An Insider’s Guide to Singapore Design Week 2022
After a two-year hiatus, Singapore Design Week is returning in September 2022 with a robust programme of festivals, forums, events and more
The programming of this year’s Singapore Design Week will be defined by three pillars: Design Futures, Design Marketplace and Design Impact. We round up some of the highlights from what is set to be the region’s flagship design festival.
Design Futures Symposium
This one-day event was developed under the direction of renowned design curator and author Paola Antonelli. The Design Futures Symposium will assemble a host of distinguished thought leaders from Singapore and around the world to discuss ‘the design of the future and the future of design’. Keep an eye out for the list of confirmed speakers as some big names are still to be confirmed. Book your ticket.
20 September 2022
Victoria Theatre, 9 Empress Place
#FashTag by Daniel Boey
#FashTag is a fashion-focused takeover of Raffles City Shopping Centre by Singaporean fashion designer and creative director Daniel Boey. Through a series of collaborative, cross-disciplinary physical and virtual events and activations, #FashTag explores the possibilities for fashion in an increasingly decentralised and digital post-pandemic world. It also celebrates sustainable, inclusive design, and champions the spirit of cross-border collaborations.
The programme includes a digital exhibition, virtual runway shows, fashion films and talks and workshops exploring topics like cruelty-free fashion, design and the metaverse and upcycling.
16–25 September 2022
Raffles City Shopping Centre
FIND – Design Fair Asia
One of Singapore Design Week’s anchor events, FIND – Design Fair Asia is the region’s newest and largest furniture, interiors and design fair. Organised by Fiera Milano and dmg events, FIND will bring together the largest collection of interior brands, key opinion leaders, designers and content from East and West. The fair will provide a platform for Singaporean design brands and designers to be showcased alongside leading global brands and manufacturers and the region's most exciting talents in one holistic experience.
The creativity and content pillar of FIND will be led by design tastemakers and key opinion leaders Tony Chambers (former editor-in-chief of Wallpaper*) and Yoko Choy (China editor of Wallpaper*), and the event will be an opportunity for exchange and inspiration and a platform for designers to showcase their work. At the FIND – Global Summit, Chambers and Choy will bring together a panel of design personalities like Tom Dixon and Patricia Urquiola to discuss topics ranging from the metaverse to wellbeing, biophilia, sustainability and more. Register and book your ticket.
22–24 September 2022
Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre
EMERGE @ FIND
As part of FIND, dmg events and DesignSingapore Council will present a first-of-its-kind showcase of Southeast Asian design talent at EMERGE @ FIND. Curated by Design Anthology founder Suzy Annetta, EMERGE will shine the spotlight on more than 60 established and emerging designers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The exhibition is curated through the lens of materiality, and conversation pieces include Bandung-based Adhi Nugraha’s chair and lamp made from reprocessed cow dung, limited-edition design NFTs by Singapore- and Milan-based studio Lanzavecchia + Wai and a series of lamps created from agri-waste by Filipino designer Stanley Ruiz.
22–24 September 2022
Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre
Good Design Research Pop-Up
Launched by DesignSingapore Council in March 2020, Good Design Research (GDR) underscores the importance of how research-based design can make a true difference by building deep domain knowledge and solving the challenges faced by societies and cities. This special pop-up at Singapore Design Week will showcase how good design can add value to lives through themes of Purpose, Practice and Play, and will involve craft workshops, design-thinking workshops, panel discussions and talks. Over 20 local GDR recipients will share their work with the public, including GINLEE Studio, Werable by Claudia Poh, Roger&Sons, Offcut Factor, NOST, Forest & Whale and more.
1–30 September 2022
Bugis+ and Funan Underground Pedestrian Link
N*thing is Possible by Potato Head & Friends
Led by the creators of the world-famous Potato Head Beach Club and Katamama Hotel and co-curated with award-winning firm Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), N*thing is Possible is a regenerative design showcase that celebrates re-use, re-cycle, re-craft and re-live.
Expect experiences that span design, art, architecture, music, food and fashion in a creative takeover that features works by design luminaries such as Kengo Kuma, Futura, Max Lamb and Toogood Design.
The three-month show begins with activations, talks, panels and activities involving many of the collaborators and designers. On the opening evening, a kick-off party DJed by HAAi will embody Potato Head’s signature ‘Good Times, Do Good’ ethos.
16 September–25 December 2022
National Design Centre (NDC)
President*s Design Award Tours
The President*s Design Award (P*DA) is Singapore’s highest honour for designers and design projects across all disciplines. Jointly administered by the DesignSingapore Council and the Urban Redevelopment Authority, it recognises the significant achievements of an extraordinary group of people who are impacting the lives of Singaporeans and the global community.
The President*s Design Award Tours is a new signature P*DA series that will be launched during Singapore Design Week. Centred around architecture and placemaking projects, the P*DA Tours seek to provide the public with opportunities to experience some of Singapore’s most outstanding and impactful designs through immersive tours and self-guided journeys that exemplify innovation, inclusivity and sustainability.
17–18 September and 24–25 September 2022
Re-Route by Plus Collaboratives
Helmed by Mervin Tan and Cheryl Sim from Plus Collaboratives, Re-Route is a creative placemaking festival that immerses visitors in an alternate storytelling of the Little India district to demonstrate how design can be used as a tool to spotlight our heritage.
With curated experiences, installations, programmes, and other design interventions, Re-route aims to encourage people to detour from their usual routes to explore the district with a new perspective and connect with Little India’s lesser-known history.