1. Tell us about the brand Sogoossi.

Sogoossi is a craft design brand created by So Hye-jeong, a graduate of Hongik University’s Department of Ceramics and Glass. The brand focuses on creating everyday stories based on the delightful fantasy of dreams.

2. I heard that there’s an interesting story related to the product.

This product is inspired by the bell-shaped cup “yeongbubae’” from the Three Kingdoms period, to be enjoyed today with our stories. It’s a “bell cup” that makes a clear sound when shaken, and the pattern on the outside is a visualization of a shooting star. The cup incorporates a bit of storytelling. The sound it makes when shaken is meant to mimic the sound of a shooting star, which is said to bring good luck when used. The name “Sobyeoljji,” meaning a small shooting star, combines the Korean word for shooting star, “byeoljji,” and the Chinese character for small, “so.”

3. What did you focus on while creating the award-winning product?

This award-winning product, a bell-shaped cup with a unique pattern, reinterprets traditional Korean pottery techniques in a modern way. The design visualizes shooting stars, and the cup produces a clear sound when shaken due to the bell inside.

4. Were there any challenges in planning the award-winning product?

The main challenge has been how to market and present this meaningful and enjoyable product to the public. It’s important to find suitable distribution channels and promote effectively to get the products to become a part of people’s lives. Fortunately, professional consulting has provided significant assistance in these areas.

5. What did you learn from the contest, and do you have any stories you’d like to share?

The contest reminded me that beauty is not only about aesthetics, but also about the history and culture behind it. We hope to expand the joy of craft to include the search for beauty by reinterpreting such elements into contemporary stories.

6. What are your future plans or goals?

We want to bridge the gap of time by reimagining our less familiar traditional culture through the lens of today. We plan to use augmented reality to connect historical artifacts with digital crafts. The ultimate goal is to have crafts embodying Korean cultural values resonate globally through AR filters.