Hello, I am Kang Beom-gyu, the CEO of Present, a design management company. My area of expertise is product design and design management. I founded Present, a design company, in 2007 and have been leading the domestic baby products market by developing 3 to 5 innovative products every year. Over the years, I have designed over 300 products and graphics. I have also published more than 30 papers in domestic and international academic conferences, including the International Journal of Design. Additionally, I have held five solo exhibitions, including one in New York in 2004, and exhibited my design works in over 60 design exhibitions worldwide. Since 2002, I have been a tenured professor at Dongseo University’s College of Design for 17 years, and I served as the Chief Designer for Happycall Co., Ltd. for 12 years, directing all product development. I also served as the Vice President of the Basic Form Association for two years.
Present's Representative Products and Design Philosophy
A representative product of Present is the Duri Adult-Baby Hybrid Toilet. Since its release in 2014, it has maintained a 60% share in the domestic market and is the best-selling product for the last 10 years. In 2020, it received the highest technical award in the design category from the Korea Intellectual Property Office, the Jang Young-sil Award, the Grand Prize at the Asia Design Prize, and the Red Dot Design Award in Germany. In 2021, it was officially recognized as a K-Brand and became a representative brand of Korea.
I want to live a fun life. I think about it. The people around me are struggling and uncomfortable, but can I live comfortably and happily while they suffer? I think it's impossible. So, I create products that can make people's lives more comfortable and enjoyable. Then, people willingly exchange the money they cherish for the product I’ve made and enjoy using it. They even recommend it to others. And, when the product I’ve created is less harmful to the Earth compared to existing products, I feel even better. Through this enjoyable work, I hope that my colleagues and I can earn more money. With this money, I will do even more fun things. I still believe that “design can create a better world.”
What are the Evaluation Criteria as a Judge for the Asia Design Prize?
First, I will look for good problems that have value in their resolution and assess whether they were solved well. It is very valuable to come up with a creative solution, but when a design solves the most urgent and impactful problem among many, the design shines brighter. It is also important to evaluate how fresh and innovative the new design is compared to existing designs. Additionally, we cannot overlook whether the design is aesthetically pleasing, detailed, and highly refined. Beyond that, I will assess the product’s marketability, harmony with its surrounding environment, and brand identity, among other aspects of product design excellence.
Recommendation for the 2025 Asia Design Prize
The Asia Design Prize has now grown into the world’s leading international design competition, with more than 1,600 designers from 25 countries participating. One of the key reasons for its success is that the Asia Design Prize is known for its most fair judging process in the world. Furthermore, the award-winning works receive international attention, and designers have the opportunity to build a global network through this competition. I am confident that the Asia Design Prize will continue to play a pioneering role in leading the development and innovation of the design industry. I highly recommend participating in the Asia Design Prize.
