The DesignSingapore Council returns to Milan Design Week with Future Impact 3: DESIGN NATION, an exhibition to be held from 8 to 13 April 2025 in the evocative Church of 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 to be held from 8 to 13 April 2025 in the evocative Church of San Bernardino alle Monache, located in the heart of the historic Cinque Vie district.
This year, Singapore celebrates the 60th anniversary of its independence and does so through the language of design. Future Impact 3: DESIGN NATION will be the flagship event of Milan Design Week, offering a reflection on the evolution of the country and the central role of design in its growth. Curated by Tony Chambers, Maria Cristina Didero and Singaporean co-curator Hunn Wai, this third edition of the Future Impact series tells the story of innovation, creativity and the impact of Singaporean design on contemporary society.
A journey through Singapore’s design: past, present and future
The exhibition is divided into three sections and offers an overview of the strategic use of design in the construction of Singaporean identity. The journey begins with Little Island of Brave Ideas, a retrospective that chronicles six decades of innovations that have made Singapore a global success story. Among the most significant examples are the public housing system, the public transport network, the production of beer with recycled water and the system of color-coded dishes in gastronomic markets.
The central section of the exhibition features eight works by some of Singapore’s most innovative designers. Among them, Claudia Poh (Werable), Ng Sze Kiat (Bewilder), Olivia Lee, Randy Yeo (Practice Theory), Sacha Leong (Nice Projects), Wei Xiang, the Supermama studio and the FARM collective, Vouse and Changi General Hospital.
Their creations address global issues such as sustainability, urban overcrowding, and improving quality of life through design.
When tradition meets innovation
Singapore’s design is heavily influenced by its cultural heritage, which is reflected in some of the works on display. Supermama, for example, reinterprets the ancient Japanese technique of Kintsugi with 3D printing, while Olivia Lee reworks the steel solar stove, widespread in Southeast Asia, to raise awareness of the role of the Sun as the energy source of the future.
A focus on sustainability is also central to the work of Ng Sze Kiat, who presents a line of stainless steel Fungariums, and Wei Xiang, whose Knots Stool transforms old blankets and curtains into functional furniture through simple knots. Randy Yeo, on the other hand, reflects on Singapore’s national identity with sculptures made from paper cutouts, representing the city-state’s growth path.
A glimpse into the future of Singaporean design
The last part of the exhibition, Virtuoso Visionaires, is dedicated to young talents who are redefining design with new technologies and innovative approaches. Six emerging designers explore themes such as artificial intelligence applied to multicultural identity, the reuse of post-consumer waste and sustainable design for the living spaces of the future.
“This special edition of Future Impact celebrates Singapore as a Design Nation, highlighting the ingenuity and adaptability that have transformed our country,” says Hunn Wai, co-curator of the exhibition.
The exhibition will be enriched by events open to the public, including workshops on Singlish (Singaporean colloquial English), mushroom workshops, talks with Monocle and a special Singapore-themed Friday Late Party evening to end the week in style.
The Future Impact 3: DESIGN NATION exhibition 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 be a driver for tackling global challenges.
INFO/PHOTO COURTESY: DesignSingapore Council / Camron Public Relations Limited
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