The 'Design Miami: Seoul 2026' event, which concluded on September 6, showcased the potential of 'buying design' beyond mere exhibition.
According to the Seoul Design Foundation, a total of 11,972 visitors attended the event over its seven-day run. More than 50 pieces were sold, with some galleries reporting complete sell-outs.
This year's theme, 'Resonance: Design in Dialogue,' connected global galleries with Asian designers and brands, bridging different cultures, generations, technologies, and craftsmanship through design. Six international galleries and nine major partners, including Samsung Electronics and Alosso, participated, featuring over 100 designers and more than 230 works, expanding the scale and programming of the international collectible design fair.
Notably, 11,972 people visited the DDP during the event, with 2,937 attending the VIP preview on opening day. A total of over 50 pieces were sold, including 35 from gallery exhibits and 15 from in-situ works, leading to numerous purchase negotiations.
Italian gallery Alex Turco, making its debut in Seoul, reported results exceeding expectations and expressed a desire to return next year with more exceptional works.
Louis Sandino, founder of Side Gallery, praised the diverse material experiments and craft approaches of Korean and Japanese artists, while Simon Stewart, director of Charles Burnand Gallery, highlighted the intersection of Korean craft and design and the experimental work of local artists.
The in-situ program showcased works by Asian designers that contemporarily reinterpret traditional Korean materials such as hanji and mother-of-pearl lacquerware, illuminating new possibilities for Korean and Asian design in collaboration with global galleries.
Chad Liu from Taiwan's Designsurfing noted that this year's Design Miami: Seoul was a meaningful experience for introducing Taiwanese creators to Korea and discovering new design exchange opportunities in Seoul, hoping such encounters will continue next year.
Particularly, partner programs with Samsung Electronics and Alosso received positive responses by merging design with technology, art, and space, expanding design products into new collectible objects.
Belgium's STACK is pursuing the establishment of a domestic store following the sell-out of its exhibited works, and some in-situ pieces have attracted inquiries from museums and galleries both domestically and internationally.
Design Miami: Seoul plans to enhance its synergy with Frieze Seoul, which will be held at DDP next year, aiming to expand the visits and exchanges of global galleries and collectors in Seoul. The event seeks to further highlight the cultural strengths of Seoul, where contemporary and traditional art and design coexist on the international stage.
Jen Roberts, CEO of Design Miami, stated, 'The sales performance across galleries and the in-situ program demonstrates that Seoul is increasing its presence on the international design stage.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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