Merge, A Playful Approach to Design
The Korean brand Merge presented a fresh and joyful take on familiar objects at Shoppe Object Paris.
For its first Paris edition, the design fair brought together a curated selection of brands and creators from around the world. Among them, Merge stood out for its playful approach to design, reshaping familiar forms and rethinking the way we live with everyday objects. First discovered on social media by a member of the Shoppe Object Paris team, the young Korean label made its trade show debut.
Making the familiar unfamiliar
Founded in Seoul by Jihye Moon, Merge works with everyday objects we know well: notebooks, book covers, keychains, and mugs. Simple, familiar pieces that the brand reshapes through volume and material.
On the stand in Paris, this approach was immediately visible, especially through the Bubble Mug, which drew people in. A mug we usually think of as rigid and fragile becomes soft, textile, and padded, its surface reminiscent of a puffer jacket, catching the attention of fashion buyers at Shoppe Object Paris.
The piece can hold pencils, a small plant, or simply exist as it is. The use is never fixed. Each person is free to decide how to live with it.
Design as freedom of use
With Merge, nothing is set in stone. The brand embraces an open approach to design, where objects never dictate a specific use. Each person is invited to interpret them freely, to repurpose them, and to invent their own way of living with them. The intention is simple: to make everyday life more beautiful and more playful, so that each day can feel a little more special.
An international debut
Bringing together design, lifestyle, and accessories, Shoppe Object Paris provided a natural setting for Merge’s first presentation. The fair gave the Korean brand new visibility and opened the door to the European and global markets. More importantly, it was an opportunity to meet buyers, connect with other brands, and build new relationships.
Designed to move easily between different settings, Merge’s pieces feel equally at home in a concept store, a restaurant, or everyday interiors. At Shoppe Object Paris, the brand shows that design can be simple, accessible, and joyful, while still full of surprise.
