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| Korea Design Membership Plus | |
|---|---|
| Name | Korea Design Membership Plus |
| Formation | 2010s |
| Type | Membership organization |
| Headquarters | Seoul |
| Region served | South Korea |
| Language | Korean; English |
| Leader title | Director |
Korea Design Membership Plus
Korea Design Membership Plus is a South Korean design membership initiative connecting designers, manufacturers, cultural institutions, and policymakers. It functions as a hub linking professional networks across Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, and Daegu, and collaborates with international partners in Tokyo, London, Milan, and New York. The program interfaces with cultural agencies, trade bodies, universities, and museums to promote product design, graphic design, digital design, and heritage crafts.
The initiative operates at the intersection of craft, industrial design, digital fabrication, and creative industries, engaging with institutions such as National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul Design Foundation, Korea Craft & Design Foundation, Korean Intellectual Property Office, and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (South Korea). It emphasizes collaboration with universities including Seoul National University, KAIST, Kookmin University, Hongik University, and Ewha Womans University and links to international networks like World Design Organization, Red Dot GmbH & Co. KG, iF International Forum Design GmbH, Design Museum (London), and Triennale Milano. The platform targets designers engaged with manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, and POSCO International while also coordinating with cultural venues like Busan Biennale, Gwangju Biennale, Design Biennale Berlin, and Venice Biennale.
Origins trace to policy initiatives led by agencies including Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, Korea Creative Content Agency, and Korea Institute of Design Promotion in response to design-driven growth strategies inspired by examples like Japan External Trade Organization and Design Council (UK). Early pilot programs involved collaborations with Samsung C&T, LG Hausys, Hyundai Card, and CJ Corporation and drew on expertise from academic centers at Yonsei University, Korea University, and Hanyang University. Milestones include joint projects with Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism and participation in trade missions to Salone del Mobile.Milano and Maison&Objet.
Membership cohorts have included independent designers, studios, manufacturers, and cultural organizations. Eligibility criteria reference qualifications recognized by bodies such as Korean Federation of Design Associations, Korean Designers Association, International Council of Design, Korean Standards Association, and accreditation from institutions like Korean Patent Office and research centers at KAIST College of Art and Design. Membership categories mirror practices from Royal College of Art alumni networks and professional organizations like AIGA, The Design Museum members, and IED Istituto Europeo di Design affiliates. Regional chapters coordinate with municipal offices in Seoul Metropolitan Government, Busan Metropolitan City, and Gwangju Metropolitan City.
Services encompass mentorship, residency programs, prototyping labs, and market access supported by partnerships with fabrication centers such as Fab Lab Seoul, Tangible Interaction Design Lab, Seoul Innovation Park, and corporate R&D centers at Samsung Design Membership, LG Electronics Design Lab, and Hyundai Motorstudio. Benefits include exhibition opportunities at institutions like National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Daelim Museum, SeMA (Seoul Museum of Art), and trade show representation at SaloneSatellite, ICFF, and Maison&Objet. Programming draws on funding mechanisms used by Arts Council Korea, Korea Foundation, Korea Export-Import Bank, and venture networks similar to Stonebridge Ventures and SoftBank Ventures Asia.
Governance involves advisory boards with representatives from Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (South Korea), Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Korea Design Membership Plus Advisory Board (hypothetical members drawn from industry), and academic advisors from KAIST, Seoul National University, and Hongik University. Strategic partnerships include collaborations with Samsung C&T Corporation, LG International, Hyundai Motor Group, POSCO, CJ ENM, KRAFTON, Naver Corporation, Kakao Corp, and international partners such as British Council, French Institute in Korea, Japan Foundation, Italian Cultural Institute, British Council Korea, and Goethe-Institut Korea. It coordinates intellectual property guidance with Korean Intellectual Property Office and trade facilitation with KOTRA.
The initiative has been cited in policy discussions alongside programs by Creative Commons, UNESCO, World Intellectual Property Organization, and OECD studies on creative economies. It contributed to product launches collaborating with Samsung Electronics', LG Electronics', and Hyundai Motor Company' design teams, and supported startups that later engaged with accelerators like D.CAMP, SparkLabs, FuturePlay, and TBT. Coverage appeared in media outlets including The Korea Herald, The Korea Times, Yonhap News Agency, Arirang TV, Designboom, and Dezeen. Academic assessments referenced case studies from Korea Institute of Design Promotion and reports by Seoul Metropolitan Government on cultural industry growth.
Highlighted collaborations include joint shows at National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and SeMA, product showcases at Salone del Mobile.Milano and Maison&Objet, and curated exhibitions at Gwangju Biennale and Busan Biennale. Projects have paired designers with manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Hyundai Motor Company, POSCO, and artisanal partners promoted by Korea Craft & Design Foundation and Hanbok Promotion Center. Special exhibitions referenced collaborations with international curators from Design Museum (London), V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum), and MoMA (Museum of Modern Art). The initiative also supported student showcases associated with Hongik University, Seoul National University, and Ewha Womans University.
Category:Design organizations in South Korea