Urban design that improves citizens’ wellbeing

The following is the second in a series of articles on design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19-21. ― Ed.Curitiba, a mid-sized city in southern Brazil, became the latest example of sustainable urban planning worldwide with its innovative and strategic urban renovation.Its innovative transport system has been a source of inspiration for neighboring cities such as Bogota, Colombia and Mexico City, and also for Seoul. Today’s urban design aims to enhance the wellbeing

July 26, 2012

Olympic Stadium nominated for top U.K. architecture prize

LONDON (AFP) ― London’s Olympic Stadium has been nominated for the 2012 Stirling Prize, Britain’s top architecture award, the Royal Institute of British Architects announced Sunday.The 80,000-seater stadium in Stratford, east London, which will host the opening ceremony of the Games on Friday, was among six buildings shortlisted for the annual award.The showpiece venue, costing 486 million pounds ($760 million), has a simple design, drawn up with a view to scaling it down after the Games.The ste

July 23, 2012

Market for vintage clothing keeps specialty shop’s business booming

ATLANTA ― In his early 20s, budding entrepreneur Jim Buckley decided to go into the export business for one main reason ― he wanted to travel. His wanderlust soon evolved into a retail savvy that has earned him acclaim as one of the most successful retailers of vintage garments in the South.This year, Atlanta-based Clothing Warehouse is celebrating 20 years as purveyor of threads from eras past. The store has served as a resource for retailers looking for inspiration and for locals seeking a loo

July 23, 2012

600-year-old linen bras found in Austrian castle

 A revolutionary discovery is rewriting the history of underwear: Some 600 years ago, women wore bras.The University of Innsbruck said Wednesday that archeologists found four linen bras dating from the Middle Ages in an Austrian castle. Fashion experts describe the find as surprising because the bra had commonly been thought to be only little more than 100 years old as women abandoned the tight co

July 22, 2012

Designers chosen to promote Korean fashion abroad

The Ministry of Culture and its affiliate Korea Creative Content Agency announced the names of five designers for its ambitious project aimed at promoting South Korean fashion overseas. The list of designers for the Concept Korea Fashion Collectives includes Lie Sang-bong, Song Jung-wan, Choi Bo-ko, Kim Hong-bum and Kye Han-hee. The five will hold presentations and other events to promote their works during New York Fashion Week, the ministry said.Designers are given the opportunity to participa

July 19, 2012

More than beautify: design gives new life to business

Innovative designs lead to sales and brand recognitionThe following is the second in a series of articles on various aspects of design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19-21. ― Ed. Credit card edges look all the same when lined up in a wallet. Hyundai Card took notice of this simple and neglected fact in 2007 and colored its 0.8 mm-thick edges with vivid colors. The tiny difference, called “color core” design, contributed much to making the new player in the credit ca

July 19, 2012

Korea presents filmed works at Venice Architecture Biennale exhibition

Korean Pavilion to show diverse aspects of Korean architecture with films shot by architectsKorean architecture will be showcased to a global audience by a team of eight Korean architects at the 13th Venice Biennale of Architecture during the second half of this year in Venice, Italy.A new challenge for this year’s exhibition is to show snapshots of Korean architecture through films created by the team, not through more conventional life-size or scaled down models. The Korean Pavilion at the bie

July 19, 2012

The power of design: How design influences our lives

Novel approaches create chemistry between products and their usersThe following is the first in a series of articles on various aspects of design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19 - 21. ― Ed. Industrial design professor Shim Jae-jin has been carrying a pen by the German fountain pen company LAMY in his suit pocket for 12 years. Over the years, he developed affection toward it to the point where he doesn’t go anywhere without it. “I always check whether I have the pe

July 12, 2012

NMOCA wins prestigious design award

The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea has won one of the world’s largest and most distinguished design competitions with its recent Korean monochrome painting exhibition, becoming the country’s first national art museum to receive the award. NMOCA’s “Dansaekhwa: Korean Monochrome Painting” was chosen for the Red Dot design award in the category of communication design among a total of 6,823 design works from 43 countries that were considered, according to NMOCA officials. “The award mea

July 11, 2012

An imagined collection of fragments: Lotte Buyeo Resort Baeksangwon

The following is the last in a series of articles in which leading architects discuss their representative work. ― Ed.Baeksangwon is the first of a number of facilities to be built on a site measuring over 35 million square meters for the Lotte Buyeo Resort. Considering the fact that Buyeo was the capital city of the Baekje Kingdom, it was necessary to take elements of traditional architecture into consideration in designing the Baeksangwon complex. We also aimed to introduce a new style of con

July 11, 2012

New Vuitton-Kusama collection is a frenzy of dots

NEW YORK (AP) -- French fashion house Louis Vuitton is again putting a bit of Japanese culture on the arms of its customers.The brand, best known for leather goods, was to formally unveil Tuesday a new collection created in collaboration between Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs. The theme is bold, graphic polka dots -- a signature of the artist -- offered in a frenzied series of sizes and colors.Jacobs and Kusama started with inspiration of "obsession and seriality,"

July 11, 2012

Gaultier and Givenchy give grand couture finale

PARIS (AP) ― The final day of Paris’ haute couture shows was like a glittering fashion encyclopedia. Wednesday’s shows went from the Renaissance-feel of Valentino’s shimmering blue silk capes to the 19th century, where couture’s enfant terrible Jean Paul Gaultier, paid homage to the black top-hatted dandy.Elie Saab went decorative with Imperial motifs of the Ottoman Empire. And, nearer to the present day, Givenchy reworked house founder Monsieur Hubert de Givenchy’s little black dress, made famo

July 9, 2012

Herald Design Forum to gather world’s leading designers, artists

Annual forum expected to attract local audiences looking for inspirationA design forum organized by Herald Media is once again set to start an active discussion on the role of design and its impact this fall, hosting world’s 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 “Reimagine! Herald

July 5, 2012

Training center for all seasons

Following is the ninth in a series of articles in which leading architects discuss their representative work. ― Ed.The master plan for the University of Seoul Gangchon Training Center includes a research institute and Gangchon Seowon to be completed by 2018, the 100th anniversary of the University of Seoul. Development of the training center’s main building and accommodation building ― the first stage of the master plan ― has been completed, earning the site the symbolic status of the university

July 4, 2012

Versace opens Paris haute couture ball

A model wears a creation by fashion designer Donatella Versace during her Women's Fall Winter 2013 haute couture fashion collection, for fashion house in Paris, France, Sunday, July 1, 2012. (AP-Yonhap News)Versace got the haute couture ball off to a bold start Sunday night in Paris, as the Italian house sent out creations of aerial chiffon, body-hugging leather and rich crystal embroidery.For the

July 2, 2012

Hermes, Dior play it safe with color

PARIS (AP) ― Day Four of Paris menswear shows had one overriding message: We’re tastefully playing it safe. Fashion collections at this time of year are often about anticipating summer and celebrating color. But in Saturday’s strong line-up of shows there was a clear emphasis on hues that tended towards the muted and soft.Subtle shows from Kenzo and Hermes featured wide-ranging and inventive palettes, but it was tonal balance that was the key.Dazzling color, prominently in previous seasons, appe

July 1, 2012

What’s hot this summer?

How do you look refined and fresh under the scorching heat? Check out the latest summer make-up trends forecast by the experts. According to Byeon Myeong-suk, principal makeup artist at MAC Cosmetics Korea, the key is to look healthy and sophisticated at the same time.“The trend is to have pops of neon color and a metallic touch on fresh, healthy-looking skin,” said Byeon.One of the two sample looks given by MAC Cosmetics Korea consists of applying neon baby blue eye shadow, black eyeliner and n

June 29, 2012