FIND – Design Fair Asia is returning to the Singapore Design Week in September 2023, after a successful first edition in 2022. The event is set to connect leading suppliers across furniture, lighting, décor, textiles and smart interiors technology with Asia’s burgeoning interior design, property development, retail, and workspace sectors. Over 15,000 visitors, 500 international brands, 50 international speakers, and an array of young emerging talent showcases are expected. Asian markets have shown resilience in the aftermath of Covid-19, and there is growing demand for high-end and bespoke design in the construction, hospitality, commercial, and residential sectors.
The furniture market in Southeast Asia is projected to grow by 8.35% from 2023 to 2027, reaching US$248.9 billion. The Asia Pacific interior design services industry is estimated to be worth US$35.3 billion by 2027, and the hotel industry is seeing significant growth with an expected 800 new hotels to open by 2024 in Asia Pacific. Outside of China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia have the highest number of hospitality projects in progress, with Thailand ranking fourth. Bangkok has the highest number of ongoing projects, followed by Seoul and Jakarta.
“As projects and travel in the region are significantly upscaling, the confidence for the industry is growing. Likewise, the hospitality and retail industry is moving into a new era, catering to the next generation of consumers, with smarter supply chains, integration into local cultures, and addressing sustainability needs whilst going through a technological evolution. Design brands understand this, and we want to help suppliers to capitalise on Asia’s markets as we believe the positioning of FIND as a regional business platform is very compelling,” says Carl Press, director of FIND – Design Fair Asia, dmg events.
FIND – Design Fair Asia is expanding its business matchmaking services through a regional hosted buyer program and value-driven networking initiatives for business visitors. This is supported by strong partnerships with key industry bodies including Society of Interior Designers Singapore (SIDS), Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), Singapore Retail Association (SRA), Asia Pacific Space Designers Association (APSDA), Vietnam Design Association (VDAS) and several leading regional industry groups.
Key Event Highlights
The FIND – Global Summit, curated by Yoko Choy, China editor of Wallpaper* Magazine and Chair of Content for FIND – Design Fair Asia, in conjunction with a panel of leading industry insiders, brings together thought leaders, renowned craftspeople, and the creative community to discuss the exciting developments driving the industry today.
Over three days, across dozens of sessions, the FIND – Global Summit will present insightful seminars, including inspirational masterclasses by Italian interiors and contemporary design magazine INTERNI, along with sessions from leading property developers, regional architects, hospitality professionals, and change-making practitioners.
The summit will be focused on five pillars reflecting the issues of most concern to the design community today, including regenerative design, the Asian blueprint, the innovation era, creativity, commerce and communication and holistic hospitality with more details to be released in due time.
“With the resumption of traffic between the East and the West, it’s time to set our sights on the future. Following the resounding success of the inaugural FIND – Global Summit in 2022, our goal this year is to further establish Singapore as a hub for innovative and future-proof solutions in the creative industry. By collaborating closely with our local and regional partners, as well as creatives from diverse disciplines worldwide, including established figures and emerging talents, the summit will foster meaningful conversations around the pressing issues we currently face in the industry,” expresses Yoko Choy, China editor of Wallpaper* Magazine and Chair of Content for FIND – Design Fair Asia.
Made in Italy for Asia
Fiera Milano in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency which supports the promotion abroad and the internationalisation of Italian companies will once again organise a collective participation of Italian companies at FIND – Design Fair Asia 2023.
The uniqueness of “Made in Italy” design will be showcased at the “The Italian Design Futures Capsule”. The multidisciplinary studio Stefano Boeri Interiors, founded by the architect Stefano Boeri, with the architect Giorgio Donà, has planned an area entirely dedicated to Italian companies. Enthusiasts and buyers will find over 30 leading brands inside the capsule, demonstrating the creativity, excellence and craftsmanship that Italian companies are known for.
New to FIND 2023 is an exciting collaboration between the Italian Embassy in Singapore with the support of ICE and of 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.
EMERGE @ FIND
The Southeast Asian design talent showcase will return after its successful debut last year. Presented by DesignSingapore Council, the second edition features the curatorial theme of “CRAFT + INDUSTRY : MAN + MACHINE” to showcase the spectrum of work produced across Southeast Asia, from the handmade and the crafted, to pure industrial and/or mass production, from over 50 emerging and established designers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
“DesignSingapore Council is pleased to present the second edition of the Southeast Asian design talent showcase at EMERGE @ FIND. There is no other festival besides Singapore Design Week that uncovers the rich diversity of talent from this emerging region; and we look forward to showing the global design community why they are a rising force in the design world,” says Dawn Lim, executive director of DesignSingapore Council.
To give more prominence to Singapore’s furniture, lighting, decoration, design, fine crafts and lifestyle showrooms, FIND – Design Fair Asia also will feature an array of partner activations, expanding on the show’s purpose of curating a platform for business, exchange and discovery.
