Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City to Foster Busan-Good Designers to Lead the Innovation Ecosystem of World Design Capital Busan

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Busan Metropolitan City, under Acting Mayor Kim Kyung-duk, and Design Council Busan, headed by President Kang Pil-hyun, announced that applications for the “Global Design Education Support Program” will be accepted through June 9 in order to cultivate designers with global perspectives and urban innovation capabilities through collaboration with world-renowned design education institutions and to strengthen the future design competitiveness of World Design Capital (WDC) Busan.

The project is designed to provide opportunities for advanced overseas design education and on-site experience programs to enhance the creative capabilities and international perspectives of local designers while reinforcing the competitiveness of Busan’s design industry.

In particular, the program supports outstanding designers who are based in the region and contributing to the development of the design industry by enabling their participation in global education programs, thereby offering opportunities to directly experience global design trends and innovative case studies.

Through this initiative, Busan Metropolitan City expects to strengthen the expertise and international competitiveness of local designers while also contributing to sustainable growth and reinforcing the foundation for regional settlement.

The support program consists of participation in design education programs at global institutions, advanced design benchmarking, customized competency enhancement training, and support for participation in international design competitions.

Participating designers will directly experience programs at world-class design education institutions and international design sites, enabling them to gain broad exposure to global design trends and urban innovation cases.

Busan Metropolitan City and Design Council Busan previously confirmed the effectiveness of strengthening the global design capabilities of local designers through collaborations last year with CIID and Aalto University.

Participants in last year’s program enhanced their European-style design thinking and data-driven service design capabilities, and further developed their educational outcomes to submit entries to prestigious international competitions such as the Red Dot Design Award.

Building on these achievements, this year’s program will focus on creating practical business value and expanding innovative thinking.

At CIID in Italy, participants will study design methodologies for urban regeneration under the theme “Systems Thinking for Urban Transformation.”

At Aalto University in Finland, participants will learn practical approaches to design convergence through the “Ecology of Practice” course and cultivate the design insight and problem-solving capabilities needed to lead the future of World Design Capital Busan.

Selected designers will receive a variety of global field experience opportunities and educational support benefits, including overseas workshops and visits to international design festivals.

Approximately 16 designers will be selected, and full overseas workshop tuition, airfare, accommodation, and other living expenses will be provided.

Participants will also have opportunities to attend Helsinki Design Week and the Como Design Festival. After completion of the program, networking opportunities will be provided through a results-sharing session where participants can exchange insights on global design trends with local industry stakeholders.

Applicants must be designers with at least three years of professional experience and must be registered residents of Busan Metropolitan City as of the announcement date.

Applications may be submitted online through the Design Council Busan website at www.dcb.or.kr by June 9 after reviewing the official announcement and uploading the required application documents and portfolio.

Acting Mayor Kim Kyung-duk stated, “Through last year’s program, we were once again able to confirm both the limitless potential of our local designers and the necessity of cultivating globally competitive designers.” He added, “We will actively support designers equipped with global perspectives and urban innovation capabilities so they can directly shape the future of Busan and build a sustainable design ecosystem for World Design Capital Busan.”