A design festival exploring the depth of design, from industrial to fashion and start-up to export, will be held at KINTEX in Goyang, northern Gyeonggi Province, from Nov. 6-10.

Design Korea 2014 will include an exhibition displaying more than 2,000 industrial design products from 180 companies, a trade show with 150 overseas merchandisers, workshops and concerts encouraging the public to understand design as a concept for everyday life and more, the Korean Institute of Design Promotion said Thursday.

“Under the theme of ‘Design Flowers the Creative Economy,’ we plan on showing how design can be enjoyed by everyone, from children to businessmen. I believe that design adds value to everything we do, and will also become the growth engine for a creative economy,” said KIDP president Lee Tae-yong.

“According to our research, design development results in a 1,400 percent return on investment. This compares with the 500 percent from technical research and development, which is why we believe supporting design is equivalent to supporting our economy.”

The event is also aimed at helping small and mid-sized design firms tap into the overseas markets. For this, forums on tips for doing business in China, establishing foreign retail networks and opening start-ups overseas will be held.

Li Yifei, chief secretary of the Chinese Labor Party in Yiwu city, central Zhejiang province, will visit the festival to scout out new talent.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)