Designers in Seoul
Designers in Tokyo
Designers in Taipei
Column Four
Type Design
Choi Sung Min is graphic designers living and working in and around Seoul, South Korea. Together with Choi Sulki, he has been a partner of the practice Sulki & Min since 2005. They have created identities, promotional materials, and publications for clients including Munhakdongne, Mass Studies, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Seoul Museum of Art, Asia Culture Center in Gwangju, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, and M+ in Hong Kong.
From 2006 until 2021, they ran Specter Press, an early champion of independent art and design publishing in Korea. They have participated in exhibitions in Korea and abroad, and held solo shows at Perigee Gallery, Seoul, 2017; Whistle, Seoul, 2020; AVP Lab, Seoul, 2021; and Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 2023. The first mid-career survey of their work was held in 2021 at the Kyoto DDD Gallery, Japan. Recently, they had heir second retrospective at Transtage, Hangzhou.
Sulki & Min’s work is included in the permanent collection of MMCA, Gwacheon; M+, Hong Kong; Cooper Hewitt, New York; Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris; Victoria & Albert Museum, London; and SFMoMA, San Francisco. They have written and translated works on the subject of graphic design, typography, art, and popular culture, and taught internationally. Choi Sung Min is a professor at the University of Seoul.
Kim Seonghee (performing arts curator), Asia Culture Center (Gwangju), Sasa[44] (artist), Kim Sungwon (curator), Workroom Press, Munhakdongne (publishers), Seoul Museum of Art, Park MeeNa (artist), Ahn Soyeon (curator), Goto Tetsuya (writer), National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Gwacheon/Seoul)
TDC, Korean Design Award, Design for Asia Award, Arts Award of the Year
It's not unique to Korea; a one-sided relationship has no future, so please work with people who respect and acknowledge each other's value.
Taiwan's design culture integrates influences from diverse cultures, including Chinese, Japanese, Western, and indigenous elements, creating a unique and multifaceted style. Additionally, Taiwanese designers emphasize refinement and intricacy, often incorporating local cultural elements such as temple fairs, calligraphy, and traditional crafts into their designs, highlighting cultural heritage. The design industry in Taiwan is closely linked with the technology sector, demonstrating competitiveness in UI/UX design and smart product design. These characteristics may not be fully understood or recognized internationally. Furthermore, Taiwanese design is often influenced by social and political contexts, reflecting concerns about issues such as the environment and local identity.
People from other countries might not know that the design culture in Poland is deeply rooted in both tradition and innovation. The iconic Polish School of Poster, which emerged in the mid-20th century, remains influential, known for its unique blend of surrealism, symbolism, and minimalism. Another lesser-known aspect is the role of graphic design. While Polish posters have gained international recognition, graphic design, including elements like logos, packaging, and printed materials, has only recently been rediscovered and appreciated. Polish graphic design icons such as Karol Śliwka, Jerzy Treutler, and Roman Duszek are behind these influential works.
It's not unique to Korea; a one-sided relationship has no future, so please work with people who respect and acknowledge each other's value.