Forum: A design museum can reveal much about Singapore
W hen news of the setting up of a design museum was announced in March, I believe many wondered what the differences between a design museum and an art museum are (Old SJI building could house new Singapore Design Museum, March 10).
I am glad Mr Jackson Tan has shared his thoughts in the Opinion piece 'Why it's time Singapore has a Design Museum' (April 16). Like him, I believe such a repository for holding a wide range of physical artefacts, from architectural blueprints to furniture prototypes, should represent the country's lifestyle changes and consumption norms. It should also be a chronicle of the technology flows and home-grown innovations that transformed Singapore from a colonial entrepot into a thriving city state.
Art epitomises individual pursuit of beauty and craftsmanship, whereas design should also tell the story of Singapore's global connectivity throughout history, and how societal changes shaped behaviour and lifestyles here.
We could perhaps organise the museum collection according to a four-part rubric. An object should fulfil at least one of four 'i' rubrics – iconic, integrated, informative or impactful.
'Iconic' is a familiar judging criterion. Ms Lim Sau Hoong's series of Guinness advertisements, Mr Hans Tan's spotted Nonya kitchenware and Mr Andrew Gn's couture fashion pieces belong here. They would represent Singaporeans' pursuit of excellence in design and their impact on the world.
At the other end of the spectrum, 'integrated' would celebrate humble inventions by Singaporeans which were widely, even globally, adopted. One example is the ubiquitous thumb drive created by Mr Henn Tan and his team at Trek 2000.
'Informative' design would recognise the importance of communication and service design that goes unnoticed if done well, but causes much angst if things go awry. I am fascinated by how the MRT system map has grown over the years as more train lines and stations are added. It remains reader-friendly, unlike the chaotic mess in many metro maps elsewhere.
Good design is inherently innovative. However, the best designs are 'impactful'. They transform lifestyles and improve lives. Home-grown Ayam Brand, founded in 1892, was one such game changer in food safety and dietary habits. Founder Alfred Clouet was one of the earliest in Asia to widely introduce canning technology, making perishable food like fruit, peas and sardines long-lasting before refrigeration became common.
I hope showcasing these objects, stories and more in our own design museum would inspire Singaporeans to innovate and problem-solve. It should dispel the belief that Singaporeans are inherently uncreative, and encourage us to tackle life's challenges boldly.
Ian Tan
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