Take a stroll through 'Design Seoul' along the DDP walking path

A special exhibition inviting visitors to explore urban and public design in an accessible, leisurely way is coming to Seoul.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Monday that it will hold the "Design Seoul Stroll" exhibition along Section A of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) walking path for 21 days, from June 5 to 25. The show is structured as a "walking exhibition," letting visitors take in everyday design as they make their way along an approximately 150-meter sloped stretch of the DDP path.

The exhibition space is rendered in a monochromatic palette of white, gray and black, keeping the focus on the meaning and essence of design.

The exhibition presents a range of design cases reflecting the five principles that guide Seoul's design policy — empathy, inclusion, contribution, recovery and sustainability. Through diverse examples of public design applied across citizens' daily lives and urban spaces, visitors can trace how the city has changed and where it is headed.

The exhibition opens with the visual systems that have shaped Seoul's identity — policy brands, transit design that has improved how people move through the city, and typefaces that define the city's visual character — bringing together the visual assets woven into daily life in Seoul. Key policy brands on display include "Reading Han River Park," "Walking Together with the Vulnerable" and "Less Sweet 9988," illustrating how design communicates complex policy information to citizens in a clear and approachable way.

The next section examines the changes that the fusion of design and policy has brought to everyday life, highlighting design initiatives that protect public safety and improve quality of life. Exhibits include "Runner Station," which transformed idle subway station space into vibrant cultural hubs; "Standard Safety Design," aimed at preventing hazards in industrial and everyday settings; and "Sidewalk Commercial Facilities" and "Subway Entrance Canopies," projects that improved both urban streetscapes and safety at the same time.

The exhibition also takes a close look at landscape and public art projects that have added artistry to spaces across the city, as well as the process by which design has become a driver of industrial competitiveness beyond mere aesthetics. Footage from "Seoul Light" — the nighttime light show that has illuminated the Seoul skyline — is presented in a gallery format, sharing the city's distinctive nocturnal scenery with visitors.

The final section closes with a forward-looking vision for the future of Seoul design, anchored by the city's unique visual assets. Visitors can trace the city's annual signature colors — from "Sky Coral" in 2024 to this year's "Morning Yellow" — alongside domestic and international design award winners, exploring the urban brand value Seoul has built through design and the direction the city's design will take in the years ahead.

"Just as the exhibition's slogan says — 'Design that changes daily life in Seoul, bringing joy to citizens' lives' — I hope this exhibition gives citizens a chance to discover the value of design in their everyday lives and find joy in it," said Choi In-gyu, Seoul's director of design policy.