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FIND – Design Fair Asia Kicks Off Strong Second Edition

September 26, 2023
The second edition of FIND – Design Fair Asia was graced by (from L to R): Phua Boon Huat (President, Singapore Furniture Industries Council), Ilaria Piccinni (Deputy Trade Commissioner, Italian Trade Agency, Singapore), Tan Kong Hwee (Executive Vice President, Economic Development Board), Dawn Lim (Executive Director, DesignSingapore Council), Matt Denton (President, dmg events), Dante Brandi (Ambassador Designate of Italy to Singapore), Roberto Foresti (Deputy General Director, Fiera Milano) and Poh Chi Chuan (Executive Director – Exhibitions & Conferences, Experience Development Group, Singapore Tourism Board).
The marketplace offers a scintillating display of Italian design excellence, Thai companies leading the sustainability charge, Emerging SEA design showcase, and thought leaders converge at the FIND – Global Summit.
The second instalment of Singapore Design Week’s marketplace, FIND – Design Fair Asia made a triumphant return to Marina Bay Sands today. Running until 23 September 2023, the three-day tradeshow organised by dmg events and Fiera Milano offers an impressive line-up of interiors brands, Southeast Asia’s emerging creative talent, numerous country pavilions, next-gen 3D printing showcases and some of the industries’ foremost design thinkers at the FIND – Global Summit.
The fair continues its pivotal role as a convergence point for prime suppliers in the realms of furniture, lighting, décor, textiles, and unique design pieces as it evolves into one of the region’s foremost design-centric and interiors exhibitions.
With some 300 exciting brands and an expected 15,000 visitors, FIND is poised to strengthen its connections with Asia’s burgeoning interior design, property development, retail and workspace sectors, propelling innovation and business synergies across these industries. In 2021, the Asia-Pacific furniture market was worth US$614 billion (S$829 billion), poised for a projected growth rate of more than five per cent by 2025.
“This is a platform by the industry and for the industry, a platform which combines the likes of architects, interior designers, manufacturers, hospitality professionals and increasingly developers,” said Matt Denton, President, dmg events. He added: “We’re really excited to exceed last year’s good showing with the help of our partners, associations and key stakeholders to further improve the value of the show for everyone.”
“FIND – Design Fair Asia is the perfect platform to bring together the world of Italian design with the Asian one,” said Roberto Foresti, Deputy General Director of Fiera Milano. “It represents the ideal business tool to serve the entire community of the sector. As Fiera Milano we are proud to be part of this project and to have contributed to the development of a second innovative edition, bringing to Singapore some of the most representative companies of the Made in Italy in the world.”

AN ANCHOR EVENT OF THE SINGAPORE DESIGN WEEK

FIND is the marquee event taking place during Singapore Design Week (SDW), which runs from 21 September to 1 October 2023. A key highlight of the festival is the introduction of three key Design Districts, one of which is Marina Bay. The other two are Bras Basah/Bugis and Orchard Road.
“With Marina Bay being one of the three new Design Districts in the 2023 edition of Singapore Design Week, we’re thrilled to have FIND anchor the precinct,” said Dawn Lim, Executive Director of DesignSingapore Council. She added: “We’re also very excited to present EMERGE, a showcase of Southeast Asian design talent for the second year running, which DesignSingapore
EMERGE showcase at FIND – Design Fair Asia (Council has curated with Suzy Annetta, Editor-in-Chief of Design Anthology magazine).
This year’s EMERGE showcase revolves around the curatorial theme of CRAFT + INDUSTRY: MAN + MACHINE, uniting the creations of over 60 emerging and well-established designers from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

A SHOWCASE OF ITALIAN DESIGN EXCELLENCE

As a global leader in the fields of industrial design, interior design and architecture, Italy forms the largest single contingent of international exhibitors. More than 40 brands, 29 with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and nine participating independently.
“We are thrilled to be once again part of FIND – Design Fair Asia 2023 and witness the next generation of consumers being captivated by the sheer brilliance of Italian craftsmanship and contemporary interiors. I am also pleased to announce that new to this year’s edition will be the unique exhibition “Italia Geniale”, created by the Italian Industrial Design Association (ADI) and supported by the Italian Embassy and the Italian Trade Agency in Singapore. The collection includes a selection of over 80 world-famous icons of Italian design, many of which have been recognised with the prestigious “Compasso d’Oro” award,” says Dante Brandi, Ambassador Designate of Italy to Singapore.
Underscoring Singapore’s reputation as a canvas for architectural and urban experimentation, Ilaria Piccinni, Deputy Trade Commissioner of the ITA, said “The strong Italian presence and robust export trends to the region stands as a testament to Singapore’s pivotal role as a central hub for Italian producers and designers within the region.”
The Italian Pavilion, nicknamed The Italian Design Futures Capsule, is designed by renowned Italian studio Stefano Boeri Interiors’ architect Stefano Boeri, with a space evoking the master plan of a classical Italian town. Its central “piazza” functions as the beating heart of the entire pavilion and is the site of the FIND – Global Summit curated by Yoko Choy, China Editor of Wallpaper* magazine.

CIRCULARITY IN DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE

A new feature unveiled at FIND is the Urban Design Showcase, which highlights cutting-edge techniques and technologies that are revolutionising the industry. This year the spotlight falls on French architect Arthur Mamou-Mani, who uses 3D printers and sustainable materials to sculpt urban design solutions.
Mamou-Mani’s Altostrata Pavilion is a temporary structure composed of biodegradable, sugar-based PLA, which visitors can explore as well as hosts talks on sustainable design, technology, and innovation.
Visitors to the Urban Design Showcase may also discover the latest generation of 3D printers that will be activated throughout the show to produce furniture and other objects.
SUSTAINABLE THAI DESIGN
The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and the Thai Trade Center in Singapore have handpicked 15 Thai companies that demonstrate a commitment to working within the framework of a bio-circular-green economy.
Highlights from this select group include Amo Arte, which uses sustainably sourced timber from sugar palm trees and bamboo to craft furniture. 5ive Sis employs scrap metal to fashion decorative objects such as flower vases, napkin rings and candleholders.
Hoog adapts recycled timber in its furniture designs, while Kun Decorate does the same for outdoor furniture, except using recycled aluminium. Chiang Mai-based Moonler prides itself in its minimalist handcrafted furniture made from sustainable timbers. Qualy creatively reimagines donated plastic bags, collected PET bottles and discarded fishing nets as household objects such as stationery and kitchen utensils.

SINGAPORE IN FOCUS

As host nation, Singapore is represented by more than 120 brands. Of particular note is the well-established brand Lamitak, known for its high-pressure laminates. Their stand’s concept is “A Reunion of Us – A Notion of Slow Living with Lamitak”, which captures the essence of slow living and an appreciation for tranquillity.
Featuring a curated selection of organic and natural materials – including wood, stone, and paper – the exhibit evokes a soothing ambience while playing into the Japandi design trend. Lamitak also collaborated with two other local companies, speciality coffee purveyor PPP Coffee x Morning, and plant design studio Soilboy, to enhance its lifestyle offering.
With home sizes shrinking, HERA Bathroom will be of interest to designers and developers looking to specify bathrooms for smaller units. Since its founding in 2017, HERA Bathroom has carved a reputation for offering modular bathroom solutions for compact urban spaces, especially HDB BTO apartments.
Thanks to HERA Bathroom’s mix-and-match approach, and using CAD drawings projected onto a physical, life-size space, designers can create more than 1,000 product combinations and witness live mock-ups of their bathroom designs.

A PLATFORM FOR CROSS-CULTURAL AND INTERDISCIPLINARY EXCHANGE

Hosted within the Italian Pavilion and co-curated by Yoko Choy, China Editor of Wallpaper* Magazine, the FIND – Global Summit is a meeting place for thought leaders and change-making practitioners. Panels take place throughout the three days, with some 60 thought-leaders from Dezeen, M Moser, Singapore Institute of Architects, Gensler, Pan Pacific Group, UnStudio, Design Anthology, HBA, Eight Inc, Olson Kundig Architects, Teo Yang Studio amongst many others.
Day 1 witnessed the likes of Jaelle Ang, Co-founder and CEO of The Great Room, give her take at a panel on regenerative design in the workplace. In the post-pandemic context, considerations such as employee wellbeing, inclusivity and accessibility, as well as hybrid work arrangements, have become key priorities.
In a panel on material and manufacturing innovations, French architect Arthur Mamou-Mani, whose work is on display at the Urban Design Showcase, shared his experiences of exploring the transformative impact of advanced manufacturing techniques and cutting-edge materials in the world of design.
In a session covering the role of art in hospitality projects, The Artling Founder and CEO Talenia Phua Gajardo gave insights into how art can play a vital role in aiding hotels establish an identity and stand out from the competition.
On Day 2, a regional panel comprising speakers such as DesignSingapore Council’s Executive Director Dawn Lim and Kuala Lumpur Design Festival’s Director Muhamad Razif Nasruddin will offer their thoughts on Asia’s rapidly evolving creative landscape. The Asian Design Dialogue – Mapping the Present and Beyond will discuss current trends in Asian architecture and design and examine the global impact it will have in years to come.
Also on Day 2, visitors can look forward to a masterclass hosted by leading Italian design publication Interni Magazine, FIND’s media partner for this second edition. Between Modernity and Contemporary – How to Become an Icon will gather three diverse designers to dissect how products evolve into icons and how creators surpass them using new materials and techniques. Beyond products, designers themselves sometimes achieve iconic status, intertwining their identities with their creations. This masterclass explores these dynamics.
On Day 3, a multinational panel of speakers will analyse the strategies needed to succeed in the highly competitive retail sphere. Dynamic Retail: Unleashing Growth through Disruptive Design Strategies explores the need for businesses to be agile and proactive in the face of evolving consumer demand.
Bringing Day 3 to a close, the panel Sense of Place: Creating a Holistic Experience Through Interior Design will delve into the multidimensional design approach needed to create an environment that caters to the needs and desires of guests. Speakers include renowned interior designers Ed Ng of AB Concept Studio, as well as Marc Webb and Naoko Takenouchi of Takenouchi Webb.
New to FIND 2023 is an exciting collaboration between the Italian Embassy in Singapore with the support of the Italian Trade Agency and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will host the unique installation ‘Italia Geniale’, a collection created by ADI – Association for Industrial Design.
The famous exhibition showcases the most significant materials, objects and artefacts of Italian design icons that speak of imagination, work, well-being and relationships between people.
FIND reaffirms its value as a trade platform with its base in Singapore, which lets visitors discover exciting projects, brands, individual talent and offers ample opportunity to exchange views on regenerative design, renaissance of workspace, manufacturing innovation, illumination and the convergence of different creative disciplines that manifest through design. 
The second edition of the FIND – Design Fair Asia is expected to draw more than last year’s 12,000 visitors and will take place at Marina Bay Sands, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Level 1, Halls A, B and C from 21-23 September 2023. On-site, same day entry is available from 21 September at S$39 per person to the B2B event. The last day also offers B2C goers an opportunity to discover unique interiors for their own home spaces.
Register here: https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/3ov19xcvs6rc9
For more information visit: https://www.designfairasia.com/