Design House inaugurated its 50th anniversary exhibition MAK on October 26, 2026, transforming its entire Jangchung-dong headquarters in Seoul into an immersive gallery space that explores the essence of Korean creativity through the cultural prefix “mak.” The exhibition, which runs through November 25, features contributions from 18 teams comprising 26 creators working in installation art, ceramics, fashion, graphics and gastronomy, according to the organizer. Lee Young-hye, head of Design House, described the “mak spirit” as the DNA of Korean culture that propelled K-culture onto the global stage, a theme that underpins the entire anniversary campaign.
The concept of “mak” draws from everyday Korean terms such as maksabal for rough-hewn bowls, makgeolli for unrefined rice wine, makguksu for buckwheat noodles and makchum for impromptu dance, all evoking a bold willingness to experiment without overthinking. Design curator Koo Byung-joon compiled 50 words associated with “mak” and paired them with participating creators whose works reinterpret the headquarters designed by architect Seung Hyo-sang. Among the highlights is a fabric birthday table by artist Eunha Kim, inspired by Joseon dynasty royal banquet settings and crafted from discarded clothing and fabric scraps, the organizer reported.
Media works include a real-time graffiti-style projection by Kim Sun-hyuk and Kim Jung-wook of Level Nine, while other installations examine borderless grafting of past and present by figures such as gallery head Kim Yang-soo and stylist Seo Young-hee. A limited menu developed by the Michelin one-star restaurant SOUL is also available, tying food culture into the broader narrative of creative risk-taking. The exhibition invites visitors to experience the building’s 17 distinct spaces as individual creative statements that blend tradition with contemporary expression.
Founded in 1976 with the launch of Monthly Design, the country’s first comprehensive design magazine, Design House has spent the past half-century discovering talent and expanding the boundaries of the field. The Korea Institute of Design Promotion, established in 1970, notes that government-backed efforts helped build the foundation for industrial design, leading to a sector that by 2023 contributed trillions of won to the economy through increased utilization across manufacturing, public projects and services. This exhibition reflects on that trajectory while proposing new possibilities for creative experimentation rooted in indigenous cultural attitudes.
Participation spans established and emerging voices who have collaborated with Design House over the decades, with works that challenge conventional hierarchies between fine art, craft and everyday life. Admission is set at 10,000 won with reservations required through Naver, ensuring controlled access to the site-specific installations. The anniversary program positions the “mak” ethos not as crudeness but as an enduring driver of innovation that has defined Korean design’s global resonance since the post-war era.
Further context for the exhibition emerges from the evolution of Korean design identity, which shifted from copying foreign models in the 1960s and 1970s to developing distinctive forms infused with historical and traditional elements, a transition documented in histories from the Korea Institute of Design Promotion. The current show builds on that legacy by treating the entire headquarters as a canvas where boundaries between disciplines dissolve, reinforcing Design House’s longstanding commitment to cross-sector dialogue. Organizers expect the exhibition to draw both longtime followers of Korean design and new audiences interested in the cultural roots of Hallyu.
