Op.2-3

Trophy for Design House

This trophy, designed for the 2024 Seoul Living Design Fair, draws inspiration from basic architectural elements such as columns, beams, and slabs, reinterpreted through contemporary materials and fabrication methods. Crafted in acrylic, it reflects the logic of traditional Korean joinery while exploring light, shadow, and material change. The form shifts with angle and illumination, at times glowing, reflecting, or casting colored shadows, combining structural clarity with sensory depth through precise assembly research.

Download Press Kit № 173325

Download Press Kit № 173325 Trophy for Design House by Seungbum Ma to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.

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Op 2 3 by Seungbum Ma

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Trophy by Seungbum Ma

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Seungbum Ma Op 2 3

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Seungbum Ma Trophy

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Design HouseBrand Logo

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Unique Properties

This is the trophy design for the 2024 Seoul Living Design Fair. Inspired by fundamental architectural elements, such as beams, columns, and slabs, the design reinterprets traditional Korean joinery using acrylic. The trophy’s form responds to light and angle: at times glowing and casting stained-glass-like reflections, at others becoming a dark mirror or a silent, solid mass. Three versions were created—Special, Product, and Space Prizes—each rendered in RGB hues symbolizing light itself.

Tags

architectural object, architectural trophy, trophy

Production Technology

This project also served as an experiment in translating architectural and furniture joinery techniques into a smaller scale. It involved a series of tests to determine tolerances that allow precise acrylic assembly without breakage, along with studies to identify the optimal colors and levels of transparency. The final outcome was achieved through extensive exploration of transparency, translucency, opacity, reflectivity, dyeing, tinting, and color mixing.

Design Challenge

Wood was fragile, while rigid paper allowed for easy assembly but presented issues with warping and finish. Aluminum lost its precision and deformed during cutting. While 3D printing offered structural stability, it was excluded due to its incompatibility with the interlocking design language. Ultimately, acrylic was chosen for its ability to transmit and reflect light, casting colored shadows while glowing on its own. However, tests were required to determine the optimal tolerances for assembly without breakage, as well as to identify suitable colors and levels of transparency.

Project Duration

The project started in January and finished in February 2024 in Seoul, and was exhibited in the Seoul Living Design Fair 2024 in March.

Operation Flow

Placed by a sunlit window, it takes on entirely different forms and impressions depending on the time, weather, and the viewer’s perspective.

Research

Under a tight timeline, it was necessary to explore multiple formal alternatives for the trophy while simultaneously studying the complex joinery details at a small scale using various materials.

Inspiration

This project explores the universal language of architecture to evoke new experiences and meanings. Fundamental elements, such as beams, columns, walls, and floors, are reconfigured with contemporary materials to defamiliarize the everyday and invite renewed reflection. By reinterpreting traditional joinery through modern techniques, the work honors history while opening paths toward the future.

Image Credits

All photos by Yoon Park.

Project Overview

Op.2-3 Trophy has been a Silver winner in the Awards, Prize and Competitions Design award category in the year 2025 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

Silver Recognition

Seungbum Ma was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2026, a testament to excellence of their work Op.2-3 Trophy.

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