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Busan Metropolitan City Holds “Youth Pre-Designer Workshop” to Foster the Next Generation of Global Designers

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) and the Design Council Busan (President Kang Pil-hyun) announced that the “Youth Pre-Designer Workshop,” aimed at enhancing young designers’ global practical capabilities, was successfully held yesterday (27th) at 9:30 a.m. in the 3rd-floor seminar room of the Design Council Busan.

Recently, as advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies—such as automated design processes and data-driven visual planning—have shifted the designer’s role toward strategy, the importance of design thinking and planning capabilities has grown significantly. This workshop was organized to cultivate young designers who can respond effectively to these evolving industrial environments.

The workshop, held as part of the “Global Design Collaboration Company Design Innovation Support Program,” centered on strengthening young designers’ practical problem-solving skills and collaborative abilities.

A total of 18 young designers from eight universities, regional design companies, and approximately 15 faculty members from design departments participated alongside global designers and local companies currently carrying out joint projects, sharing hands-on educational experiences.

The “Global Design Collaboration Company Design Innovation Support Program” supports regional mid-sized and small companies in developing innovative design products and undertaking business rebranding through comprehensive consulting by world-renowned designers. The initiative aims to drive the growth of the local design ecosystem by enabling Busan-based design companies and young designers to work together on real projects and build practical experience and design expertise.

The workshop was led by Jeong Seon-hee, CEO of S Cube Design Lab, who has extensive experience organizing design-related conferences and seminars.

The program was structured not as a conventional lecture but as a hands-on exploration of the design thinking process—Understand, Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver.

Session 1 offered training on “Design Thinking Mindset,” covering user-centered design strategies and the design thinking process in the age of AI. Sessions 2 and 3 proceeded with problem recognition, problem definition using value-discovery methodologies, idea generation, a gallery walk, and final team presentations and reviews.

Participants demonstrated high engagement by analyzing real corporate assignments in teams, applying various ideation methods and user analysis tools to develop solution strategies, and presenting design planning proposals based on actual project scenarios.

In particular, during the gallery walk—a process in which participants exhibit and review each team’s outcomes—young pre-designers actively shared ideas and systematically strengthened their visualization and feedback skills, showcasing leadership throughout the problem-solving process.

Busan Metropolitan City plans to further solidify its strategy to enhance the competitiveness of the local design industry by fostering young local talent, and to gradually expand its competency-building programs for young designers.

Ko Mi-jin, Director General of the City’s Future Design Headquarters, stated, “This workshop is not merely an educational session but one designed to strengthen young designers’ practical skills through consulting from global experts,” adding, “We expect this support program to serve as a new growth opportunity for the next generation of talent who will lead Busan’s design ecosystem.”