Hanju is an interdisciplinary design engineer from Korea, where his early experiences with nature deeply influenced his work. Many of his projects reflect this connection and have been recognized by InnovateUK, IKEA, HSBC, OPPO, and InnovationRCA. Hanju seeks innovative solutions to climate issues at the intersection of ecological study, user needs, and technology, leveraging technologies such as computer vision, deep learning, and extended reality.
Among his notable projects, NovaHive addresses the colony collapse disorder of Asian honeybees by creating modular beehives using byproducts from beekeeping, winning the Grand Prize at the Korea Sweden Young Design Awards. Being a Giraffe proposes a new zoo system through empathic design, utilizing virtual reality and received the Best Technical Innovation award at the Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards. Hanju also co-founded Pera, the world’s first wearable for digestive tracking, helping people manage bowel incontinence.
His latest project, EarthCode, is a groundbreaking system for verifying and reporting individual tree data to enhance the credibility of the carbon offset market. It provides a simple and reliable solution for private forest owners facing challenges in participating in carbon offset programs.
Hanju holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design Engineering from Korea Polytechnic University (2020) and a double Master’s degree in Innovation Design Engineering (MSc/MA from Imperial College London and Royal College of Art. He is dedicated to driving forward practical and sustainable innovations in the nature-tech field.
Education
Master of Science - MS, Industrial Engineering
Imperial College London, London, UK
Grade: Merit
Sep 2022 - Jul 2024
Master of Arts - MA, Industrial Engineering
Royal College of Art, London, UK
Sep 2022 - Jul 2024
Diploma, Product, Interior and Spatial Design
Royal College of Art, London, UK
Jan 2021 - Aug 2021 (Grade: Merit)
Bachelor of Industrial Design Engineering
Korea Polytechnic University, South Korea
Mar 2012 - Feb 2020 (Graduated at the top of the department with an average of 4.03/4.5)
Experience
Founder
3rd Plan, Freelance
Jun 2017 - Feb 2021
Industrial Designer
EasyEndo Surgical, Contract
Apr 2020 - Oct 2020
Sergent
Republic of Korea Air Force
Jun 2014 - Jun 2016
Artwork Manager
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, Contract
Nov 2013 - Mar 2014
Exhibitions
20th London Design Festival- OPPO Renovators 2022-Emerging Artists Project
Cromwell Place Lavery Studio, London
20.09.22 - 25.09.22
Design Korea 2021-Korea+Sweden Young Design Award
08.10.21 - 10.10.21
Press
Monthly Design magazine (Designhouse Seoul), May 2020, "Youth after 199X"
Visual Atelier 8, Dec 2019, "Seo Hanju Brings The Innovation In Form Of Hormongraphy"
SBS, Jul 2019
Awards
Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards - Best Technical Innovation
Issued by Innovate UK, 2024
WE Innovate - 3rd Prize
Issued by Imperial Enterprise Lab, 2024
OPPO Renovators - Shortlist Award
Issued by OPPO, 2022
KOREA+SWEDEN YOUNG DESIGN AWARD - Final winner
Issued by IKEA Korea, Embassy of Sweden Seoul, Korea Institute of Design Promotion, 2021
International Busan Design Award - Idea Award
Issued by Busan Metropolitan City, Busan Office of Education and Design Council Busan, 2020
K-Design Award - Winner
Issued by DESIGNSORI, 2020
London International Creative Competition - Shortlist
Issued by Farmani Group, 2020
Pinup Concept Design Awards - Silver
Issued by Korea Association of Industrial Designers, 2020
SIT Furniture Design Award - Honorable Mention
Issued by 3C Awards, 2020
Spark Design Awards - Silver
Issued by Spark Design Awards, 2020
European Product Design Award - Silver
Issued by EPDA, 2019
International Design Excellence Awards - Finalist
Issued by Industrial Design Society of America, 2019
Contact
Instagram @seopadong
phone +44) 7774 889 331
email hanju.seo@network.rca.ac.uk
hanju.seo22@imperial.ac.uk