How do you think Singapore can help cultivate a better design environment?
We can do more to support these businesses by helping them secure studio spaces in more central locations, for them to be part of the main urban fabric of Singapore so that our everyday folks and children can get more real-life exposure to these craft, and not only on social media.
We also have more and more globally recognised design studios and artists emerging from various disciplines, and strong Singapore companies like Singapore Airlines, Razer, Capita Land, Capella Hotels & Resorts, Banyan Tree, etc; many MNCs, banks and tech companies are also headquartered here. We can develop programmes to encourage private companies born or based in Singapore, and our public agencies to nurture and support our designers, to get their work produced and used within our own country.
What does the P*DA, Designer of the Year award, mean to you, and what advice do you have for young and aspiring designers?
It means a lot to my family and I, to be recognised by my home country with the highest accolade a designer from Singapore can hope to receive, I feel deeply honoured. I would advise young designers to be patient, but to work their socks off to improve everyday, and strive to be exceptional in their own way.
The beauty of this industry is that there is no linear path to achieving one’s goals. The challenge for any designer is opportunity cost, that of choosing which ideas deserve the most time and energy but also what makes this career choice exciting and rewarding. Every project teaches me something, and that informs the next one.
