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Tatler Asia
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Highlights from Singapore's showcase at Milan Design Week 2025
'Future Impact 3: Design Nation', Singapore's showcase at Milan Design Week 2025, charted the Republic's emergence as a Nation by Design through three compelling acts: reflecting on its past, responding to the present, and reimagining the future Leave it to Singapore to turn a cathedral into a case study in national imagination. Set within the soaring nave of Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Monache—a vaulted church in Milan's Cinque Vie district, once part of a Benedictine convent, now a quietly resonant venue at which sacred architecture often meets contemporary design— Future Impact 3: Design Nation marked Singapore's 2025 return to Milan Design Week with thoughtful ambition. It is one of the many celebrations taking place this year to mark the nation's 60th birthday, Curated by returning duo Tony Chambers and Maria Cristina Didero, with a new associate, Singaporean designer Hunn Wai, the exhibition was structured in three parts that represent Singapore's design journey across time: Little Island of Brave Ideas revisits design's role in nation-building; Future Impact captures current responses to contemporary challenges; and Virtuoso Visionaires projects future possibilities through the work of emerging talents. Read more: 8 most theatrical moments from Milan Design Week 2025 Above The exhibition was held at the Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Monache church Above The three exhibition curators, the returning Maria Cristina Didero (left) and Tony Chambers (right) and this year's newcomer Hunn Wai (middle) Above The Future Impact team in Milan, clockwise from back row left: Werable's Claudia Poh, Nice Project's Sacha Leong, Olivia Lee, Tiah Nan Chyuan from Farm, clinical associate professor Lee Shu Woan from Changi General Hospital, Shi Yanjie from Vouse, Practice Theory's Randy Yeo, Supermama's John Tay, and Bewilder's Ng Sze Kiat Without natural resources, branding has played a crucial role in the Little Red Dot's nation building. Design icons—from internationally recognised symbols like Pierre Balmain's sarong kebaya uniform for Singapore Airlines and the souvenir-spawning Merlion, to hyper-local touchstones like the Courtesy Campaign and the colour-coded hawker centre tableware—have helped define how Singapore is seen from both within and beyond its shores. The first part of the exhibition at Milan Design Week 2025 was a crash course in how design—and successful systems design in particular—has underpinned Singapore's transformation, from pragmatic policies to imaginative placemaking—through visual culture, urban planning, and a future-oriented mindset. Above Kintsugi 2.0 by Supermama at the 'Future Impact 3: Design Nation' exhibition Above Fungariums in Space by Bewilder at the 'Future Impact 3: Design Nation' exhibition Above Pnewmatics by Eian Siew at the 'Future Impact 3: Design Nation' exhibition Above Celia by Kalinda Chen at the 'Future Impact 3: Design Nation' exhibition The second part of the exhibition highlighted eight designers and studios whose work embodied the immediacy of design-led solutions. From inclusive fashion to algorithmic ceramics, and digital healthcare tools to upcycled furniture, these projects grappled with contemporary life—how we move, heal, consume and connect—while experimenting with new materials, systems and modes of making. Highlights included Olivia Lee's Matahari, a terracotta solar cooker that reimagines ancient Southeast Asian cookware to spark reflection on the sun as a futuristic energy source; a digital twin of Changi General Hospital's (CGH) A&E department by Farm, Vouse and CGH, which uses real-time spatial modelling to optimise patient care without putting them at risk; Fungariums in Space by Bewilder, which brings medicinal mushroom cultivation into sleek, stainless-steel biodesign; and Supermama's Kintsugi 2.0, which updates the traditional Japanese craft with 3D-printed gold resin and algorithmic forms, turning broken objects into whole futuristic heirlooms. Above Matahari by Olivia Lee at the 'Future Impact 3: Design Nation' exhibition Above Leave it to Singapore to turn a cathedral into a case study in national imagination The final part of the Singapore exhibition at Milan Design Week 2025 captured the speculative energy of Singapore's emerging design voices. Six young designers presented works that pushed the boundaries of material use, identity, and narrative. These included Pnewmatics by Eian Siew—an exploration of inflatable medical braces and air-based joinery systems that rethink structure, comfort and care; Celia by Kalinda Chen, a mycelium-based air purifier that merges biophilic design with fungal intelligence; and Standard Singlish by CJ Tan, a typographic system that turns colloquial vernacular into structured visual language. Imaginative yet simultaneously grounded, these projects showcased how a new generation is using design to question norms, activate culture and anticipate new modes of living. As co-curator Wai notes: 'Singapore is well-known for thriving through ingenuity and resourcefulness and now, the future lies with the new generation of globally attuned, self-aware innovators who can continue this legacy." Credits
Vogue Singapore
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
Design reissues are 2025's biggest interiors trend
Some of the most coveted furniture designs today were created decades ago, their enduring appeal untouched by trends old and new. As homeowners look to timeless pieces that continue to make a statement, a new wave of iconic mid-century and modernist designs have been brought back into production with faithful reverence, meticulous precision and, often, a touch of sustainable innovation. Much like fashion's archival revival, these design reissues carry a certain sense of pedigree, drawn up by some of the biggest names in the industry. Earlier this year, the 63rd edition of the acclaimed Milan Design Week saw the reveal of many of such pieces. Saint Laurent brought back four pieces by pioneering 20th-century designer Charlotte Perriand—three created for her own home and one for a diplomat's residence, all of which have previously been unseen until now. Phantom Hands also revived a collection of works by acclaimed architect Geoffrey Bawa, known for his distinct way of weaving classic modern simplicity with unique Sri Lankan flair. In today's homes, these celebrated designs are conversation starters, subtle centrepieces and for those in the know, the marks of a tastemaker. Below, we round up the most coveted design reissues of the season. Courtesy of Mohd 1 / 14 Marset Lauro table lamp, by P Aragay and J Pérez Mateo in 1973 Courtesy of Ligne Roset 2 / 14 Ligne Roset Kashima armchair, by Michel Ducaroy in 1976 Courtesy of Ikea 3 / 14 Ikea Skålboda armchair, by Niels Gammelgaard in 1983 Courtesy of CB2 4 / 14 CB2 Pill lamp, based on archive sketches by Bill Curry in the late 1960s Courtesy of Wiener GTV Design 5 / 14 Wiener GTV Design Boomerang desk, by Enzo Mari in 2001 Courtesy of Thayer Coggin 6 / 14 Thayer Coggin Cruisin' lounge chair and ottoman, by Milo Baughman in 1965 Courtesy of Tacchini 7 / 14 Tacchini Africa chair, by Afra and Tobia Scarpa in 1975 Courtesy of Mohd 8 / 14 Santa & Cole La Bella Durmiente floor lamp, by Gabriel Ordeig Cole and Nina Masó in 1987 Courtesy of Saint Laurent 9 / 14 Saint Laurent Indochina guest armchair, by Charlotte Perriand in 1943 Courtesy of Carl Hansen & Søn 10 / 14 Carl Hansen & Søn Spherical bed, by Kaare Klint in 1938 11 / 14 Molteni&C Monk armchair, by Afra and Tobia Scarpa in 1973 Courtesy of CB2 12 / 14 CB2 Memoria table lamp, by Gianfranco Frattini in 1961 Courtesy of Phantom Hands 13 / 14 Phantom Hands Kandalama Cafe chair, by Geoffrey Bawa in 1994 @commedesgarcons 14 / 14 Comme des Garçons No. 2 chair, by Rei Kawakubo in 1983
Vogue Singapore
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
Meet the trailblazers: Hunn Wai on cultivating the future of Singapore design
When DesignSingapore Council brought the third iteration of its Future Impact showcase to Milan Design Week this year, the exhibition saw the involvement of a Singaporean co-curator for the first time. As the director and co-founder of internationally renowned Singapore-and Milan-based creative studio Lanzavecchia + Wai, Hunn Wai is a prominent name in the design world—a designer, educator and thought leader in the field. Spotlighting future-forward works dreamt up by rising Singaporean creatives in response to today's important global challenges, the exhibition is a reflection and extension of Wai's belief that the most vital designs of all are meaningful ones shaped by intention, authenticity and thoughtfulness. Tell us your origin story. How did you first fall in love with design? I must've been five or six when I declared that I wanted to be a car designer. Even then, I wasn't just interested in how things looked. I was fascinated by why they looked a certain way, and how colours, proportions and forms came together logically and beautifully. Art became a core part of my identity, but pursuing art or design was seen as uncertain and less stable then. I was all set to pursue architecture—what felt like the 'acceptable creative profession'—when I saw that NUS (National University of Singapore) was offering industrial design as a brand-new degree. In my first year there, something clicked. I discovered that design had the vocabulary, the frameworks and the tools to help me make sense of everything I was curious about, from engineering and anthropology to psychology and aesthetics. That was the moment I truly fell in love with design, not just as a profession, but as a philosophy and a way of understanding the world. How has your relationship with design evolved over the years? A pivotal moment came when I pursued my Master's in the Netherlands, at a time when the Droog design movement was making waves globally. Droog, which is Dutch for 'dry', was less about designing for utility and more about embedding narrative and wit into everyday objects. As my practice matured, I sought to combine the two worlds of critical, story-rich design and grounded, user-centred industrial design. In the last 12 years, my connection to design has evolved even further through teaching. I now see design not just as the creation of products, but as the shaping of people: of mindsets, values and ways of seeing. Today, my relationship with design is less about creating more objects, and more about enabling deeper thinking. 'Too often, innovation is framed around metrics, but I believe we also need to design for the spirit of society.' What is the biggest challenge you have faced throughout your career and how did you overcome it? One of the biggest challenges is the ongoing tension of how to make sense of it all while wearing many hats and still staying true to myself. As a designer, studio co-founder, educator, cultural contributor and now curator, the gear- shifting can be creatively energising, but also deeply draining. What helped me begin to overcome this wasn't a single breakthrough, but a series of shifts in mindset and practice. I stopped designing to prove something and started designing to contribute something. I began designing my life with the same care I would apply to a product—protecting deep focus hours, making space for reflection and building teams where strengths complemented each other. Teaching has played a big role in this evolution. Mentoring younger designers reminded me that design isn't just about output. It's about mindset, process and intention. Often, the challenges we face become the tools that make us better collaborators, better thinkers and more grounded human beings. As a leader in the scene, what do you think is the importance of mentorship and building a community? Mentorship is incredibly important to me because the path of a designer is rarely straightforward. It's not just about having a portfolio or a process. It's about how you navigate ambiguity, align your values with your work and sustain yourself emotionally, mentally and creatively through it all. When I mentor, I try to share not just the polished highlights, but the real behind-the-scenes journey which includes messiness, doubt and pivots. As for community, it's everything. Design isn't a solo act. A strong community multiplies intention, energy and impact. It also creates a shared culture where we feel less alone, where we can learn from each other's stories and support each other's growth. Looking forward, what is one change you hope to spark in the design scene in Singapore and how does this align with your vision for the industry? To bring more humanity into the innovation we create in Singapore. Too often, innovation is framed around metrics—productivity gains, KPIs, scale—but I believe we also need to design for the spirit of society. In a world that's rapidly flattening, this kind of cultural nuance and emotional resonance becomes not just valuable, but essential. I want to see more humanistic solutions—those that might make someone pause and say: 'Yes, this reflects who we are' or 'That helps me live more beautifully and thoughtfully'. To make that shift, I believe we need to reinvest in the arts, culture and the social sciences. The future won't be short on technology. But what's at risk of being neglected (because it's harder to measure) is our imagination, emotional intelligence and sense of purpose. My hope is to help shape a design culture in Singapore that values both technical excellence and soulful expression—a culture where innovation is not just about what's next, but about what's meaningful. Pre-order your copy of the Vogue Man 'Gold' issue online or pick it up on newsstands from 13 June 2025.
Nylon
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Nylon
New Balance explores the 2000-era of running influences with the new ABZORB 2010 and ABZORB 2000
First introduced in 1993, New Balance's ABZORB cushioning had revolutionised running technology, becoming a signature feature of several fan favourite lifestyle models. Now, both the ABZORB 2010 and ABZORB 2000 have each turned into a fresh visual design statement that delivers exceptional comfort while honouring the brand's running heritage. ABZORB 2010 New Balance ABZORB 2010, $219. Image courtesy of New Balance. New Balance ABZORB 2010, $219. Image courtesy of New Balance. Combining the excitement of an innovative, all-new style with a sense of familiarity, the ABZORB 2010 ($219) is crafted with a segmented ABZORB sole unit which features more expansive proportions, becoming the centerpiece of this design, and paired with a diamond-knit mesh upper for an updated twist on a classic look. The New Balance ABZORB 2010 is now available at New Balance in ION Orchard, Paragon, Jewel Changi, and VivoCity, as well as online at ABZORB 2000 New Balance ABZORB 2000, $239. Image courtesy of New Balance. After its preview at Milan Design Week in early April, the new ABZORB 2000 ($239) offers a new look at visible tech where the design process is incorporated with 3D tools to help create a hyper detailed articulated sole unit, and capture curves that are not easily represented on paper. New Balance ABZORB 2000, $239. Image courtesy of New Balance. New Balance ABZORB 2000, $239. Image courtesy of New Balance. The experimental design features a full-length combination of ABZORB cushioning and ABZORB SBS pods, using a distinctive feature of 2000s running-inspired classics as a focal point. The New Balance ABZORB 2000 will be available from 12 June at New Balance ION Orchard and Paragon, as well as online at
Press and Journal
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen interior designer Yuliya shares her top 5 tips for your home this summer
If anyone knows anything about home decor it's Aberdeen interior designer Yuliya Forrest. The 39-year-old, who is originally from Belarus, has worked her magic as an interior designer and decorator for the past 18 years. And after visiting Milan Design Week recently, dubbed as the world's most important design fair, Yuliya is brimming with ideas for people's homes. 'I'm just back from Milan Design Week where there were so many exciting new interior trends for this year and next year,' says Yuliya. 'At this event, they select interior trends which you will see throughout the year. 'So I've created some tips which can help people to refresh and update their decor in an affordable way.' Here Yuliya shares her top five tips on how to update your decor this summer… Making a powerful statement through expressive patterns and bold colours is an easy way to transform any space in your home. 'Patterns and bold colours are hugely popular,' says Yuliya. 'An easy way to transform a space is by painting your walls in a really bright colour. 'Some of the colours on trend at the moment are forest greens, burgundy, deep blues', mustards and yellow tones.' Yuliya says it's a common mistake to think that rich colours can make a room appear smaller. 'It's a common mistake to think that light walls make rooms bigger – that is not the truth,' says Yuliya. 'In fact, deep, rich colours make a room look bigger especially if you paint the ceilings and walls the same colour.' Yuliya also says that patterns can add visual interest, enhance spatial perception, and evoke emotions and atmosphere. 'Wallpaper is a great way to add patterns to your interiors,' says Yuliya. 'Or you can also introduce patterns through carpets or rugs.' Walls with textured finishes and 3D elements are certainly having a moment this season. Whether it's subtle textures for understated elegance or dramatic designs that become the focal point of a room, adding texture brings a new dimension to walls. For a stylish and inexpensive way to add some texture to your walls, Yuliya recommends using rectangular 'metro style' wall tiles. 'Textured surfaces and 3D walls are a very popular trend right now,' says Yuliya. 'Metro tiles are a great way to bring texture to your walls and also 3D walls. 'There's lots of different materials on the market.' For those who like calm, neutral decor, one way to bring some personality to a room is by adding pops of colourful furniture. From bright sofas and colourful cushions to vibrant lamps, tables and artwork, colour doesn't need to be confined to the walls. 'Accent sofas and colourful furniture can totally change the energy of a room,' says Yuliya. 'So people who prefer a calm interior but can easily add colourful accents. 'This design trend works really well and people can do it by themselves.' Not just functional, mirrors can also enhance the light and space of a room. 'Mirrors are one of my favourite tools because the reflection can make rooms look bigger,' says Yuliya. 'They can also make your home brighter as they reflect light so you're getting double light in the rooms.' Yuliya says The Range in Aberdeen has a great selection of attractive yet affordable mirrors. 'I also love Annie Mo's, they have some amazing mirrors and furniture,' says Yuliya. If you're thinking about freshening up your kitchen then the best place to start is with a kitchen island. 'Although kitchen islands aren't a new trend, they're getting more and more popular,' says Yuliya. 'So if you're looking to update your kitchen then the best place to start is with a kitchen island. 'They're great as they serve as a place for cooking, dining, conversation and a work from home space. 'So interior designers are trying to avoid standard kitchens as when you cook into the wall it's much less pleasant than when you can look into the room.' For more on Yuliya check out her Instagram page @ or her website And if you enjoyed this story, you may also like: Stunning home renovation near Inverurie is a labour of love for Matthew and Caroline
