Every Inch of Seoul is a visual archive and storytelling project that introduces seven fading or overlooked places in Seoul through documentation and preservation. Born and raised in the city, I have long been drawn to the quiet alleys and hidden spaces of neighborhoods like Yongsan, Jung, and Jongno. This project began with the question: How can design help protect Seoul’s disappearing urban heritage?
To explore this, I conducted research using academic sources, visited each site in person, spoke with residents, and documented the spaces through photography and illustrations. At the center of the project are two graphic posters and an infographic map titled Seoul User Guide. The posters reinterpret visual elements unique to each site as geometric icons, which come together to form the Korean word ‘서울’ (Seoul). Retro-inspired colors and typography created a visual language where the past and present coexist. The infographic map presents the sites by district, using concise descriptions and visual organization. Inspired by the map’s resemblance to the side profile of a rabbit, a rabbit character was created to add a sense of playful discovery.
The project also includes a printed booklet titled Seoul by Days, which reimagines the featured locations as calendar dates using numbers drawn from each site’s address. Inspired by traditional Korean wall calendars, the booklet invites viewers to slow down and explore the city one day at a time. In the exhibition space, photographs I took at each location are printed and displayed alongside the map, connected with red thread to visually express the relationship between memory and place.
To extend the experience beyond the gallery, a dedicated iPad displays the project’s Instagram archive, which offers behind-the-scenes stories, process documentation, and site-specific visuals. Custom-designed stickers, each containing a QR code linking to the archive, were printed and placed next to the iPad for visitors to take, offering a tangible, personal way to continue engaging with the work beyond the exhibition.
Through a blend of analog and digital elements, Every Inch of Seoul aims to preserve the city’s lesser-known histories and identities. It invites viewers to see Seoul not just as a symbol of modern progress, but as a layered city shaped by everyday memories and hidden stories.
