Announcement of the 7 th International Idea Award for Universal Design for All
1. Contest Overview
– Name: The 7th International Idea Award for Universal Design for All
– Dates: March 2025 to September 2025
– Open to: 3 categories
– Participants: Individuals and Teams of 3 or fewer
– Organized by: Korea Development Disabilities policy Institute
– Sponsored by: Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization, Korea Institute of Design Promotion, Korea Land & Housing corporation
2. Topics
A. Topic: Universal Design for All
– Designed to be safe and usable for everyone, regardless of disability, gender, age nationality, etc. according to the seven principles of universal design(UD*).
* ① equitable use ② flexibility in use ③ simple and intuitive use ④ easily recognizable information ⑤ tolerance for error ⑥ low physical effort ⑦ sufficient space for access and use
B. Special consideration items: Universal Design accessible restroom spaces or related products
– Considering the theme of Universal Design Awareness Week 2025, “Universal Design Restrooms” presents various elements related to the theme.(Space, products in sanitation, etc.)
3. Public offering schedule
A. Public Notice: March 17, 2025(Fri) to July 25, 2025(Fri)
B. Application period: July 21, 2025(Mon) ~ July 25, 2025(Fri) until 18:00(GMT+9)
C. 1st Screening: August 6, 2025(Wed)
D. Announcement of preliminary results: Friday, August 8, 2025 *Posting on the homepage (www.koddi.or.kr/ud)
E. 2nd Screening (Open Audition): August 20, 2025(Wed.) * Scheduled at E-room Center
F. Results Announcement and Award Ceremony: Saturday, September 6, 2025(scheduled) * Award ceremony and result announcement will be held at the same time.
G. Exhibition of winning works: September 3, 2025(Wed) ~ September 9, 2025(Tue) * Exhibition of awards: Suwon Convention Center(planned) * Award reveal: Saturday September 6, after the awards show
The above schedule and venue are subject to change due to the organizer’s circumstances.
4. Call for submissions Call for submissions Details
Universal
Design
Architecture
Provide spatial planning elements for facilities that are designed to be convenient, safe, and accessible to everyone regardless of gender, age, nationality, or disability, etc.
Architecture or interior architecture, space design, urban planning, etc. related to residential, business, commercial, medical, athletic, cultural, sales, transportation, etc.
Tourism
Present themes that take into account the characteristics of the tourist destination, regardless of gender, age, nationality, or disability, etc.
Design tourism-related facilities such as tourist complexes, natural parks, amusement parks, campgrounds, museums, art galleries, zoos, botanical gardens, cultural heritage sites, world heritage sites, observation towers, or information desks.
Products
Considering accessibility for all users regardless of gender, age, nationality, or disability, etc. and presenting various products and services based on mass production as tools for enriching human life.
Household goods, office supplies and stationery, electronics, industrial and transportation machinery, recreational goods, education, furniture, UX/UI, kiosks, and more.
Common
Extra credit will be given for entries that incorporate the theme of Universal Design Awareness Week 2025, “Toilets in Everyday Life.”
5. Eligibility
A. Eligibility: Open to anyone interested in Universal Design
B. Number of entrants: Individuals and teams of no more than three (3) (Must include a representative from each team, no duplicate entries)
6. How to submit
– Submit on the contest website: www.koddi.or.kr/ud
7. Submissions
A. First round (submitting a description and images of your work) Artwork documentation
Standards
A4(210*297mm) / No more than 5 pages / MS Word or PDF
How to create
Write a description of your artwork using the artwork description form posted on the homepage announcement.
Be sure to download the form on the homepage announcement and fill it out without modifying the form, and if you change the form arbitrarily, you may be excluded from the judging (please follow the given tabular format, font size, and line spacing documentation rules).
The tile of your work is the same for all submissions (description, panel, 3D video)
The content and organization of the work description can be freely formatted (tables, images, etc. can be attached to the work description), and it is recommended to the express in detail and clearly what was not conveyed in the panel.
Prohibit any indication in the submission description that could identify the entrant’s affiliation or identity.
Regarding the use of generative AI imagery, please clearly describe the program you used to create your entry (Adobe, Sketch Up, generative AI tools, etc.) (Designs that are restricted from commercial use are not eligible).
Korean/English versions are available for international entries (Domestic entrants: Korean, International entrants: English) Artwork Images
Standards
A1(594*841mm) / JPEG or PDF, resolution 300 dpi or higher, 20 MB or less 1 sheet
How to create
A high-resolution, printable file measuring 594mm x 841mm must be submitted separately from a low-resolution file of 20MB or less.
Images must be composed in portrait format (594mm x 841mm); images submitted in landscape format will not be considered and will not be eligible for consideration.
Images must not be labeled with any identifying marks that may identify the entrant’s affiliation or identity.
Generative AI
Competition Utilization
Secondary works may be modified and utilized if they are not directly from the original resource.
Clearly describe the programs you used (and the command prompts you used)
Designs that violate the inherent creativity of the contest or have some limited commercial exploitation may not be considered, even if they have been vetted.
B. Second round (open audition) * only participants selected in the first round will be evaluated Presentation
Standards
PPT, video, and more
How to create
Presentations should be no more than 6 pages, including the cover page.
Presentation materials must be submitted in advance of the judging and may not be changed on the day of the judging.
Presentations will be 5 minutes per team, with 10 minutes for Q&A
Prohibit any notation in the announcement materials that could identify the applicant’s affiliation or identity.
Entries will be canceled if not submitted by the notified submission deadline.
The title of the work must be the same for all submissions (description, panel, 3D video).
The video will be used in the awards and winners’ exhibition
– As a strategy to differentiate itself from the traditional judging method (decisions are made through discussions among judges within a limited space), we have been promoting an audition-based universal design idea contest since 2019.
– Due to the positive efforts of sharing the selected works in a public place, building consensus and competition around universal design, and ensuring transparency in the judging process, we would like to select the winners in the same way this year, and as the public’s awareness of universal design is increasing, we would like to apply a certain percentage of points through a public vote to discover works that meet the actual needs of the public.
8. How to review
A. Organize judges
– Ensure fairness and integrity with open recruitment pools for judges
Call for submissions Organize judge specialties Remarks
Universal Design
Architecture
Ministries, architecture, landscape architecture, patent attorneys, and designers, Multiple configurations by disability, industry, etc.
Judges’ specialties may be adjusted depending on the field of competition.
Tourism
Products
B. Screening Steps
1) Primary Screening
– Date & Location: Wed, August 6, 2025 from 13:00 to 16:30(GMT+9) / Eroom Center
– Scorecard (refine review items and scoring after judges discuss)
Call for submissions Primary screening Secondary screening
Universal Design
Architecture
Documentation
(work description, work image) to be selected for the second round of screening
Winning presentations are judged to determine the winners
Tourism
Products Discipline Architecture Tourism Products
Universal Design Elements
(30 points)
Universal Design Elements
(30 points)
Aesthetics (30 points)
Functionality and efficiency
(25 points)
Functionality and efficiency
(25 points)
Creativity (30 points)
Innovation and feasibility
(25 points)
Innovation and feasibility
(25 points)
Practicality (20 points)
Artistry and Workmanship
(20 points)
Artistry and Workmanship
(20 points)
Purposefulness (20 points) Granting special privileges
Universal Design accessible restroom spaces or restroom-related products.
10 points for inclusion, regardless of discipline
– The judges will assign scores to the entries based on the above scorecard as A (100 points), B (80 points), C (60 points), and select entries for the second round in the order of highest average score.
– Announcement of the results of the first round of screening: August 8, 2025 (Fri) / Homepage posting
2) Secondary Screening
– Date & Location: Wed, August 20, 2025 from 9:00 to 18:00(GMT+9) / Eroom Center
– Judging method: Open audition and public vote (Scheduled)
– In order to select works that are suitable for the practical needs of the public for universal design, the second round of judging will be conducted through open auditions and a public referendum using platforms such as Communication24 (Aug. 11 (Mon) ~ Aug. 18 (Mon))
3) Improving accessibility to secondary screening (proposed) How to improve accessibility
International interpretation
Establish a Korean/English or Korean/Japanese simultaneous interpretation system for international entries
Arranging and managing interpreters and recording interpretations
Sign language interpretation
Ensure the contest is accessible by providing sign language / text interpretation and Braille materials
C. Exhibition of winning entries *Submission required for honorable mention only
1) Introductory video for your work
2) Photos and bios of the winners to be used exhibits and art books. Introductory videos for your work
Standards
Any 3D video (such as Lumion) or animated video introducing your work.
How to create
Second round (open audition) entrants only, submit a video that specifically showcasing your entry
Entries will be canceled if not submitted by notified submission deadline.
The title of the work is the same for all submissions (work description, work image, 3D video).
The video will be used in the awards and winners’ exhibition
Winners will be notified at a later date if they are required to submit an introductory video for the exhibition Leverage exhibits and Award materials
Standards
Winners’ photos and reflections
How to create
The material will be used in exhibitions and art books.
9. Results announcement and awards ceremony
– Date: Friday, September 5, 2025
– Location: Part of the convention hall at Suwon Convention Center
– Awards: 27 total teams in 3 categories (scheduled)
Separation Universal Design Architecture Tourism Product
The Grand Prize
1 Team / 3,000,000 KRW
Ministerial Awards of Health and Welfare
Awards and prizes
1 Team / 3,000,000 KRW Ministerial Awards of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Awards and prizes
1 Team / 3,000,000 KRW
Ministerial Awards of Health and Welfare
Awards and prizes
Best Excellence
Award
1 Team / 1,000,000 KRW
Presidential Award of Korea Land & Housing corporation
1 Team / 1,000,000 KRW
Presidential Award of Korea Tourism Organization
1 Team / 1,000,000 KRW
Presidential Award of Korea Institute of Design Promotion
Excellence Award
2 Teams / 500,000 KRW
Presidential Award of Korea Development Disabilities policy Institute
2 Teams / 500,000 KRW
Presidential Award of Korea Development Disabilities policy Institute
2 Teams / 500,000 KRW
Presidential Award of Korea Development Disabilities policy Institute
Honorable Mention
5 Teams / 300,000 KRW
Presidential Award of Korea Development Disabilities policy Institute
5 Teams / 300,000 KRW
Presidential Award of Korea Development Disabilities policy Institute
5 Teams / 300,000 KRW
Presidential Award of Korea Development Disabilities policy Institute
* Prizes and awards may be subject to change depending on the circumstances of the contest.
* The award may be reduced or not awarded if it is determined that the work is not suitable for the purpose of the contest or the level of the work is significantly reduced.
10. Display the winning entries
– Dates: Sept. 3, 2025(Wed) ~ Sept. 9(Tue.) / Sept. 6(Sat) Post-award ceremony recognition
– Location: Suwon Convention Center
– Exhibit includes: Video introductions, photos and bios of winners for use in the exhibit and art book.
– Purpose: To showcase the winning entries in each category to raise awareness of the need for universal design and inspire the public to utilize the ideas.
11. Other
A. All entries are non-returnable and the rights to the entries remain with the entrant
B. The Korea Disability Development Institute shall have the right to use and reuse the submitted works for the purpose of exhibition and promotion (posting on the website, publishing a collection of works, distributing press releases, and publishing publications) without any additional payment, and shall not return any of the submitted works.
C. Entries may be disqualified if it is determined that there are false entries in the entry registration documents, irregularities affecting the judging process, violations of the entry schedule such as the submission period, or other violations, which cannot be challenged.
D. Entries must be unpublished works, and if this is violated, the results will be canceled even after the award, and the award and prize money paid will be returned immediately, and no objection can be made.
E. Works submitted in duplicate to other competitions will be excluded from the judging and, if confirmed after winning, will be canceled and the prize money will be returned.
F. All images included in the entries must be free of copyright issues, and the entrant is responsible for any issues with image copyright.
G. Entries are subject to compliance with intellectual property laws such as patent law, utility model law, design protection law, trademark law, and copyright law, and all responsibility for any disputes arising therefrom rests with the entrant.
H. Entries may be used for exhibition, production, etc. and images may be altered and used.
12. Contact
– UD Environmental Policy Planning Team, Department of Universal Design Environment, Korea Development Disabilities policy Institute – Tel: Jiyoung Park ( +82-2-3433-0634), Kyoungseo Park (+82-2-3433-0689)
– Online: https://www.koddi.or.kr/ud/write?bo_table=sub6_2
