'Public Design Felt in Daily Life'... Public Design Festival 2023 Opens on the 20th

Exploring Public Environments with the Theme 'Design for All'
Opening Ceremony and Thematic Exhibition at Busan F1963
Held at 165 Public Design Hubs Including Seoul

"The '2023 Public Design Festival' is expected to contribute to establishing public design, which has taken root throughout society through solidarity and cooperation with local communities, as a culture that can be experienced in everyday life. Additionally, under the theme of 'Design for All,' it is anticipated to serve as a great opportunity to widely promote the urban stability, convenience, and excellent infrastructure of Busan, the candidate city for the '2030 World Expo' whose final decision is scheduled for November, both domestically and internationally." (Baek Jin-kyung, Chairperson of the 2023 Public Design Festival Organizing Committee)

Baek Jin-kyung, Chairperson of the Public Design Festival 2023 Organizing Committee, is introducing the event at the Public Design Festival 2023 press conference held on the 12th at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Korea Craft & Design Foundation]

Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, the 'Public Design Festival 2023' will be held from the 20th to the 29th at over 160 public design hubs nationwide, including Busan.

At a press conference for the Public Design Festival 2023 held on the 12th at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Jang Dong-kwang, President of the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, stated, "To spread and develop public design, we are holding the festival in Busan instead of Seoul," adding, "This is part of efforts for balanced regional development."

Baek Jin-kyung, the organizing committee chairperson, announced that various events such as exhibitions, forums, and experiential activities will be held during this event, and excellent public design cases will be shared.

Jang Dong-kwang, President of the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, said, "To spread and develop public design, we are holding the festival in Busan instead of Seoul," emphasizing, "This is part of efforts for balanced regional development."

Jang Dong-kwang, President of the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, is delivering a greeting at the press conference for the Public Design Festival 2023 held on the 12th at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Korea Craft & Design Foundation]

Second Edition of the Festival Aims for ‘Design for All’ Towards a Better Future

This year’s festival opens in Busan, where public design is being actively promoted across various fields from urban culture to marine industries to spread and develop public design.

The opening ceremony and main exhibition will be held at F1963 in Suyeong-gu, a complex cultural space that was used as the Korea Steel Wire production factory from 1963 to 2008. Alongside this, the Busan Public Design Special Zone, where the event takes place, involves 40 locations and is themed around urban regeneration and community revitalization cases, Busan and marine culture, and universal design.

Starting from Busan Station, visitors will be welcomed at venues including the Busan Workation Hub Center, which proposes a work style balancing work, life, and rest, the National Maritime Museum, Yeongjudong Urban Regeneration Field Support Center, and Busan Citizens Park.

Themed exhibition 'Design for All: The Ordinary Everyday Life We Dream Of' showcases public design cases experienced in six everyday areas?home, neighborhood, school, workplace, shopping, and public transportation?in a visitor-friendly exhibition format.

Exterior view of Busan F1963, where the opening ceremony and theme exhibition of the Public Design Festival 2023 are being held. [Photo courtesy of Korea Craft & Design Foundation]

Main Events Including Themed Exhibition and Forum in Busan... Sharing Excellent Cases Nationwide

On the 24th, a forum titled “Barrier-Free Life, Design for All” will be held at the Asti Hotel in Busan. Representatives from 15 domestic public institutions and companies, including Incheon City, Korea Forest Service, Samhwa Paints, and SK Telecom, will attend to present and deeply discuss policies and projects related to Universal Design.

Notably, Professor Takahashi Kihei from Toyo University, an advisor on barrier-free and universal design to the Japanese Cabinet Office, will be invited to share Japan’s universal design policies and solutions to social issues, as Japan entered a super-aged society earlier than Korea.

2023 Public Design Festival Participation Hub.
[Photo by Korea Craft & Design Foundation]

The festival will be held simultaneously across the country in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Jeolla, Jeju, and other regions.

Various participatory programs will be conducted, including the Eco-Friendly Farmers Market Marche (Busan F1963, Seoul Seongsu), the Korea Architecture Culture Festival (Culture Station Seoul 284), Urban Sketchers Seoul’s city sketching (Busan Citizens Park, Seoul Forest), and academic conferences (Culture Station Seoul 284).

National and public institutions such as the National Hangeul Museum, the National Arboretum, and Seoul’s “Seoul is a Museum” initiative will also participate by hosting exhibitions and workshops that encourage reflection on design for all and the global environment.

Additionally, the Public Design Competition awards ceremony will be held on the 27th at UNDERSTAND AVENUE in Seoul. Detailed programs and schedules can be found on the official Public Design Festival website.