Beyond the Visible: Esprit de Vie at Seoul Design Week 2026
An immersive olfactory installation, a collaboration with POLI.design and Samsung, and a new perspective on Italian design at Seoul Design Week 2026.
A New Chapter in Seoul
Travel has always been part of the Esprit de Vie story. An ongoing exploration of cultures, places and perspectives, guided by the belief that scent can transform spaces into meaningful experiences.
From October 14 to 25, 2026, this journey continues at Seoul Design Week, one of South Korea's leading international design events.
Under the theme The Design Recipe, the 2026 edition explores the intersection of creativity, technology and culture, bringing together international designers, institutions and innovative minds.
For Esprit de Vie, Seoul marks a new chapter in its international journey, introducing Italian olfactory design as an essential dimension of contemporary spatial experience.
itAliens: Italian Design Beyond the Myth
At the heart of this participation is itAliens — Italian Design Beyond the Myth, an exhibition presented by POLI.design with the support of Samsung, hosted at the iconic Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP).
Moving beyond traditional interpretations of Made in Italy, the exhibition explores a new generation of Italian creativity through experimentation, technology and emerging design disciplines.
The experience brings together three complementary perspectives: the creative methodologies of the POLI.design Cookbook, the technological and artistic interpretations of Samsung × itAliens, featuring 14 Italian creatives and studios, and the immersive olfactory contribution of Esprit de Vie par Esther Nigro.
Together, they offer a contemporary vision of Italian design, where innovation extends beyond the visible.
Beyond the Visible: Over 350 sqm of Olfactory Design
Within the architectural setting of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, designed by Zaha Hadid, Esprit de Vie presents an immersive olfactory installation spanning over 350 sqm.
Through its innovative scent diffusion technology, fragrance becomes an integral part of the exhibition, creating an invisible connection between architecture, creativity and sensory perception.
For this occasion, Esprit de Vie has developed exclusive reinterpretations of three of its original fragrances: Scintillio di Laguna, L’Éclat des Cendres and Soffio Dorato.
Each composition has been reimagined to reflect the exhibition's concept, translating its creative vision into a distinctive olfactory experience.
Three fragrance identities. One immersive environment.
An exploration of how scent can shape atmosphere, evoke emotion and redefine the way we experience design.
Because what we cannot see can be just as powerful as what we can.
A Multisensory Dialogue with Samsung and POLI.design
Through its participation in itAliens, Esprit de Vie joins a creative dialogue alongside POLI.design and Samsung, connecting Italian design culture, technological innovation and new forms of artistic expression.
While technology and visual experimentation explore the tangible dimensions of contemporary design, Esprit de Vie introduces an additional sensory layer, demonstrating how fragrance can become part of a broader creative language.
The collaboration reflects a shared interest in exploring new possibilities for design, where different disciplines come together to create more immersive and meaningful experiences.
An Exclusive VIP Opening Experience
The opening of Seoul Design Week brings together an international community of designers, creative leaders and industry representatives, celebrating the exchange of ideas and the future of design.
As part of this occasion, Esprit de Vie contributes its olfactory expertise to the VIP Opening Event, introducing fragrance as an additional dimension of the experience.
A sensory expression of the brand's vision, where scent becomes a distinctive element of atmosphere and connection.
The Future of Design Is Multisensory
Design is no longer defined by what we see alone.
It is shaped by the atmosphere we enter, the emotions we experience and the memories we carry with us.
Through its participation in Seoul Design Week 2026, Esprit de Vie continues to explore the possibilities of olfactory design, bringing together Italian creativity, innovation and sensory experience on an international stage.
From Italy to Seoul. Beyond the visible, into the senses.
Esprit de Vie.
For successful people and places.
Explore the world of Esprit de Vie
https://espritdevieparesthernigro.com/collections/scents
Sources
Seoul Design Week 2026
https://seoul-designweek.or.kr/?langSet=enDongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) — Official Event Information
https://ddp.or.kr/index.html?menuno=353&siteno=2&bbsno=131&boardno=80&bbstopno=131&act=viewitAliens — Italian Design Beyond the Myth
https://italiens-seoul-2026.rosypuppy32.chatgpt.site/?lang=enSeoul Design Foundation — Official Event Information
https://seouldesign.or.kr/?menuno=562&siteno=1&boardno=1068&act=view&bbsno=179
