[Report] "Designers Must Learn AI to Protect Jobs"... A Visit to Design Korea

Event Held at COEX Until the 17th
Showcasing Design Products Integrated with Advanced Technology
Design Promotion Institute "Policy Support in the AI Era"

"With artificial intelligence (AI) technology, anyone can easily create software, potentially threatening designers' jobs. Now, designers must learn AI tools. In the future, designers who use AI tools will be the ones securing jobs."

A view of the 'Design Korea 2024' event held at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul. Provided by Korea Institute of Design Promotion

Kevin Walker, a professor at Coventry University in the UK, stated this on the 14th at the international conference of 'Design Korea 2024' held at COEX. He demonstrated the process of creating 'disposable software' easily using AI and said, "Designers are already losing jobs because of AI." Professor Walker emphasized the importance of the designer's role, warning that if software created by AI proliferates uncontrollably, a digital collapse could occur.

Design Korea, the largest design business expo in Korea, is being held under the theme of everyday life transformed by AI. As AI technology impacts all industries, it is no longer a distant issue for the design sector. In the design industry, AI is a 'double-edged sword.' While automating parts of the work and increasing productivity, it also raises the possibility of job displacement for designers.

Regarding this, Yoon Sang-heum, president of the Korea Institute of Design Promotion, which organized Design Korea, said, "We will continue various policy supports to ensure the sustainable growth of the design industry in the AI era." Designer Lee Ji-hoon, who attended the event, said, "As the saying goes, 'Change is painful but necessary,' I am willing to embrace the process of change to grow as a designer."

At Design Korea, held in Hall D of COEX, over 400 companies and organizations, from large corporations to design specialists and young designers, are showcasing more than 600 contents. This year, design products that use cutting-edge technology to interact with users and provide hyper-personalized customized services attracted particular attention. This event, where future design trends can be seen at a glance, runs until the 17th.

At the themed pavilion inside the venue, LG Electronics' 'Q9,' a robot butler that manages schedules and even converses in foreign languages, drew visitors' attention as it moved around the stage. Q9 serves as a futuristic smart home hub, connecting and controlling home appliances and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It plays the role of a butler by reading books to children and managing schedules. The design was inspired by the expression of a child wearing a headset and concentrating deeply.

LG Household & Health Care exhibited the portable tattoo printer 'Imprintu.' This product uses LG Group's generative AI and provides tattoo designs learned from 350 million image data, enabling the creation of unique and original works. Other interesting products on display included 'Laika,' a companion robot supporting astronauts' health management designed by Kim Ji-hee, and Hyundai Motor Company's 'Dice,' an eco-friendly autonomous vehicle linked with personal smartphones.

Venture company SLM introduced the underwater cleaning robot 'Chiro.' Chiro is an unmanned robot that removes biofouling phenomena such as barnacles and seaweed attaching to ships. The yellow-bodied robot features a camera and LED lights on the front, forming a cute face with eyes, nose, and mouth. With the growing importance of international maritime protection, it achieved export sales of 1 million USD last year, showing promising results.

Responding to the climate crisis is also a crucial pillar of the design industry. At this event, eco-friendly design companies creating products using waste materials stood out. These included 'Paperus,' which makes coasters and phone stands from discarded business cards and flyers; 'TwoFourTwo,' which upcycles waste leather into bags; and 'Geologic,' which creates objects from plywood and concrete discarded at construction sites.

At the 'Government Support Performance Pavilion,' design products brought to market through various government projects such as the Design-led Manufacturing Innovation Project were also showcased. Additionally, a corporate briefing (IR) pitching session supporting buyer matching and investment attraction for excellent domestic design companies, as well as mentoring and job fairs for young designers, were held. President Yoon stated, "This year's Design Korea, held in integrated connection with the 'Seoul Design Festival,' offers even richer and more diverse attractions."