The DesignSingapore Council returns to Milan Design Week with Future Impact 3: DESIGN NATION, an exhibition taking place from April 8 to 13, 2025, in the evocative setting of Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Monache, located in the heart of the historic Cinque Vie district.
The DesignSingapore Council returns to Milan Design Week with Future Impact 3: DESIGN NATION, an exhibition taking place from April 8 to 13, 2025, in the evocative setting of Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Monache, located in the heart of the historic Cinque Vie district.
This year, Singapore celebrates the 60th anniversary of its independence, marking the occasion through the language of design. Future Impact 3: DESIGN NATION will be one of the flagship events at Milan Design Week, offering a reflection on the country’s evolution and the pivotal role design has played in its growth. Curated by Tony Chambers, Maria Cristina Didero, and Singaporean co-curator Hunn Wai, this third edition of the Future Impact series highlights the innovation, creativity, and societal impact of Singaporean design.
A journey through singaporean design: past, present, and future
The exhibition is structured in three sections, providing an overview of how design has been strategically used to shape Singapore’s national identity. The journey begins with Little Island of Brave Ideas, a retrospective tracing six decades of innovations that have made Singapore a global success story. Notable examples include the country’s unique public housing system, its extensive public transport network, beer brewed from reclaimed water, and the color-coded plate system in hawker centers.
The central section of the exhibition presents eight works by some of Singapore’s most groundbreaking designers, including Claudia Poh (Werable), Ng Sze Kiat (Bewilder), Olivia Lee, Randy Yeo (Practice Theory), Sacha Leong (Nice Projects), Wei Xiang, design studio Supermama, and the collective formed by FARM, Vouse, and Changi General Hospital. Their creations tackle global issues such as sustainability, urban overcrowding, and enhancing quality of life through design-driven solutions.
When tradition meets innovation
Singaporean design is deeply influenced by the country’s rich cultural heritage, which is reflected in several works on display. For instance, Supermama modernizes the ancient Japanese technique of Kintsugi with 3D printing, while Olivia Lee reimagines the steel solar cooker, commonly used in Southeast Asia, to highlight the Sun’s role as a future energy source.
Sustainability is also a key theme, seen in Ng Sze Kiat’s Fungariums, developed using stainless steel, and Wei Xiang’s Knots Stool, which transforms old blankets and curtains into functional furniture using simple knots. Meanwhile, Randy Yeo reflects on Singapore’s national identity through sculptural pieces made from paper offcuts, symbolizing the city-state’s growth and transformation.
A look into the future of singaporean design
The final section of the exhibition, Virtuoso Visionaires, is dedicated to the next generation of designers who are redefining design through new technologies and innovative approaches. Six emerging talents explore themes such as artificial intelligence in multicultural identity, post-consumer waste recycling, and sustainable living spaces of the future.
“This special edition of Future Impact celebrates Singapore as a Nation by Design, showcasing the ingenuity and adaptability that have shaped our country”, says co-curator Hunn Wai.
The exhibition will be enriched by a series of public events, including workshops on Singlish (Singaporean Colloquial English), fungarium labs, talks with Monocle, and a special Singapore-themed Friday Late Party to close the week in style.
Future Impact 3: DESIGN NATION is not only a tribute to Singapore’s 60 years of independence but also a window into the future of design, demonstrating how creativity can drive solutions to global challenges.
INFO/PHOTO COURTESY: DesignSingapore Council / Camron Public Relations Limited
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