KT&G (CEO Min Young-jin) is to exhibit prototypes of prize-winning works from the public contest “2013 Korea Design Challenge” in KT&G Sangsang Madang until June 5. 

For this public contest, jointly held with the world-renowned design distribution company Kikkerland to help make products of excellent designs in Korea and distribute them overseas, a total of 553 works were entered, and 33 works were finally selected after comprehensive screening that took into account creativity, commercialization potential, and marketability.

KT&G redesigned the works that were entered, studied the production materials, and completed their prototypes in collaboration with expert designers for about one month; it also derived marketing plans for entry into domestic and overseas markets, such as storytelling with the theme of Korea.

In conjunction with Kikkerland, KT&G plans to select works with high potential for success from those on exhibit and distribute them to 26 countries around the world, such as the USA and in Europe, within this year. In addition, it will launch an exhibition in the Kikkerland New York store this coming August and will also enter the works in the New York Design Week in May next year.

Meanwhile, a “2013 Designers’ Party” will be held on May 31 in KT&G Sangsang Madang. At this event, Kikkerland’s representative director Jan Van Der Lande is scheduled to give a lecture on the topic of “Korean Designs Lead to the Global Markets,” and a designer exchange forum is planned to be opened along with the holding of an award ceremony for the prize-winning works.