Singapore Design Week (SDW) 2024 is back from 26 September to 6 October, offering an 11-day showcase of innovative design and creativity throughout the city-state. Organised by DesignSingapore Council (Dsg), this premier festival, known for its thought-provoking content, has curated a rich programme around the theme “People of Design.” The theme focuses on the everyday visionaries shaping society through design, with a commitment to enhancing life experiences through creativity and innovation.
Festival Pillars
Anchoring this year’s events are the three core pillars of the festival: Design Futures, Design Marketplace, and Design Impact. These will offer attendees a wide range of experiences from future-oriented design discussions to the exploration of innovative solutions aimed at making a positive impact on society.
- Design Futures
Design Futures will spotlight cutting-edge design, showcasing Singapore’s innovative approach to shaping the future. This year, the flagship Design Futures Forum returns with an expanded two-day format under the theme “Designing Our Collective Future.” The discussions will focus on key areas including emerging technologies, sustainability, and care—critical subjects for shaping a more resilient and shared future. International and local experts from various fields will be involved, pushing the conversation on how design can tackle contemporary global challenges.
- Design Marketplace
The Design Marketplace will merge global lifestyle trends with Southeast Asia’s growing design scene. FIND – Design Fair Asia, Asia’s largest design trade fair, will return for its third edition, running from 26 to 28 September at Marina Bay Sands. This platform will showcase cutting-edge designs from across the globe and foster networking opportunities for industry professionals.
Additionally, EMERGE @ FIND, curated by Suzy Annetta of Design Anthology, will focus on Southeast Asian contemporary design. This year’s theme, “These Precious Things,” will critically examine the concept of value in an era marked by excess and environmental concerns. More than 50 emerging and renowned designers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam will unveil new creations that delve into the concepts of internal and external value in design.
- Design Impact
Design Impact will inspire with forward-thinking solutions that address some of society’s most pressing issues. A key event under this pillar is the Future Impact 2: Homecoming Showcase, which originally debuted at Milan Design Week 2024. The exhibit, featuring seven designers, will return to Singapore for an eight-week run at the Asian Civilisations Museum, with some designers revisiting and refreshing their pieces for local audiences. The showcase highlights how design can contribute to solving significant societal challenges through sustainable and impactful creativity.
Expanded Design Districts
Building on the success of last year, SDW 2024 will expand its design districts across several vibrant areas of Singapore. This year, visitors can explore the unique creativity and character of Bras Basah.Bugis, Orchard, and Marina design districts, each offering special commissions, installations, exhibitions, and workshops.
- Bras Basah.Bugis Design District
This arts and heritage precinct will be energised by a collective led by Hans Tan, a renowned Singaporean designer. The People of Design Showcase Series will feature commissioned designers and studios, reimagining daily activities through experiential, site-specific installations across various venues. - Marina Design District
The Marina Design District will expand this year to include Marina Central for the first time, alongside the renowned Marina Bay area. The curation will be led by Nathan Yong, an award-winning designer, who will present Neufolk: Bridging Tradition and Future in Design. This series of activations will merge tradition with forward-thinking visions of Singaporean design.
- Orchard Design District
At Orchard Road, visitors will experience Re-Route: Orchard (RR), curated by PLUS Collaboratives. This installation aims to enhance the visitor experience of Singapore’s renowned shopping district with a focus on the continued evolution of the street’s character.
City-Wide Festivities
SDW 2024 will host two exclusive Friday Late events—one on 27 September in Bras Basah.Bugis and another on 4 October at Marina Central. In addition, more than 70 ground-up events will be hosted by Singapore’s design community across the island. These events include exhibitions, panel discussions, workshops, tours, and pop-up retail experiences, providing diverse opportunities to engage with design in all its forms.
As SDW 2024 takes over Singapore with a celebration of creativity and innovation, it promises to inspire and challenge how design impacts our daily lives, while showcasing the city-state’s distinctive brand of design excellence. From exploring future trends to discussing sustainable solutions, Singapore Design Week offers something for everyone in the world of design.
