The Best Things We Saw at Singapore Design Week 2024

Often associated with the opulence of Crazy Rich Asians, lush green spaces (you don’t even need to leave Changi Airport to experience them), and its world-renowned street food, Singapore has another less discussed side: its burgeoning design scene. Enter Singapore Design Week (SDW), a celebration of Southeast Asia’s rising creative talent.

Organized by the DesignSingapore Council, this year’s festival ran from September 26 to October 6 under the theme People of Design, spotlighting the “everyday visionaries shaping our society through design.” Spread across three distinct districts in Marina Bay, Bras Basah.Bugis, and Orchard, more than 80 exhibitions and three tentpole events encapsulated the fair’s core pillars.

Design Futures focused on the role of designers in the face of rapidly advancing technologies; Design Marketplace united lifestyle trends from around the world with the emerging Southeast Asian design community; and Design Impact aimed to inspire innovative design solutions to tackle society’s biggest questions. “It’s about bringing in fresh perspectives, the Kampong (village) spirit, and connection rather than feeling elitist or too highbrow,” says designer Nathan Yong, one of the fair’s curators. 

Here, some of our favorite highlights:

EMERGE
Tucked in a corner of Design Fair Asia (also known as FIND), EMERGE showcased both emerging and established designers from Southeast Asia. Curated by Suzy Annetta of Design Anthology, the exhibition invited more than 50 participants to explore “internal and external value” through the theme These Precious Things. It marked the first time works were made available for purchase via online art gallery, The Artling.

Gin&G, Chair
Genevieve Ang and Georgina Foo, founders of the young local practice Gin&G, crafted a chair made from eggshells, repurposing studio waste to create something new. Paired with side tables made from coconut and rice husks, their work is a sustainable response to the design prompt, showcasing the beauty of eco-conscious innovation.

AlvinT, Jiwa Shelf
Alvin Tjitrowirjo and Angela Mayrina of Jakarta-based furniture brand AlvinT responded to the question “what is value?” with Jiwa, a shelving unit crafted from rattan, wicker, and wood. Drawing inspiration from altars in Chinese homes, Jiwa—which means “soul” in Indonesian—highlights the spiritual connection to nature and Indonesia’s rich rattan supply.

New Bahru
Housed in the former Nan Chiau High School for girls, New Bahru (which translates to “new new”) is a cultural destination offering retail, wellness, food, and the arts. The Lo & Behold Group’s CMO, Tania Chan, explained that while it would have been easier to demolish the 1969 building, their mission was to preserve the original structure while rejuvenating the interiors. Now featuring over 40 spaces, New Bahru hand-selects local brands to keep offerings fresh, so each visit promises something “new new.”

Hideaway Interiors
From the team behind Trapeze Rec Club, Hideaway is their recovery-focused concept offering massages, cold plunges, and saunas. Parable Studio designed the space to evoke a relaxed, yet moody atmosphere, with glass-block bathhouses nodding to the building’s former life as a school. A standout touch: locker doors covered in shades of blue gauze, adding a simple but elegant layer of privacy.

Playpoint, Kinetic Playground & Mooncycle
In the Marina Bay District, designer Nathan Wong curated Neu Folk: Bridging Tradition and Future in Design. Playpoint unveiled an energy-generating playground where running, jumping, and pedaling power LED lights, while solar panels on top of the structure add an eco-friendly twist. Another highlight, Mooncycle, features a pair of swings inspired by Moon Gates in Chinese gardens that charge your devices while you swing.

Hans Tan, Repair+
At Bras Basah.Bugis, Hans Tan invited Singaporean designers to “reimagine everyday activities” through immersive, site-specific installations. In a prewar bungalow built in 1893, Heal: Repair+ explored the emotional and physical restoration of eight memories and objects. Notably, Lim Zeherng transformed a medical report into a Confidential Confetti Popper, where bursts of confetti celebrate battles won and obstacles overcome.

Future Impact 2: Homecoming
After its debut at Milan Design Week 2024, Future Impact 2: Homecoming brought Singaporean designers back home to present their works, some newly developed. Curated by Tony Chambers and Maria Cristina Didero, the exhibition asked designers to consider the influence of emerging technologies on design and manufacturing and how these advancements will shape the future of society and the planet.

Christian+Jade, Para Stool
Christian+Jade’s Para Stool unites two vastly different materials from the same source: the Para rubber tree. The stool’s base is made from rubberwood, typically burnt after a 30-year lifespan, while its seat uses natural rubber. The design mimics the tree’s harvesting process, connecting the two materials in a form that celebrates their shared origin.

Gabriel Tan, Good Gourd – Hybrid Basketry Lamps
Gabriel Tan continues his exploration of technology-enhanced traditional crafts with a pair of table lamps that marry handwoven basketry and 3D-printed structures. Using translucent fishing lines for the exterior and a modern lattice for the interior, Tan’s work exemplifies how contemporary techniques can preserve the artistry of time-honored crafts.