Sustainability and Design Conversation with Designers Seungji Mun and Hosuk Jang – Samsung US Newsroom

At Milan Design Week 2023, Samsung Electronics teamed up with two famous Korean designers to showcase Bespoke’s sublime vision of “Bespoke Home, Bespoke Life”.

Designer Seungji Mun, known for his minimalist, functional, and eco-friendly industrial designs, and designer Hosuk Jang, a space and interior designer known for adapting to different lifestyles, brought their own unique design philosophies to the areas of sustainability and design, respectively.

Samsung Newsroom caught up with the artists to learn more about their exhibitions and collaboration background.

Connecting with nature and sustainability through bespoke design – Seungji Mun

Born and raised on Jeju Island in South Korea, Moon established his first atelier in Copenhagen, Denmark, drawing inspiration from the Korean and Danish design aesthetics. He has many experiences working on projects related to sustainability and is known for his “Economic Chair” and “Four Brothers” designs. The area of ​​sustainability that Moon worked on was called We Breathe.

Q: After collaborating with Samsung and bespoke hardware on designs like “Just Cabinet” and “My Island,” what motivates you to continue working with Bespoke?

[Seungji Mun] Designing Just Cabinet was my first project with Samsung Bespoke. We approached the “custom” concept of a bespoke refrigerator as a piece of furniture rather than a kitchen wall, and seamlessly integrated it into the furniture design. Our goal with this project was to show how kitchen appliances can go beyond the traditional boundaries of the kitchen and become part of other areas, such as the living room, to become part of a different story in people’s lives. This project was a great opportunity and reinforced other collaborative projects with Samsung.

Q: A recurring theme in your designs is the need to coexist with nature. What do you think makes sustainable design, especially eco-friendly appliances, so important today?

[Mun] In the world we live in, being an ecologist is no longer a private matter and has become a necessity. Now it is one of the most important factors that we have to take into consideration when going forward with our designs. Therefore, I believe that designing with sustainability and environmental awareness in mind should be the rule rather than the exception. In addition, I believe that household appliances are the most closely related to our lives, so it seems to me inevitable that products that reflect sustainability values ​​will grow in production.

Q: Can you tell us more about the latest We Breathe collaboration and what it says about sustainable living?

[Mun] At We Breathe, we set out to create a design that blended the front face of our devices and the side of our homes that we see every day with the hidden, dark interior of those same devices. In this way, we create an image of these organs resting and storing their energy in the same space where we live and breathe as well. In addition, since most components of the exhibition are made from recycled materials, we strive to convey the message of sustainability.

Q: The sustainability philosophy at Bespoke Life is to make sustainability a normal part of everyday life. How did you incorporate Bespoke’s philosophy into the design?

[Mun] Bespoke Home introduced your personal interior design concept with a variety of color options and created a new type of demand in a predominantly white appliances market. In addition, the Bespoke program communicates sustainability values ​​through interchangeable panels that extend the useful life of products. We Breathe also reflects Bespoke’s vision by minimizing wasted resources through the use of recycled materials, while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing design.

The true personalization of any home or person – Hosuk Jang

After working as a graphic designer in New York, he founded Jang Hosting House for the space and lifestyle design industries upon his return to Korea. Today, Jang is a leading figure in his field with several honors to his credit, including Designer of the Year at the 2018 Seoul Living Design Fair. Jang’s design area is titled “Framed.”).

Q: Your business is based on serving and improving different lifestyles. What do you think makes lifestyle-focused design so important today?

[Hosuk Jang] I think it’s important for people to have the freedom to look for designs that fit their individual lifestyle. Creating design choices that encourage users to develop their own style is what drives my work today.

Q: As a designer, what possibilities does Bespoke hardware offer to adapt to different lifestyles and interiors?

[Jang] Custom devices ushered in a new era in hardware design by providing the ability to customize your devices with a variety of colors, materials, and even configurations.

Recently launched new Bespoke products that allow users to lead a more sustainable lifestyle at home. With sustainability becoming a major issue for many people due to climate change, features that can help reduce environmental impact have become essential for consumers.

Q: You have previously collaborated with Samsung and Bespoke on designs such as “The Laundry Bar” and “Garden of Air”. What does Bespoke have that inspires you to continue collaborating?

[Jang] When Samsung Home Appliances first commissioned us in 2019 with a Bespoke project, the first thing we felt was that they really wanted something new.

For our part, we thought we could integrate the fridge to make it part of the kitchen décor instead of just decorating it as a standalone unit. The result was a wall with modular frames that the users themselves could rearrange. Later, with the laundry bar project for Bespoke Grande AI, we took a similar approach, integrating the washing machine into the wall with the decorative door to blend seamlessly into the space.

We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work on several Bespoke projects with Samsung. And for this Fuorisalone project, the idea was to show these detailed concepts outside of Korea for the first time, with Milan as the setting.

Q: How does Framed combine lifestyle-focused designs with true customization?

[Jang] We’ve taken our “framed” project, created in 2019 to celebrate the launch of the Bespoke, and Laundry Bar, our 2020 concept created to celebrate the launch of the Bespoke Grande AI, and revamped them for Fuorisalone 2023.

For “framed” design elements, we blend modern luxury with classic design. These design choices for “Framed” are my vision of limitless interior decoration, expressing my creativity through different techniques and devices. This also reflects Bespoke’s vision of true personalization, emphasizing that interior design is not just for professionals, but something anyone can achieve based on their own taste, personality and lifestyle.

Q: What advice would you give consumers interested in upgrading their interiors with bespoke appliances?

[Jang] I think the biggest advantage of Samsung Bespoke Home devices is that they can fit in with other devices anywhere. Or, if you want to change up your decor, consider Bespoke a blank canvas on which you can explore new avenues for creative expression.

No matter your personal taste or variety of sizes, configurations, and materials, your bespoke designs can easily keep pace with the evolution of your lifestyle.