CreatripTeam

The Seoul Design Award 2025, held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, drew a record 941 projects from 74 countries and emphasized design’s social impact and sustainability. This year the award partnered with UNEP to broaden global standards for sustainable design. The grand prize went to “Zaza Energy Hub,” a US–Nigeria collaboration that offers solar-powered battery rental systems for rural Nigerian communities. Judges praised its quick, flat-pack installation, use of local materials for self-sufficiency, and a women-run operation that boosts local economic participation. The nine other finalists addressed ecological challenges in inventive ways — examples included turning poultry feather waste into textiles and repurposing donated hijabs into theater seats. For the first time the awards used live judging combining expert evaluation and citizen voting. International jurors stressed that design should prioritize societal impact over product aesthetics, calling the awards a sign that design’s focus is shifting from ego to eco.