From mega-hit flicks to best-selling cars, industrial designers prove power of designThe spectacular scenes in popular movies “Transformers 2,” “The Avengers” or “Wolverine 2” could not have been created without the final touches of Steve Jung, a concept artist and illustrator.Cutting-edge combat planes shoot through the sky with an earsplitting roar and gigantic heroes and villains decked in shiny metal armor stamp the earth. Jung created such tangible images and sounds by realizing the abstra

The second annual Herald Design Forum is bringing together the world’s most prominent designers and industry experts to Seoul as they get ready to take part in a three-day conference in southern Seoul.With design becoming the keyword in all fields of businesses, well-known names in the industry such as Ando Tadao, architecture professor at Tokyo University, MUJI’s art director Hara Kenya, ex-BMW chief designer Chris Bangle and Peter Schreyer, chief design officer at Kia Motors will join the even

Brand designer Bruce Duckworth talks about roles of design in business and in peoples’ livesWhere there is an abundant choice of products, what differentiates one from the others is design. More companies are recognizing the importance of design and making it a key business strategy. “Successful business in the future will see design as a key component at the heart of business success, not as an add on,” said Bruce Duckworth, creative director of the world’s leading advertising agency Turner Duc

The following is the last in a series of articles on design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum which takes place Sept. 19-21. ― Ed.Korean design is breaking out on the world stage as more design products from the country receive attention at global fairs and a growing number of local designers receive international awards. At Maison et Objet, an international home decoration fair held in Paris from Sept. 7-11, 32 products made by Korean companies and individual designers selecte

Innovative ideas and good designs make powerful adsThe following is the eighth in a series of articles on design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19-21. ― Ed.An armed soldier aims his gun at someone. The end of the muzzle, however, is headed right back toward him, pointing at the back of his head. Wrapped around poles and pillars in the streets of New York, the anti-war campaign posters delivered a clear message about the war against Iraq at the time, that “What goes

‘Design should be realistic and make others believe in the world you created,’ says Steve JungThe futuristic yet realistic portraits of the fictional world in the superhero films “The Avengers” and “Transformers” captured the eyes of millions of international viewers. Behind the spectacular scenes was Steve Jung, a Korean-American concept designer. The Stark Tower and major scenes of the films made Jung a household name in the entertainment design field and raised awareness of entertainment desi

Products with moving goals and stories become best-sellThe following is the seventh in a series of articles on design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19-21. ― Ed.I ♥ NY, the beloved image created by U.S. graphic designer Milton Glaser in the 1970s, became more popular than ever in the Big Apple after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. T-shirts and souvenirs bearing the logo, and also Glaser’s revamped version reading “I Love NY More Than Ever,” were frequently spotted in

VENICE, Italy (AFP) ― Venetian canals transformed through a camera obscura, intimate snapshots of a prisoner’s life and a hall of whispers are among the installations on show at a new exhibition at Venice’s Palazzo Grassi.Around 30 works by 27 international artists, borrowed from French billionaire Francois Pinault’s private collection, explore how the medium of video has been used to capture and challenge sensory expression and perception.The hypnotic “For Beginners” videotape by contemporary A

Schreyer says designers need to stay ahead of customers’ expectationsWhen Kia Motors released its ambitious K-series, represented by the premium sedan K9 earlier this year, auto enthusiasts were more than thrilled. The vehicles were nothing like the ones Kia had shown before. The cars’ faade resembles that of a tiger and the interior is sleek like a panther. “A true era of the Kia sedan has opened,” a commentator said at the time of release. Behind the rejuvenation of the car maker was Peter Sch

Collaborations between acclaimed artists and top-notch brands bring synergy effectsThe following is the sixth in a series of articles on design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19-21. ― Ed.The classy, monogrammed leather of Louis Vuitton bags is simply turned into a backdrop for much wilder patterns: artist Yayoi Kusama’s vivid red polka dots, for example. The French luxury brand’s 2012 line features a collaboration series with the established Japanese avant-garde art

The “Chinese cultural invasion” has become a global phenomenon. Record-breaking sums are being splashed on Chinese art pieces at international auctions and exhibitions of works by Chinese “enfants terribles” are held at galleries around the world. In Korea some of the trendiest Chinese artists have become the new darlings of collectors, replacing Andy Warhol or Lee U-fan.At the center of the frenzy for Chinese contemporary art is Zhang Xiaogang. Zhang is now considered among the most sensational

Bangle to share design vision at second Herald Design Forum Sept. 19-21The following is the first in a series of email interviews with leading designers participating at the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19-21. ― Ed.As companies try to create competitive advantage with innovative design, new design concepts are fast emerging, according to Chris Bangle, head of the eponymous design brand Chris Bangle Associates, in a recent e-mail interview with The Korea Herald. Just as Bangle said in the intervi

Founder of Big Ant International explains the ideas behind his design for new company logoA photograph of a soldier pointing a machine gun on a street poster on a lamppost might be nothing new. However, if you could walk around the post you would see that the end of the gun points right back at the soldier. And a sharp moment of epiphany strikes. The groundbreaking anti-war campaign “What goes around comes around” put 33-year-old Park Seo-won and his firm Big Ant International on the industry ma

Top designers at the Sept. 19-21 forum to inspire audience in design, lifeA design forum organized by Herald Corp. is once again set to start a discussion on the role and impact of design next month, hosting leading designers, architects and artists. Launched last year, the Herald Design Forum has positioned itself as a major design forum in Korea, inviting acclaimed figures in the field and attracting local audiences looking for inspiration. The forum, titled “Re-imagine! Herald Design Forum,”