Here's what you can look forward to at Singapore Design Week 2023!
ByMie LinSingapore Design Week (SDW), Asia's premier design festival, returns from September 21 to October 1 2023, organised by DesignSingapore Council (Dsg). While commemorating Dsg's 20th anniversary, the festival provides an outstanding presentation of Singapore's particular brand of innovation.
To mark this occasion, SDW 2023 will make Dsg's tagline "Better by Design" the festival theme for this special edition.
“Singapore design embodies a universal attitude – the desire to always seek to make lives better using design. The motto ‘Better by Design’ reflects DesignSingapore Council’s commitment to champion design and creativity that helps us to meet complex challenges and shape a better future. Marking our 20th anniversary, we adopt this resourceful spirit for Singapore Design Week 2023, coalescing design that is born from a strong sense of creative purpose and crafted for positive impact.” — Madeleine Ho, Festival Director of SDW 2023
Festival Commissions
PLAYGROUND OF POSSIBILITIES
The 'Pals of Possibilities' depict the four playscapes of Exploration, Empathy, Imagination, and Adaptation. Image Courtesy of BLACK.
Do you have a problem? Don't worry, design is here! The Playground of Possibilities brings together 12 Singapore design projects that address some of the most important issues we face today by proposing new solutions and inspiring provocations.
BLACK Presents The Playground of Possibilities
Dates: 21 September 2023 — 1 January 2024
Time: 9am — 9pm
Venue: National Design Centre Atrium Level 1 111 Middle Road Singapore 188969
FI&LD
At FI&LD, there are five areas of inclusivity: the emotions, fun, the senses, care, and social life and interaction. Image Courtesy of Lekker Architects.
FI&LD introduces an innovative philosophy of inclusive design based on play and improvisation.
Explore a curated interactive display featuring practical examples, ranging from physical spaces to graphics, products, services, and experiences.
Discover fresh ideas, working prototypes, and their connections between inclusion, emotion, and technology in design.
Presented by FI&LD
Dates: 21 September — 1 October 2023
Time: 9am — 9pm
Venue: LASALLE College of the Arts City Court 1 McNally Street Singapore 187940
SCHOOL OF TOMORROW
The curriculum of School of Tomorrow is all about sustainability, but with a design spin across many common courses. Image Courtesy of Kinetic Singapore.
Are you prepared to return to school? The School of Tomorrow, curated by Pann Lim of Kinetic Singapore, takes on its purpose of teaching sustainability in a joyful, engaging approach seriously, with a tagline stating "For Earth, For Humans, For All."
Critical environmental concerns will be taught through classes covering common disciplines such as geography, chemistry, and social studies.
Presented by Kinetic Singapore
Dates: 21 September — 1 October 2023
Time: 12pm — 8pm
Venue: Selegie Arts Centre 30 Selegie Road Singapore 188351
Key SDW 2023 Events
DESIGN FUTURES FORUM 2023 – DESIGN FOR BETTER FUTURES
Image Courtesy of DesignSingapore Council.
How could we improve design for a brighter future? Join the Design Futures Forum 2023, a special event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the DesignSingapore Council.
Explore sustainability, developing technologies, and care with global experts. Learn how design can help to solve environmental problems, create technology for inclusivity, and redefine caring in a global context.
Presented by DesignSingapore Council
Date: 25 September 2023
Time: 9am — 6:30pm
Venue: Drama Centre Theatre Drama Centre 100 Victoria Street, #05-01 National Library Building Singapore 188064
FIND – DESIGN FAIR ASIA
Image Courtesy of Fiera Milano & dmg events.
FIND - Design Fair Asia, Asia's largest furniture, interiors, and design fair, returns for its second edition. The event, co-organised by Fiera Milano and dmg events, will bring together a curated mix of interior businesses, global design thought leaders, designers, and content.
Presented by Fiera Milano & dmg events
Dates: 21 — 23 September 2023
Time: 10am — 6pm
Venue: Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre Singapore Level 1, Hall A, B, C 10 Bayfront Ave Singapore 018956
EMERGE @ FIND
Image Courtesy of DesignSingapore Council.
The Southeast Asian design talent showcase at EMERGE @ FIND, hosted by Suzy Annetta, is in its second year at the DesignSingapore Council.
The exhibition's theme, "CRAFT + INDUSTRY: MAN + MACHINE," features the work of over 50 designers from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The purpose is to improve the region's prominence on the world design arena by displaying a diverse range of works by emerging and established designers, from handcrafted and crafted to pure industrial.
Presented by DesignSingapore Council
Dates: 21 — 23 September 2023
Time: 10am — 6pm
Venue: Marina Bay Sands Singapore Convention Centre Level 1, Hall A 10 Bayfront Ave Singapore 018956
FUTURE IMPACT: HOMECOMING SHOWCASE
Image Courtesy of DesignSingapore Council.
The Future Impact display returns to Singapore for SDW 2023, after travelling across the world.
Singapore has long been at the forefront of innovative urban solutions, and this exhibition demonstrates how Singapore design can positively contribute to themes such as sustainability, the evolution of craft, and the role of technology in design.
Presented by DesignSingapore Council
Dates: 20 September — 1 October 2023
Time: 9am — 9pm
Venue: National Design Centre Design Gallery 3 Level 1 111 Middle Road Singapore 188969
Design District Highlights
Bras Basah.Bugis
LASALLE College of the Arts. Image Courtesy of Penoramic Publishing, Goh Kim Hui and LASALLE College of the Arts
On September 22nd, Singapore Design Week's 'Friday Late' event lights up the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) District. Explore creative installations, inclusivity at FI&LD, sustainability at 'School of Tomorrow,' and enjoy live demos, late-night shopping, food stalls, and more until 11 pm. It's a vibrant way to kickstart the weekend in BBB!
Presented by DesignSingapore Council
Date: 22 September 2023
Time: 6:30pm — 11pm
Venue: Various locations across Bras Basah.Bugis. Visit sdw.sg for more information.
Marina Bay
Gardens by the Bay. Image courtesy Gardens by the Bay.
Experience pure design magic at Gardens by the Bay during Singapore Design Week 2023! Their self-guided Design Trail reveals award-winning designs and architectural wonders, including the celebrated Bay South Garden. Dive into this captivating exploration!
Presented by Gardens by the Bay
Dates: 21 September 2023 onwards
Time: All day
Venue: Gardens by the Bay 18 Marina Gardens Drive Singapore 018953
Orchard Road
Design Orchard. Image Courtesy of Patrick Bingham-Hall.
Get ready for an exciting adventure at Pan Pacific Orchard! Explore stunning environments inspired by Singapore's landscapes on an architect-led tour by WOHA. Discover sustainable, biophilic design, and cap it off with an artistic afternoon tea at the Garden Terrace on Wedgwood crockery. It's an unforgettable experience for luxury and design enthusiasts!
Presented by Pan Pacific Orchard
Dates: 23 — 30 September 2023
Time: 2pm — 4pm
Venue: Pan Pacific Orchard 10 Claymore Road Singapore 229540
For the full lineup of events in each district, click here for the full event directory.
About Singapore Design Week
Singapore Design Week (SDW), one of Asia's leading design festivals, celebrates Singapore's particular brand of creativity by exploring design through three distinguishing festival pillars: Design Futures, Design Marketplace, and Design Impact.
SDW is a celebration of creativity and innovation, encouraging thought leadership and displaying the finest of design from Singapore and beyond in our UNESCO City of Design. It is organised by the DesignSingapore Council (Dsg).
About DesignSingapore Council
At DesignSingapore Council, they're passionate about harnessing the power of design for economic growth, community unity, and improved living. Established in 2003, they're Singapore's national agency for promoting design.
Their UNESCO Creative City of Design status since 2015 reinforces their mission to fully integrate design and creativity into everyday life, enriching our culture and economic progress.
For more information about Singapore Design Week click here.
For more information about DesignSingapore Council click here.
