The Department of Spatial Design & Consumer Studies at our university has officially kicked off its 3rd project to participate in the ‘Maison & Objet’ exhibition, scheduled to be held in Paris, France, in January 2027.

This project is a practical educational initiative in which students collaborate with contemporary East Asian painting artists to develop products that combine art and design. Since last March, students have been developing products by incorporating the works of three contemporary East Asian painting artists affiliated with Koreanection into spatial and furniture designs.

The Department of Spatial Design and Consumer Studies solicited exhibition entries until June 25 and ultimately selected a total of 9 works following evaluations by internal and external experts. The 24 students whose works were selected are receiving funding from the university’s anchor project and are currently working during the summer break to transform their designs from the 1:1 mockup stage into actual marketable products.

Special lectures by experts have also been arranged to enhance students' capabilities in design entrepreneurship and global exhibition participation. On June 9, Gu Mi-jeong, CEO of The Design K, delivered a special lecture online from the United States titled "The Moment My Taste Becomes a Brand – Strategies for University Student Solo Entrepreneurship and Entry into Global Design Exhibitions." Students examined the process of developing their designs into brands and businesses, as well as the preparations and strategies required for solo entrepreneurship and entering overseas design exhibitions.

Then, on July 22, the project partner organization, Koreanection and the Department of Spatial Design and Consumer Studies held a general meeting of participating students and artists in Insa-dong. Attendees shared the collaboration process and progress of their projects to date, and discussed future directions for product manufacturing and exhibition preparation.

Participating students are preparing for the commercialization of their works, as well as engaging in entrepreneurship club activities and filing for design rights to secure intellectual property rights. Furthermore, through the newly established "Design Entrepreneurship Capstone Design" course in the second semester of the 2026 academic year, they are scheduled to experience the entire process necessary for participating in overseas exhibitions, including exhibition booth space planning and display, promotional material production, import/export practical skills, and design entrepreneurship.

Through this project, the Department of Spatial Design and Consumer Studies plans to support students in realizing design ideas into actual products and developing practical skills that can lead to intellectual property rights, startups, overseas exhibitions, and entry into global markets.