Hyundai L&C Launches 'Window Handle Design Competition' in Push for 'Differentiated Window Design'

Hyundai L&C is holding a design competition targeting general consumers as part of its effort to differentiate its window designs.

Hyundai L&C, a comprehensive building-materials company affiliated with the Hyundai Department Store Group, will hold a 'Window Handle Design Competition' from September 20 to October 20.

While Korea's building-materials industry has held design competitions on interior design in general before, it is unusual to run a design competition focused on a specific component such as a window handle. What is especially notable is that, unlike typical design competitions usually aimed at college students or professionals, the pool of eligible participants has been expanded to include general consumers.

This competition is part of Hyundai L&C's strategy to differentiate its window designs. Earlier this year, Hyundai L&C introduced a series of products that reinforce design elements while maintaining the insulation performance of windows, including the 'REHAU 90 TT'—the first in Korea to apply 'Stepped Glass' to windows—and the 'VIEW Series' interior door, which uses glass with a gradation technique (a design technique in which the glass is dark at the bottom and becomes gradually more transparent toward the top).

The 'window handle' that is the subject of this competition is a component that helps make it easier to open and close windows, and its shape and size vary depending on the form and size of the window, such as double or single windows. Unlike window frames and sashes, whose materials (PVC, aluminum, etc.) and shapes are fixed, the handle has no restrictions on material or form, making it the part of a window where design elements can be incorporated most freely.

Lee Se-woong, head of Hyundai L&C's Window Development Team, said, "In the past, when the building-materials industry developed window products, the focus was on product performance such as insulation, so we concentrated on material development rather than design. Recently, however, a growing number of customers are looking not only for functionality but also for differentiated design." He added, "We will discover the designs consumers want and reflect them in our products to enhance the overall competitiveness of our window products."

The theme of this competition is 'Satisfying Both Qualities (二性滿足），' and winning entries will be selected by placing emphasis on the originality and aesthetics of the design while comprehensively evaluating convenience, functionality, and commercialization potential. Anyone interested in interior design can participate (individually or in pairs), and during the entry period, participants simply need to attach their work and a description of it as a PDF file and send it by email ([email protected]). A total of three teams will be selected as finalists, and the results will be announced on October 31 through channels such as the Hyundai L&C website.