Seoul – Hyundai Card has opened its factory to the public, enabling card-holders to explore the industrial process that goes into making its powerful plastic.
Rarely has a credit card company created so much for its customers. First Hyundai Card opened a Design Library, then a Music Library and now it is turning the focus on its own product, revealing the inner workings of its production facility. Designed by architect Choi Wook of architect studio One O One, the space acts as a functional industrial facility, a historical archive and an art installation.
Visitors can watch the state-of-the-art automated process in action and explore a history wall displaying the 102 card plates created to date. Metal, chosen for its raw, industrial feel, is featured throughout, while nine large lighting installations subtly recall factory chimneys, referencing heavy industry.
‘Finance is usually embodied in numbers only, but by displaying credit cards amid these 19th century factory backdrops, we intend to convey the message that the current credit card system is part of a longer history.’
The Big Picture: Customers are increasingly interested in learning about the process behind their products. Read our Innovate on Starbucks’ Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room to see how retailers are turning elements of their factory process into interactive or educational displays.