The following article was originally published in PLASTICS NEWS on 21 September, 2010.

Singapore designers court business in China

Lauren Hilgers
PLASTICS NEWS

SHANGHAI — A group of Singapore designers arrived in China last week looking to distinguish themselves, not as individual design firms, but as a unified front.

In a week-long show at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo, a consortium of designers from the tiny country are hoping to attract Chinese companies both on the merit of their ideas and on their unique Singaporean identity.

“Singapore exists because of good design,” said Tai Lee Siang, the chairman of DesignS, a group that links design firms from a range of disciplines. In addition to cultural ties between the two countries, Singapore also has experience with many of the problems China faces, he explained.

Singapore has limited space, limited resources and has long had to focus on sustainability.

“Singapore is a small country, we have to have this kind of forward-thinking industry,” said Sam Tan, parliamentary secretary at Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts.

Singapore’s growth has taken off in the last year, said Tan, reaching 18 percent GDP growth in the first six months of the year. Their growth has been driven, in part, by a recovering manufacturing sector and many firms are finding opportunity in China’s growing consumer market.

Groups like DesignS, he said, are serving as “economic ambassadors,” proving that Singapore can provide essential expertise to Chinese companies as they grow.

DesignS has brought together a group of designers that specialize in market segments from fashion and architecture to product design and branding. Their network, said Lawrence Chong, co-chairman of DesignS, offers a more comprehensive look at design than any one firm could.

This sort of network can benefit Chinese companies, in particular, that are in need of a full suite of design activities.

“Our aim is to become the point of contact for people who are interested in our members,” Tai said. A development company, for instance, could look to DesignS to help provide an interior designer, or to link them with a furniture company.

Many companies are looking to expand globally for the first time and are looking for innovative ways to distinguish themselves. China is quickly becoming an attractive retail market for multinational companies and Singapore, said Tai, is well placed to serve companies going in both directions.

“Today is the start of a new conversation,” said Tai. “Things are really going both ways.”

To find out more about how DesignS can help your business, please contact us at info@designs.com.sg

Design the Next S-Curve Business Forum

Thank you for joining us at our Design the Next S-Curve Business Forum in Shanghai, China. The presentation slides and fact sheets in both English and Chinese are now available for download.

If you would like copies of the presentation or a copy of the fact sheet of DesignS,
please download them here.

1) Download the DesignS Factsheet (English)
2) Download the DesignS Factsheet (中文)
3) Download the DesignS forum slides in PDF.

If you would like to find out more information of DesignS, please feel free to contact us at info@designs.com.sg

DesignS Launch and PUSH Showcase

DesignS, a group partnership of design-centric institutes and associations in Singapore, was officially launched on 29 June 2010, at the LASALLE College of the Arts. Formed in 2009 to provide a platform for the creation of a coordinated Design network. The new brand name was unveiled by RADM Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts.

“DesignS is a great platform to encourage collaboration on new possibilities to come up with such products and services. It provides the prospect for greater synergy between the different industries and disciplines to work together.” – RADM Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts.

The evening also held the PUSH Showcase, which is an initiative by DesignS to honour our local talents and laud them for their efforts to raise the design and creative benchmark year after year. Last evening, we celebrated best of Singapore design for 2010 by honouring the creative talents within our midst through the Showcase. The Showcase aims to “push” design to its limit, stretch the boundaries of creativity, spur imaginations and inspire designers to break out of their comfort zones to reach greater heights.

Below are the rest of the pictures of the evening.