Creative contributions from the young generation to invigorating traditional street markets from a visual design perspective

The aim of this article was to examine the creative contributions of the young generation in vitalizing traditional street markets in local areas from a visual design perspective. In recent years, the development of various distribution networks and the change in consumer needs have weakened the status of traditional markets, which have played a pivotal role in the economy of the past. Although the government has, with a sense of crisis, been making steady efforts to revive traditional markets, simply modernizing their facilities has not attracted the younger generation to traditional markets. In this context, this study examined how to increase students’ interest in markets by connecting the traditional market project with a design thinking class. In so doing, this project will have students contribute to the local economy as potential customers. The research method was based on a case study, and the course was conducted by attaching the design-thinking process to the Shin-Jeong Market Activation Plan. The goal of this study was to get students spontaneously interested in the traditional market and encourage them to approach and solve problems through the design-thinking process.