For the first time, from 1 to 14 September 2025, Design Miami.In Situ arrives in Seoul with an unprecedented event dedicated to collectible design and contemporary Korean creativity. Chosen as the inaugural stage of the project in Asia, the South Korean capital – recognized by UNESCO as a City of Design – will host the exhibition “Illuminated: A Spotlight on Korean Design” in the iconic spaces of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), an architectural masterpiece designed by Zaha Hadid.
The exhibition is part of the new Design Miami.In Situ initiative, designed to bring collectible design into new cultural contexts through thematic and engaging exhibitions. “Illuminated” will be the first stage of this project, created in collaboration with the Seoul Design Foundation.
Curated by designer and researcher Hyeyoung Cho, the exhibition features over 170 works signed by some of Korea’s most important talents. The title itself, “Illuminated”, takes inspiration from the Korean word “조명 (jo-myeong)”, which means “to illuminate”, and aims to put the spotlight on the richness and variety of Korean collectible design: a universe that ranges from the deepest artisan roots to the latest technological and stylistic innovations.
The choice of the DDP as the venue is not accidental. The building is a symbol of contemporary architecture and the Korean creative scene. It also represents a special tribute to designer Zaha Hadid, the first winner of Design Miami’s Designer of the Year award in 2005. Twenty years later, the bond is renewed with this event that brings international design into dialogue with Asian visual and design culture.
The initiative is part of a period full of events for the city, in conjunction with Frieze Seoul and KIAF. An ideal context to attract collectors, experts and art and design enthusiasts from all over the world.
To complete the experience, Design Miami.In Situ will also offer a program of talks, moments of discussion between professionals and a selection of VIP events dedicated to the international design network.
With this Asian debut, Design Miami confirms Seoul’s centrality as a new global design hub, highlighting the unique identity of contemporary Korean design and its growing role on the international scene.
INFO: Emily Bilgore – Camron Global
PHOTO COURTESY: Myoung Studio; Friedman Benda and Byung Hoon Cho; Side Gallery; J. Lohmann Gallery; HYEYOUNG CHO; Gallery LVS & Craft; Dahyeon Yoo; Objects with Narratives; Salon 94 Design; Isabella Szukilojc; Gallery Sklo
