Seoul Wins Three iF Design Awards, Stretching its Winning Streak to Four Years
- (Service Design) Contributed to solving the youth obesity problem by encouraging physical activities with Yes! Kids Zone
- (Public Art) Attracted 32,000 visitors each year to Docking Seoul, a public art platform built on disused parking ramps at Seoul Station that connects people with the city
- The awards are all the more significant as they signal global recognition for Seoul’s public design and city design (Communication & City Branding).
Seoul won three awards at International Forum (iF) Design Awards 2024, one of world’s top 3 design awards.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), the city won two accolades, respectively, in the Service Design and Public Art categories. Along with the Communication & City Branding award for the SEOUL MY SOUL brand, the city has won a total of three iF awards this year.
Yes! Kids Zone, one of this year’s Service Design award winners, is based on the concept of missions exploring five different countries. It encourages youth’s spontaneous physical activities and communication with their peers, improving their physical health, emotional balance, and sociability. In addition, more significantly, it contributed to addressing the social issue of adolescent obesity.
The winner of the Public Art category, Docking Seoul, is an art gallery built on parking ramps at Seoul Station that had been closed for 20 years. Built around a tornado-shaped structure by connecting two separated ramps, the space consists of seven pieces that represent the ‘docking’ between space and Seoul, the virtual and the real, and science and art. The installation was highly acclaimed for its fresh approach and the impact on society.
As a prime example of art created by using abandoned city resources, Docking Seoul has served as a filming location for various TV programs, YouTube videos, and magazines, including Mnet MAMA Awards 2023 video of the K-pop band Treasure, and Seoul’s tourism promotion videos. The space attracts around 32,000 visitors each year.
The SMG hopes that the iF Award will help them let more people know about Docking Seoul and encourage more citizens to visit.