Behind the Scene

How seashells were transformed into everyday products

The Seoul Design Award is seeking out projects that solve various everyday problems through sustainable design. Ultimately, the goal is to create a sustainable daily life where people, society, and the environment coexist in harmony.

Therefore, the winners of the Seoul Design Award are also those who have worked hard to create the sustainable daily life we dream of. From conceptualizing projects to implementing them and making changes in the world, what kind of intense time did the winners endure? We met with the winners of the Seoul Design Award 2023 to hear their stories.

The first interviewee is design studio newtab-22, which carried out the project 'Sea Stone: A new use for discarded seashells'. We had a conversation with two designers, Jihee Moon and Hyein Choi, who lead newtab-22. If you are curious about how to create a sustainable daily life in your life and in the lives of others, find some hints from their story!

🐚How two international student designers in the UK got hooked on 'Seashells'

Hello, please introduce yourselves to our readers.

Hello, we are Jihee Moon and Hyein Choi. We graduated with a Master's in Design Products from the Royal College of Art in the UK and have been co-running the sustainable material research-based design studio newtab-22 since 2020. newtab-22 is engaged in activities to open up new windows for materials based on the slogan "Today's waste can be tomorrow's new material." We research and explore materials that are casually discarded in everyday life, environmentally and socially sustainable materials. We introduce various design products and services using these to the public.

Sea Stone is an eco-friendly material that returns to nature after its lifespan. It seems like the development process couldn’t have been easy. 

That's right. Going beyond simply using zero-waste materials, we went through numerous tests with the idea of 'going all the way'. We tried to mix seashell powder with natural materials rather than artificial materials such as concrete or resin so that the product would not become waste even after its lifespan. We conducted durability tests by mixing with numerous natural binders and materials, and it took us over two years to find the best mixture. We wanted to prove the possibility, safety, and marketability of sustainable design. We also considered the environment during the development process.

You've put in a lot of time and effort. Why do you insist on sustainable materials despite such a difficult process? 

Our society is in the 'era of waste' as consumption and production have increased drastically due to rapid industrialization, and waste also has increased accordingly. There are also predictions that the amount of waste, estimated at 20,000 tons in 2020, will increase to 34,000 tons by 2050. In this situation, I thought that as a designer and artist, I could play a role in helping the environment. For example, when developing products, we can consider ways to minimize the negative impact on the environment, use eco-friendly materials or discarded materials, or design the entire process as a circular process.

What kind of changes do you want Sea Stone to make in society?

We focus on materials and sustainability. We have always wondered, "How can we reuse many discarded materials?" and "How can we develop them into valuable materials and apply them?" When creating products, we strive to minimize the negative impact on the environment, not only in the production process but also in the results. Sea Stone is also our first research. We wanted to present a way to reduce the burden on the environment throughout the entire process, from when our products and services are delivered to consumers, to when they are used and discarded.

If Sea Stone is the first research, what is your next step?

The Sea Stone project is expanding in various ways. It includes one-of-a-kind art collections carved one by one, design products that people can use in everyday life, and interior materials used as point tiles and panels in homes. In the future, we aim to become a material-led studio that prioritizes sustainability while exploring various materials.

There are so many everyday items made with Sea Stone, such as mirrors, incense holders, trays, candle holders, vases, and tiles. 

We wanted people to experience a sustainable life by using items made of Sea Stone in their daily lives. And since there are so many discarded seashells that cannot be processed, we thought that if many people use them and they are used in more products, it would help solve this problem a little. We thought it would help improve the environment in the South sea in the long term. Recently, general consumers have shown interest in zero-waste or upcycled products. I think products that aim for a sustainable life and environmentally friendly actions will become even more important in the future.

Can you share with us what kind of reactions consumers have had after using products made from Sea Stone?

Through the Seoul Design Award and various exhibitions and magazine interviews, we had many opportunities to introduce our work to the public. At first, people wanted to buy them for the products’ pure beauty without knowing they were made from discarded seashells. Later, when they found out that it was made from discarded seashells in the southern part of Korea, they said they didn't know it was such a meaningful product.

Such a meaningful change after winning the award! Congratulations on winning the Seoul Design Award 2023, belatedly. Please give us your impressions of your win. 

By winning the Seoul Design Award, we had the opportunity to introduce and share our thoughts and works with many people. We were able to get closer to the public. And since 2019 when we first unveiled the Sea Stone project, I've seen many designers and students approach our work, be inspired by the seashell problem, and carry out various projects, which is really rewarding.

One last question, what do you think is the role of a planner or designer for 'sustainable design' which is the theme of the Seoul Design Award?

Now is not the time for an eco-friendly era but a must-have environmental era. That's why many companies and countries are moving for the environment. As designers, I think we can play a role in raising awareness of the importance of sustainability in our society and awakening a sense of responsibility for a better future. I think these movements can accumulate to create greater change. We also want to strive to become a brand and designer that inspires society. In the future, we want to continue to move forward as a material-led design studio that creates designs that contribute to the environment and sustainable living.

Curious about the award-winning works of the Seoul Design Award that have a positive impact on the world through sustainable design?