A design team, led by Professor Chajoong Kim from the Department of Design at UNIST has been honored with the Minister’s Commendation at the 2025 Korea Public Design Festival, the highest accolade in the research design sector, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST).
Focusing on user-centered improvements in public spaces, their research project was praised for its tangible contribution to addressing social issues through innovative design solutions. The team was also awarded a prize of KRW 10 million.
Under Professor Kim’s leadership, the research centered on ‘Privacy Protection‘ in public environments. By meticulously observing user behaviors and emotional responses, the team analyzed discomfort and tension experienced in public spaces. Based on these insights, they conducted user experience surveys and expert reviews to develop comprehensive design guidelines aimed at safeguarding privacy.
This achievement underscores the evolving role of industrial design—from aesthetic enhancement to a practical discipline that influences societal structures, policies, and public services. Professor Kim’s team effectively bridged academic research with real-world applications, extending their impact into policy and service innovation.
Professor Kwangmin Cho from the KAIST Department of Industrial Design, a UNIST alumnus, on the right, was given the Minister’s Award at the 2025 Korea Public Design Festival.
The project was further enriched through collaborations with international researchers, including Research Professor Kwangmin Cho at KAIST, Professor JungKyoon Yoon from Cornell University, and Professor Joo Young Jung from Korea University of Technology and Education (KOREATECH). Notably, Professor Yoon, a former student of UNIST, has continued his research at KAIST, fostering ongoing collaboration with Professor Kim’s team.
Through an empirical, user experience-focused approach and international partnerships, Professor Kim’s team has demonstrated a new model for addressing societal challenges through design—proving that thoughtful design can transform human experiences and enhance public life.
Professor Kim stated, “Public design is not merely about form or convenience; ultimately, it is about changing people’s experiences. Working alongside domestic and international researchers, especially with UNIST as a hub, we aim to propose designs that offer citizens better experiences in cities around the world.”
Organized by MCST and hosted by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (KCDF), the Korea Public Design Festival is the nation’s most prestigious accolade recognizing excellence in public design. The judging panel, comprising members from the Korea Society of Design Science (KSDS), the Korean Institute of Spatial Design (KISD), and the Society of Design Convergence, evaluates projects that contribute to social value creation and improve citizens’ quality of life.
The awards ceremony was held at COSOCIETY in Seoul on October 24, 2025. Following the ceremony, Professor Kim’s team was invited to present their work at the ‘2025 Korea Public Design Festival Academic Conference,’ which took place at the Culture Station Seoul 284 on November 1, 2025.
