Op.2-3 Primary Function: Ibhaso Lembeko by Seungbum Ma

Op.2-3 Primary Function: Ibhaso Lembeko by Seungbum Ma is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Ibhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award in Uyilo lwaMabhaso, iiMbasa kunye nokuKhuphisana Competition Category.

IsilivereImbasa· 2026

Op.2-3 Primary Function: Ibhaso Lembeko

by Seungbum Ma

Client: Design House

Ibhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award Winner in Imbasa Category

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Colors

The Design

About Op.2-3 Primary Function: Ibhaso Lembeko

Book Text: Eli bhaso lembeko, elenzelwe iSeoul Living Design Fair yowama-2024, lifumana impefumlelo kwizinto zoyilo zesakhiwo esisiseko ezinjengeekholamu, imiqadi, kunye neeslabhu, ezicaciswe ngokutsha ngokusebenzisa izinto zangoku kunye neendlela zokwakha. Yenziwe nge-acrylic, ibonisa ingqiqo yendlela yesiKorea yakudala yokudibanisa iimplanga ngelixa iphonononga ukukhanya, isithunzi, kunye notshintsho lwezinto. Umlo utshintsha ngokuhambelana nengqameko kunye nokukhanya, ngamanye amaxesha ibengezela, ibonakalisa, okanye ityhala izithunzi ezinemibala, idibanisa ukucaca kwesakhiwo nobunzulu beemvakalelo ngophando lokudibanisa oluchanekileyo.

The Recognition

About the Ibhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award

Op.2-3 Primary Function: Ibhaso Lembeko ngumphumeleli weIbhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award, ukuqatshelwa okuhlonitshwayo ngokungaqhelekanga okunikwa imiyilo yomgangatho ophezulu, entle nechukumisayo. Abaphumeleleyo beSilivere ziimveliso ezikhazimlayo kakhulu nezidala kakhulu ezibonisa ubungcali obuphawulekayo, italente nobukrelekrele babayili bazo. Op.2-3 Primary Function: Ibhaso Lembeko iyathenjwa ukuba ibe ngumsebenzi omhle womzekelo, onobungcali obuphawulekayo nezinto ezintsha ezinzulu. Lo myilo uphumeleleyo weIbhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award yimveliso ebonakalayo kakhulu, ethandwayo enceda kwaye inyusa imida yobugcisa, inzululwazi, uyilo kunye nobuchwephesha. Op.2-3 Primary Function: Ibhaso Lembeko yimveliso enomona omkhulu kuyo evusa iinqwenelo, izisa iimvakalelo ezintle kwaye ivuselela ukumangaliswa nokumangala.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

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.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 103 mm x Depth 103 mm x Height 323 mm
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.
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.
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.
Team Members: SeungBum Ma
Euijung Sung
Eunbin Lim
Image Credits: All photos by Yoon Park.