Greetings,This is Yoo Jeong-bok, the Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the 2023 Incheon International Design Fair. Since its inception in 2004, and now in its 17th year, our fair continues to embrace the theme of 'Design for All', inviting everyone to witness and participate in this inclusive endeavor.

'Design for All' is about understanding and respecting the diversity of people, regardless of their physical abilities, gender, age, and so forth. It encapsulates the ethos of creating designs that are inclusive and equitably usable by everyone. This aligns with our vision for Incheon to be a world-class city of happiness for all its citizens. As a melting pot of Koreans from all over the world and a global city where diverse races and cultures coexist, the value of 'Design for All' holds a special significance for Incheon.

The Incheon International Design Fair presents an excellent opportunity to explore how various institutions, schools, and businesses, both domestic and international, embrace diversity and practice 'Design for All'.

We look forward to the Fair being a platform for vibrant ideas that pay attention to inclusive design and strive towards a society that coexists harmoniously. Moreover, we hope it serves as a meaningful time for reflection on our roles in creating a society where everyone is content.

ay this event be a joyful festival of design that injects vitality into the design industry of Incheon. I extend my gratitude to everyone who has worked hard to make the Incheon International Design Fair possible.

Warm regards,

It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Heo Sik, the Chairman of the Incheon Metropolitan Council.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations on the inauguration of the '2023 Incheon International Design Fair', which promises to be a beacon for the advancement of Incheon’s design industry and a platform for international exchange.

I also want to express my deep gratitude to all those from Incheon Metropolitan City, Incheon Technopark, the Incheon Kyunggi Design Company Association, and the Incheon Industrial Design Association for their tireless efforts in preparing for this event.

Incheon is solidifying its reputation as a global city where diverse races and cultures thrive together. There is a growing trend and necessity for inclusive design, which embraces everyone regardless of physical abilities, gender, or age.

The 2023 Incheon International Design Fair is set to explore methods of inclusivity for everyone under the theme 'Design for All'. It will provide an exceptional opportunity to contemplate inclusive design, especially as we share the varied experiences of speakers from around the world. I anticipate that this event will foster discussions on how inclusive design can shape the future of our city and extend opportunities to a broader audience.

I hope that through this fair, Incheon will move a step closer to realizing a truly happy society. The Incheon Metropolitan Council will continue to offer unwavering support and keen interest to ensure that Incheon flourishes as a hub of culture and arts.

Greetings, I am Lee Joo-ho, the President of Incheon Technopark, and it is my pleasure to oversee this remarkable event.

I warmly welcome all attendees to the '2023 Incheon International Design Fair,' and would like to express my gratitude to Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok of Incheon Metropolitan City for hosting this event. My thanks also extend to Chairman Kim Hee-kyung of the Incheon Kyunggi Design Company Association and Chairman Cho Young-min of the Incheon Industrial Design Association for their collaboration in making this event a success.

Our theme for the 2023 Incheon International Design Fair, 'Design for All (inclusive design),' aims to initiate a conversation about how design can encompass and consider everyone in society, including the socially vulnerable. We look forward to exploring this theme through the perspectives of designers and experts from various fields, both domestic and international.

Incheon Technopark plays a pivotal role in stimulating regional economic vitality through the advancement of industrial technology and the nurturing of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We are committed to realizing the values of 'Design for All' by supporting SMEs in developing accessible products and services through technology and innovation, and by fostering an inclusive industrial structure in collaboration with designers and companies across diverse sectors.

Design has already established its significance as an essential element across our daily lives and culture, and its importance continues to grow. Incheon Technopark will continue to play a central role in ensuring that design converges with not just businesses and industrial facilities but also with the broader development of our city. We are dedicated to advancing the local design industry.

In closing, I would like to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to make today's event possible and hope that it becomes a festival of design that everyone can enjoy together. Thank you.

This is Kim Hee-kyung, the Chairperson of the Incheon Gyeonggi Design Company Association.

To the citizens who have shown such keen interest and affection towards the 2023 Incheon International Design Fair, and to the organizers from Incheon Metropolitan City and all the related institutions, I extend my deepest gratitude and thanks.

The Incheon International Design Fair, which we are celebrating for the 17th time since its inception in 2004, stands uniquely as a national industry-academia collaboration and international design festival where businesses, universities, and designers come together. This year's fair offers the delight of witnessing at a glance local design businesses that contribute to industrial growth through exchange with international artists, rooted in our educational institutions.

Furthermore, this year’s theme, 'Design for All - Sustainable Design,' serves not only as a subject matter for the future we all strive towards but also encapsulates the essence of Incheon as a global city home to a diverse tapestry of cultures and ethnicities, propelled by its logistics industry. The fair features a forum and exhibitions that weave the stories of both local and international designers whose work continues and perfects the lineage of inclusive design, resonating across generations.

The anticipation is already building for the variety of ideas that will emerge from the Incheon International Design Fair to create a society where we respect one another, recognize our differences, and coexist harmoniously. I would like to express my gratitude once more to the organizers of the Incheon International Design Fair, the representatives of the Incheon Gyeonggi Design Company Association, the officials from Incheon Technopark, and the Incheon Industrial Design Association for their diligent efforts in preparing for this event.

With the hope that the power of design will make the endeavor of creating
a better world even more enjoyable...

Greetings, This is Cho Young-min, the seventh
president of the Incheon Industrial Design Association.

The 2023 Incheon International Design Fair marks its 17th year since
its inception in 2004. This number signifies more than just an anniversary;
it represents the fair's progression from its early stages of introduction
and growth to a phase of maturity. I take pride in how the fair has evolved
into a flagship design event, expanding its recognition and impact beyond
the local region.

As we emerge from the unprecedented challenges and pain of a lengthy
pandemic, a new era of health, where we can open our minds and hearts
to communicate freely, is dawning. In step with this, if we can ponder and
form a consensus around 'Inclusive Design'—a design that breathes within
society and serves humanity—I am hopeful that this festival can spark
interest in the marginalized communities around us and create a universal
resonance for a design that seeks diversity.

In an age of digital transformation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution,
the most crucial element might just be the reflection and contemplation
on humanity itself, our origin, and essence. I believe it is only through this
introspection that we can adapt and advance steadfastly amidst the
changes of a new era.

My hope is that all citizens of Incheon can experience and enjoy design
through this Incheon International Design Fair—a festival for sharing
thoughts about each other without any barriers. Moreover, I hope that on
this foundation, the fair will continue to mature and establish itself as a
globally recognized event. For this, I ask for the ongoing interest and
encouragement from the city of Incheon and all stakeholders.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the city of Incheon and
the Incheon Design Center, and especially to all the officials who have
diligently carried out their responsibilities, ensuring that this event
could be hosted successfully.