project:Amsterdam, Platform21
project:Amsterdam, Platform21
Platform21 = Hacking IKEA in Seoul
During design MADE 2008
- 20 Nov 08...17 Dec 08
On invitation of the Korea Design Foundation Hacking IKEA traveled to Seoul. There, the exhibition was part of 'design MADE_ Saving by design': a design event in the Hangaram Design Museum in Seoul Arts Center.
Next to a selection of the hacks that were shown in Amsterdam and Eindhoven, Platform21 = Hacking IKEA in Seoul also showed new hacks. The Korean Design Foundation gave 7 Korean designers and artists the assignment to make an IKEA hack. A very special assignment considering that South Korea is one of few Asian countries that hasn't got an IKEA branch. As a result IKEA has a much more exclusive status. IKEA products are imported from Shanghai or ordered from special design websites and are therefore valued higher than here in the West.
Still, the curators of 'design MADE 2008' saw a fit for Hacking IKEA within the theme 'Saving by design'. The message to give special value and meaning to everyday mass produced products and making them unique by hacking them, makes one think about the role of designers in stimulating recycling and in opposing our comtemporary mentality of throwing used, but still useable, products away.
The Korean IKEA hackers are:
Product designer Zinoo Park
Artist Kira Kim
Shoe designer Kyumbie
Furniture designer Jihoon Ha
Product designer Sanghyun Joo
Artist Mikyung Lee
Architect Heesung Kim
//Hacking IKEA was on show in Seoul from 20 November to 17 December 2008.
More information: www.designfo.org
