Until October 23rd, KT&G Sangsangmadang Hongdae is accepting submissions for the '2022 Design Challenge' contest, which discovers and supports emerging Korean designers. 

The 'Design Challenge', which is celebrating its 9th anniversary this year, is a cultural contribution program that KT&G has been operating since 2013 in an effort to revitalize the domestic product design industry and promote Korean design internationally.  This year, in particular, it will be co-hosted with 'Kikkerland,' a global design distribution company, and they will collaborate throughout the entire process, from idea productization to international distribution.  

This contest's theme is "Revisiting Korean Heritage," and clever and innovative designs for household goods inspired by Korea's nature, tradition, and contemporary way of life are welcome.  However, works that infringe on any rights related to electrical/electronic products, furniture, and intellectual property rights or have been selected, produced, or distributed in other programs are ineligible.  The website for Sangsang Madang ( www.sangsangmadang.com ) contains information regarding the contest, which is open to both design majors and creators with original ideas that fit the contest's theme. 

The final winning works will be announced in December following the initial document screening, product development workshops, and online/offline consumer voting, and there will be advantages to signing a license agreement with KT&G Sangsang Madang and officially producing Kikkerland products. In addition, the top two teams receive prize money, get to exhibit products at KT&G Sangsangmadang Hongdae, and the chance to participate in "New York Design Week 2023.” 

Ji Hyo-seok, head of KT&G's Cultural Contribution Department, stated, "I hope that this contest will provide an opportunity to discover and support new designers with creative potential.” He added, "By utilizing the infrastructure of 'KT&G Sangsangmadang,' we intend to actively contribute to the development of the domestic design industry." 

(Photo description) KT&G is accepting submissions for the 'Design Challenge 2022' until October 23. The photo shows the contest poster for the "2022 Design Challenge”