Highlights from EMERGE @ FIND 2024

In its third edition, EMERGE @ FIND promises a marketplace of the best in Southeast Asian contemporary design. The showcase features over 60 designers, with the addition of recent design graduates from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Curated by Suzy Annetta of Design Anthology, designers from the region will present new works by reflecting on the theme, "These Precious Things". They were tasked to respond to questions like who decides what is valuable and why do we make more things despite overconsumption and the climate crisis.

For the first time ever, you can purchase the products from EMERGE @ FIND online with us here, or visit the fair to view the items in person.

RE-UP Coffee Table by Paphop Wongpanich/TAKEHOMEDESIGN (Thailand)
Wongpanich of Takehomedesign is a graduate of King Mongkut Institute of Technology, Landkrabang, in Interior Design. His boutique furniture brand focuses on creating wood furniture that is simple and elegant.

RE-UP Coffee Table functions as both a coffee table and ambient light. The curved base is made from used food packaging plastic mixed with coffee grounds, while the table top is solid smooth rubber wood. The RE-UP project aims to craft everyday products using green or recycled materials, especially plastic waste from food containers.

Nest Table by Edward Sibunga (Philippines)
Sibunga holds a degree in Industrial Design and began his career as a furniture designer. He was trained by renowned Filipino designers, which lead him to showcase his works at local trade shows. He now runs his own furniture studio with wood as the main material.

Nest Table is inspired by birds building their nests, carefully select twigs, leaves, and found objects to create a home. Similarly, this design was crafted by repurposing post-production waste—timber off-cuts, sawdust, and shavings—echoing the bird's method of gathering materials to create something purposeful.

CrabStone Side Table by THINKK Studio (Thailand)
Bangkok-based THINKK Studio, founded by Decha Archjananun and Ploypan Theerachai, designs hotel installations, department store displays, exhibitions, and furniture. Their approach combines research, experimentation, and creativity with a playful touch, while considering their environment impact.

The CrabStone Side Table repurposes waste from the seafood industry and restaurants—such as crab, mussel, and oyster shells—into innovative materials. This process not only adds value to waste and reduces the demand for new resources but also creates a distinctive material texture.

Puddle Table by Chini Lichangco (Philippines)
Lichangco graduated from De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, after which she honed her skills as a designer with Kenneth Cobonpue in Cebu. She explores various materials with nature as her source of inspiration. She has gained recognition both in the Philippines and internationally with several accolades in competitions worldwide.

In collaboration with Krete Manila, Puddle Table is made of capiz shells and marble. Known for its elegance and fragility, its delicate nature results in substantial waste during the manufacturing process. This table was created by repurposing these scraps, and inspired by a street puddle. It can be packed flat and assembled without tools.

Valorem Kneeling Chair by Vinh Do (Vietnam)
Vinh has over 15 years of experience in furniture design. He is renowned for his innovative approach that integrates creativity with functionality. He excels in crafting furniture that enhances both the aesthetic and practical aspects of living spaces.

He views personal health and environmental sustainability as the two most important values in life. The chair is designed to address physical health issues by promoting proper sitting posture, and supporting mental health by facilitating meditation through the stylized image of a lotus flower rising, rendered in parametric lines.

Flippo by Anh Tuan Nguyen (Vietnam)
Nguyen holds a degree in industrial design with sustainability at the heart of his practice. He ensures that each design is mindful of its impact on the environment, striving to create beautiful yet eco-friendly pieces.

The Flippo chair's frame is crafted from a single piece of bent plywood, minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency. It is finished with padding and upholstered in recycled fabric from Texstyle.

LUCIA 03 by Khanh Linh Phan (Vietnam)
Phan is an aspiring Industrial Designer who loves experimenting and working with different materials and textiles. She recently graduated from the University of Architecture in Ho Chi Minh City.

Phan used crochet for this design as crochet products were once highly coveted until Industrialization, and preferences for the craft have been declining every since. LUCIA 03 is an ode to the revival of handicrafts and consumers' interest in craftmanship.

Labu Pendant Lamp by Budiman Ong (Indonesia)
In 2008, Ong started his company, Ong Cen Kuang, creating quality handmade products, unique lightning and functional furniture. The pieces that he and his dedicated team of skilled artisans produce have a strong, tactile and distinctive character.

He has been working with zipper as a material for 16 years, discovering and understanding its intrinsic quality. Inspired by nature, Labu Pendant Lamp is made of zipper and is part of a collection that will be launched at EMERGE @ FIND.

Versa by Tan Wei Xiang (Singapore)
Tan is a graduate of Lasalle College of the Arts in Spatial and Product Design with First Class Honors in 2017. After graduating, he made furniture from trees grown specifically in Singapore, giving them a second life amidst Singapore's rapid land development. He is currently working as a Design Modeller at Dyson.

The Versa lamp has a versatile frame that lets users replace fabrics of various sizes and materials - such as a cherished piece of clothing, an old quilt, or scarf. The fabric is securely held in place while being backlit, creating a warm and personalized glow. Its adaptability allows it to evolve with the user's life.

Iba-Iba 002 by Jasser Aguila
Aguila holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde, and has worked with world-renowned designer, Kenneth Cobonpue. The world's unrestricted, uplifting, and constantly evolving nature inspires him to create objects influenced by stories, real people, and everyday scenarios.

The Iba-Iba Lamp 002 is part of a series named after the Filipino term iba-iba, meaning 'different.' It reflects his vision of diversity through a range of shapes, sizes, and colors, with each lamp representing the varied forms and lights of humanity.

Turiya by Project Coal by Crystal Lee (Singapore)
Lee is an artist and natural dryer who founded Project Coal in 2014, an art brand where she creates both artworks and functional pieces. Her interests lie in exploring how textiles can embody experiences and emotions, capturing intangible qualities.

Turiya reflects her belief that divinity permeates all beings and things. It celebrates the sacred essence of life through the botanical dyes that stain the cloth and the embroidered details, symbolizing the journey toward self-realization.

Lace Wall 'Gather' by Hana Surya (Indonesia)
At 51 years old, Surya started Threadapeutic, a sustainable textile art studio in Jakarta. She volunteered at Indonesia Fashion Week 2014, which led her to create souvenir bags from fashion waste. Her studio now receives fabric offcuts and deadstock from local partners, creating rich tapestries using the faux chenille technique.

It takes six textile artisans three months to complete a tapestry, with 100% of profits going to wages for their artisans, and training other local artisans. Lace Wall 'Gather' was created by experimenting with 4.2kg of lace, brocade and tulle offcuts from bridal and evening gown ateliers in Jakarta.

"parasitic" #01 by Ivan Ho (Singapore)
Ho is the founder of Tizumuka, an award-winning design studio based in Singapore that combines investigative studies with artisanal craftmanship. Besides launching a range of products for various brands and exhibiting extensively, he is deeply committed to education, particularly in local higher learning institutions.

The Parasitic series explores the tension between different materials, showing how repurposed waste is transformed into objects of desire. It unites discarded elements, striking a balance that expresses conflict and unity despite their varied origins.

Ji Jian Wu Porcelains - Ma by Lin Qiuxia (Singapore)
Lin is a graduate of the Division of Industrial Design at the National University of Singapore and a skilled UI/UX designer. Her diverse expertise enables her to create innovative solutions that enhances daily lives.

Ji Jian Wu Porcelains - Ma is inspired by Feng Shui. In Chinese, words or phrases can have multiple interpretations, such as 马上 (Ma Shang) which can mean "immediately" or, "on top of the horse". By placing different objects on top of the horse, it conveys the meaning of achieving something immediately. This piece is a limited production.

Portals Mirror (Steel) by Faezah Shaharuddin (Singapore)
STUDIO KALLANG is an independent studio founded by Shaharuddin in 2021 and based between Singapore and Seattle, exploring nostalgia and culture through design. Inspired by her dual-location experience, her work blends traditional craft with contemporary design, playfully experimenting with form, proportion, and color.

Portals consists of two mirrors — one with a polished stainless steel frame (which simultaneously reflects an accurate image and a distorted one), and the other with an upholstered frame in beaded fabric. The work examines how materiality influences our self-perception and interaction with different spaces.

My Pleasure Of Time by Khanittha Nualtaranee
Nualtaranee is a Bangkok-based textile designer specializing in surface and woven design. She holds a Master’s Degree in Textile Art and Design from Aalto University in Finland and runs her own studio, Kaniit.Textile, where she combines advanced techniques, diverse materials, and traditional textile methods within a contemporary context.

My Pleasure Of Time is created by using hand-weaving techniques to create a soft sculpture with discarded plastic bags. This gives the sculpture a shimmering translucence akin to crystal thread. The symbolization of the teddy bear aligns with the notion of value as it's often a first cherished gift.

EMERGE @ FIND and FIND - Design Fair Asia are part of an extensive programme of events for Singapore Design Week 2024. Held from 26 September to 6 October, the 11-day event is a celebration of Singapore’s distinctive brand of design and creativity. For a detailed list of what is happening during Singapore Design Week 2024, click here.

Visit SDW.SG for more information.

Click here to view the full list of design items from EMERGE @ FIND.