[Maison&Objet] Mobile Island: “Designing Products That Add Value to Everyday Life”

The Korea Institute of Design Promotion (KIDP) participates annually in Maison&Objet Paris, the international fair showcasing "decoration, design, and lifestyle" consumer goods. KIDP's Design Korea Exhibition Hall at the event has served as a steppingstone for small and medium-sized businesses with design excellence to reach broader exposure and market opportunities.
This year, KIDP is participating from September 5 to September 9, joined by Korean design businesses showcasing furniture, stationery, tableware, and more. In collaboration with IT Donga, we are introducing 23 design-driven small and medium enterprises participating in Maison&Objet Design Korea.

Founded in 2018 by passionate designers in their 20s, the startup company moa.c was established with the mission of helping everyone experience well-designed products in their daily lives. As part of this mission, the company conceived the concept of a “personal wireless charging island” known as the Mobile Island. Originally just a design concept, the Mobile Island was turned into a prototype with support from Samsung Electronics C-Lab Outside, and went into mass production thanks to mold cost support from the Korea Institute of Design Promotion. We met with Ko Soyoung, CEO of moa.c, to learn more about the products the company will showcase at the 2024 Maison&Objet.

Ko Soyoung, CEO of moa.c / Source: moa.c

moa.c will participate in the 2024 Maison&Objet, to be held in September in Paris, France, with their Mobile Island product line. Maison&Objet is considered the world’s largest interior design and decor exhibition, providing opportunities for participants to explore the latest global design trends and to network within the industry.

Ko Soyoung, CEO of moa.c, explained, “The Mobile Island started with the concept of creating a personal wireless charging island. The Ground Wireless Charger, which forms the ‘ground’ of the Mobile Island, is designed to move away from conventional bulky chargers and instead enhance the beauty of living spaces. We recently launched an eco-friendly version made from Finnish bioplastic, which we plan to showcase at the 2024 Maison&Objet.”

Ground Wireless Charger / Source: moa.c

She continued, “Our MoMA bestseller, the Lighthouse Portable Lamp, was designed with the concept of being ‘the smallest lighthouse in the world.’ It features a large-capacity battery that lasts for over two weeks and is convenient to use with its wireless charging capability.”

Lighthouse Portable Lamp / Source: moa.c

What sets moa.c’s products apart?

Ko Soyoung noted, “We aim to reflect contemporary changes in our products through the sensibilities of young designers. With the rapid rise in single-person households, we focus on developing products that enrich the daily lives of those living alone. The Ground Wireless Charger is designed for users to lay their phones down rather than prop them up, encouraging relaxation by reading while the phone charges. The Lighthouse Portable Lamp is versatile, designed to provide everything from a warm candlelight glow to bright light that enhances focus.”

Lighthouse Portable Lamp / Source: moa.c

She added, “We want to be more than just a brand that creates attractive designs; we want to add value to everyday life. We focus on keeping our products affordable so that the younger generation can experience good design without financial strain. We continually update our products to enhance consumer satisfaction. For example, since many users utilize the Lighthouse Portable Lamp as a nightlight, we are refining the button sensitivity to better meet their needs.”

moa.c plans to use its participation in the 2024 Maison&Objet as a springboard for an expansion into international markets.

Ko Soyoung stated, “Through our participation in the 2024 Maison&Objet, we aim to showcase the excellence of Korean design to the world. During our participation in the 2022 Maison&Objet, we achieved entry into MoMA and noted a high interest in eco-friendly products within the European market. This year, we plan to solidify our entry into the European market by presenting products upgraded with eco-friendly materials.”

Lastly, we asked about moa.c’s future ambitions.

Ko Soyoung, CEO of moa.c / Source: moa.c

Ko Soyoung concluded, “I believe design is a powerful tool that transcends language. moa.c’s goal is to promote the excellence of Korean design globally and support the growth of domestic designers. We are dedicated to creating products that align with societal needs for good design and to growing in the global market. We look forward to continued support and interest on our journey forward.”


Kim Dong-jin (kdj@itdonga.com),