What DESIGNSTUDIO does

DESIGNSTUDIO is a privately-held Korean interior design and architectural studio headquartered at Gangnam Bldg. 9F, 217 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The firm was founded and is led by Kim Jong-ho (김종호) as representative, and operates as a project-based professional services studio with over 20 years of practice, evidenced by international press coverage dating back to 2004 and a continuous run of KOSID Golden Scale awards since 2006. Its core offering spans hotel design, clubhouse design, commercial and retail interiors, housing galleries and apartment development design, office interiors, residential architecture, and a construction execution arm, organized across 'What we work' (design) and 'What we construct' (execution) categories on its website.

The studio's client base is concentrated among major Korean enterprise accounts, including HDC (Hyundai Development Corporation), Hyundai E&C, SK D&D, SK Construction, Woomi Construction, Keumkang E&C, KCC, Kumho Asiana, Hanwha Hotels & Resorts, Kakao IX, Telcoware, Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, CGV, and Korea University. Project types span housing exhibition galleries, residential communities, headquarters offices, flagship retail stores, F&B and commercial spaces, and hospitality properties, with the Park Roche Wellness Hotel & Resort for HDC positioned as the flagship ongoing engagement. The firm also executes select international projects in Vietnam (Intercontinental Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City) and Macau, though the Korean market remains the primary geography.

DESIGNSTUDIO generates revenue through professional services fees on a per-project basis, with pricing not publicly disclosed. The firm has no disclosed funding, no parent company, and no public listing; ownership commentary indicates independent founder-led control. Distribution is exclusively direct B2B sales through portfolio-driven marketing, earned media coverage in Korean and international design publications, and the studio's awards record (KOSID Golden Scale Best Design Award 2024, iF DESIGN AWARD 2023 and 2019, KOREA International Design Award 2023, and the Presidential Commendation at the 24th Korea Design Awards in 2022). There is no AI/ML capability disclosed and no technology stack beyond human-led spatial design practice.

Name

DESIGNSTUDIO

Legal name

DESIGNSTUDIO

Website

https://design-studio.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DESIGNSTUDIO is a Seoul-based Korean interior and architectural design studio, founded by Kim Jong-ho, offering project-based design services across hotel, residential, commercial, office, and gallery categories to major Korean enterprise clients including HDC, Hyundai E&C, SK, and Woomi Construction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Interior Design and Architectural Services

NAICS

Interior Design Services (541410), Architectural Services (54131), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Interior design services
• Architectural design services
• Hospitality interior design
• Residential space design
• Commercial space design

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Design Services: Professional interior and architectural design services for commercial, residential, hospitality, and gallery projects. Revenue is generated through project-based design fees.
2. Design & Construction: Some projects include both design and construction execution (e.g., '실시설계, 시공' - detailed design and construction), providing integrated delivery.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

DESIGNSTUDIO provides interior design and architectural design services for hotels, offices, galleries, housing developments, commercial spaces, club houses, and private residences. Engagements span concept design through construction execution, delivered primarily to Korean real estate developers, hospitality operators, and corporate clients, with select projects in Vietnam and Macau.

Product overview

DESIGNSTUDIO is a Korean interior design and architectural design studio offering comprehensive creative solution services. The company provides a unified portfolio of design services across multiple project categories including hotel design, office interiors, gallery spaces, residential architecture, commercial retail design, and housing developments. The firm serves both private clients and major Korean corporations including Hyundai, HDC, SK, Lotte, and Posco, functioning as a full-service design studio rather than a modular software product. Services encompass the entire project lifecycle from initial concept through construction, with specialization in high-end residential, hospitality, and commercial interiors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hotel Design Services
• Office Design Services
• Gallery Design Services
• Architecture Services
• Commercial Space Design

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• HDC (Hyundai Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHDC is DESIGNSTUDIO's primary client for the Park Roche Wellness Hotel & Resort project, one of the studio's flagship ongoing engagements. The partnership encompasses hotel interiors, gallery design, and landscape design components. The studio has completed multiple HDC projects including office, gallery, and residential exhibition hall designs across Korea.
• Hyundai E&C (현대건설)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDESIGNSTUDIO has a long-standing relationship with Hyundai Engineering & Construction, completing Hyundai Gallery projects, The H forecent Community design in Gangnam, and Hyundai Uijeongbu housing developments. The partnership spans multiple project types including housing galleries and residential communities.
• Park Roche (PARK ROCHE Wellness HOTEL & RESORT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPark Roche is HDC's wellness hotel and resort brand in Jeongseon, Gangwon-do, Korea. DESIGNSTUDIO serves as the primary design partner for this project, which is featured prominently as an ongoing studio project. The collaboration covers accommodation, gallery, and landscape design.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Hassell: Hassell is an APAC architecture and interior design firm with deep presence in Asia-Pacific commercial, hospitality, and residential work. Comparable in geography (APAC focus) and diversified vertical portfolio.
• Woods Bagot: Woods Bagot is a global architecture and interior design firm with strong APAC presence across hospitality, commercial, and residential. Comparable in multi-vertical design scope and APAC developer client mix.
• Yabu Pushelberg: Yabu Pushelberg is a renowned interior design studio for luxury hotels, residential, and retail environments. Comparable to DESIGNSTUDIO's premium residential and hospitality design positioning with high-end developer clients.
• B+H Architects: B+H is a global design firm with strong Asia-Pacific presence spanning architecture, interior design, and master planning. Comparable in mixed-use, residential, and commercial design work for enterprise developer clients.
• M Moser Associates: M Moser is a global workplace design and build firm serving corporate and enterprise office clients. Directly comparable to DESIGNSTUDIO's office design vertical (e.g., HDC Yongsan HQ, KCC Seocho, Hyundai Insurance Vertical City).
• Wilson Associates: Wilson Associates is a global hospitality and luxury interior design firm specializing in hotels, resorts, and branded residences. Closely comparable to DESIGNSTUDIO's Park Roche and Park Hyatt hospitality work.
• Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA): HBA is a global leader in hospitality interior design, serving hotel, resort, and luxury residential clients worldwide. Directly comparable to DESIGNSTUDIO's hotel/resort focus and enterprise developer client model.
• DA Group: DA Group is a Korean interior design and architecture firm serving enterprise clients across hospitality, residential, and commercial verticals. Directly comparable as a domestic Korean peer competing in the same market.

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Gensler is the largest global design firm operating across commercial, hospitality, residential, and workplace. Comparable in office and commercial design work but at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Heerim Architects: Heerim is one of Korea's largest architecture firms, providing architecture, interior, and urban design services. Comparable as a domestic Korean peer operating in residential, commercial, and hospitality design at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DESIGNSTUDIO