free and flexible daily life of citizens was controlled and limited, and the operating speed of the existing system was significantly lowered, increasing the inconvenience and difficulties of citizens. In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis that no one expected and could not prepare for, members of society are showing some results by designing and implementing devices that can promote social connection in order to break through the disconnection and resulting inefficiency. It is necessary to think about the impact of these attempts on the lives of citizens and the sustainability of these connections.