AI-powered media art, customized robots shine at Design Korea 2024

Visitors view AI-generated design works at “Design Korea 2024,” the nation’s largest design fair, which opened at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, on the 13th. (KIDP)

Design Korea 2024, the country’s largest design business expo, kicked off on Wednesday at COEX, Samseong-dong, southern Seoul.

The annual event, hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy and organized by the Korea Institute of Design Promotion (KIDP), runs through November 17 and marks its 21st year with a focus on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the design world.

Over 400 companies are participating, showcasing a variety of innovations that highlight how AI is reshaping creativity and environmental sustainability.

Among the standout exhibits, UK-based design studio Dada Projects unveiled AI for Sustainability, a striking media art installation created for Google DeepMind.

The piece visualizes AI’s capability to predict natural disasters by analyzing soil moisture, dam water levels, and snowmelt, effectively demonstrating the role of AI in environmental protection.

The display, which blooms on screens like vibrant flowers, captivated attendees by illustrating the practical impact of AI on disaster mitigation.

The expo also introduced LG Electronics’ AI Companion Q9, an empathy-driven, hyper-personalized robot designed to enhance user experiences.

It also showcased Hyundai Motor’s DICE, a personalized mobility device that recently won the Red Dot Design Award.

Both innovations underscore the ways companies are leveraging AI to push the boundaries of creativity and personalization.

In addition to these highlights, the event features interactive booths, such as SIZEOF, a company specializing in custom seating solutions, as well as manufacturing platforms that turn innovative ideas into market-ready products.

The expo has expanded this year to include the Seoul Design Festival (Hall C), creating a unified design event now called the Korea Design Festival (KDF).

KIDP President Yoon Sang-heum noted that design, traditionally seen as a uniquely human field, is evolving with AI’s influence.

“This event provides valuable insights into how the design industry, rapidly changing with generative AI, will continue to develop,” Yoon said.

Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting the growth of AI-driven design, stating that strategies to expand AI in design and broaden the market will be fully backed, aiming to drive a transformative shift in Korea’s design industry.