DON'T MISS A THING

If you want to find out how design can improve the way we live, work and play, the annual Singapore Design Week (SDW) is a must-attend event!

With more than 115 activities, it’s one of the biggest events in the world and a premier design festival in Asia. From March 4^th to 17^th, the sixth edition brings together a collection of local and international design activities in Singapore. It is open to the design community, businesses, design students, public sector officers and the general public. The streets will fill with professionals, students and design lovers looking for the best trends and techniques.

The activities during this year’s design week are clustered by the following areas of interest:

• Transform my Business (For the business leaders, and design, transformation and innovation leads)
• Empower my community (For community advocates and aspiring change-makers)
• Inspire my everyday (For craft lovers, design enthusiasts and families)
• Reimagine my future (For designers, students and educators.

Singapore Design Week is a hub where the best design talents and businesses from Asia converge to showcase to the world. And at the same time, an event where the visitors can experience the value of design through delightful activities. This year’s edition shines with new partnerships and programmes that will amaze.

Must See Events at Singapore Design Week:

SingaPlural 2019

The main event at Singapore Design Week – SingaPlural focuses on creative processes before the actual design work itself. It celebrates the concept of “play” in our life and society, as well as in the design industry. The theme “Unnatural Phenomena” explores the origins and evolutions of new design. SingaPlural is a strong advocate for collaborations between brands and creatives, to encourage innovation through test-bedding of ideas. The name stems from a combination of terms “Singular” and “Plural”. It was conceived from the need to create a common platform to bridge the industry with designers. 

International Furniture Fair Singapore (IFFS)

First, it is interesting to note that the IFFS has changed the venue this year. The fair will debut in the heart of Singapore Business District, at the new Marina Bay Sands. The incredible venue was conceived by the famous architect and designer Moshe Safdie.

This fair will give you the chance to connect, converse and collaborate with a huge portfolio of quality international exhibitors from almost 30 countries, offering you a new range of design-inspired furniture and finishing’s. At the same time, you can network with over 19,000 international trade buyers and visitors. I don’t know a better opportunity to discover and explore your next business opportunity…!!

EXOTIC DESTINATIONS: SINGAPORE, MY RADIANT ORCHID

National Design Centre (NDC)

NDC is the meeting point for creative minds and businesses and the place for presenting all things design related. This is where designers and businesses congregate to exchange ideas, conduct business, use its facilities and obtain assistance from the national agency for design, the Design Singapore Council. It’s centrally located in the arts, cultural, learning, and entertainment precinct in the Bras Basah-Bugis District.

Bras Basah-Bugis x Singapore Design

This must-see installation consists of three design intervention installations awarded through an Open Call for the Bras Basah-Bugis x Singapore Design Week 2019 collaboration.

Be sure to find time to experience these stunning design installations which are along Queen Street and the NDC.

Project 210

This project is a collaboration between interior design students from local tertiary institutions and Naumi Hotel Singapore in partnership with Goodrich Global and XTRA. The goal is to get creative and design a hotel room for the next generation of travelers.

After receiving the room number, up and coming young local talents receive a blank canvas to get creative and turn their designs to the next “Instagram-worthy” space in Singapore, following the design ethos of designer-inspired rooms at the hotel.

The final-year Retail and Hospitality Design students from Temasek Polytechnic will present their concept for project 210 during Singapore Design Week and it will be inspired by Tyler the Creator. The color-blocks in bold hues will be the perfect fit for your square social media pictures and will surely amaze your eyes with there contrasting graphic prints.

The National Museum

The nation’s oldest museum seeks to inspire with stories of Singapore and the world! The story of this museum dates back to 1887 when it first opened as the Raffles Library and Museum.

With a progressive mind, the National Museum hosts innovative activities and events all year. They includ art installations, performances and film screenings of different styles and genres.

Wallpaper* Handmade 2019

Since 2010, the magazine Wallpaper* has commissioned the best creatives and manufacturers to create original, one-off luxury items for the showcase.

For this year’s edition, seven established Singapore-based designers and design studios have been chosen including Chris Lee, Clara Yee, Hans Tan, Lai Chan, Lanzavecchia + Wai, Lekker Architects, and Tiffany Loy.

In addition, Wallpaper* also invited a young Singaporean designer to take part in its open call for the Next Generation Designer. Brandon Yeo, a recent graduate from LASALLE, was selected and has created a piece to expose with other designers. The 8 pieces will debut at Singapore Design Week and then at Milan Design Week in April.

If you can visit them all, do! You will be sure to create lots of memories, ideas and experiences to remember forever!

Words by Rita Archer