The highly-anticipated second edition of FIND – Design Fair Asia 2023 returns to Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from September 21st to 23rd, 2023. Expected to attract over 15,000 visitors, this year’s trade show spotlights on Southeast Asia’s emerging creative talents, celebrated Italian brands and sustainable Thai designs, amongst other compelling themes.
Organised by dmg events and Fiera Milano, FIND – Design Fair Asia 2023 convenes industry leaders, architects, and designers from across the region, featuring a collection of around 300 interior brands from 18 countries.
Gracing the opening ceremony, H.E Dante Brandi, Ambassador-Designate of Italy to Singapore remarked, “FIND – Design Fair Asia 2023 is a remarkable platform for the entire regional architecture and design community to draw inspiration, network and foster business opportunities between Italian and Asian stakeholders.”
Among the event’s most notable highlights is the “The Italian Design Futures Capsules”, an exhibition hosting about 40 Italian companies specialising in furniture, lighting, bath, surfaces, and smart interiors.
Organised by the Italian Embassy in Singapore with the support of the Italian Trade Agency, ADI- Associazione per il Disegno industrial (Italian Industrial Design Association) and ADI Design Museum, “Italia Geniale” is a new installation that features a collection of about 80 iconic Italian design pieces.
Recognising Singapore’s pivotal role as an ideal hub for Italian manufacturers and designers, H.E. Dante underscored the significance of a global platform like FIND – Design Fair Asia 2023 for positioning Italian companies and amplifying Italian design throughout the region.
“FIND Design Fair is Southeast Asia’s benchmark event for the interior design and furniture industry,” said Roberto Foresti, Deputy General Manager, Fiera Milano, “It presents a unique opportunity to bring together the essence of Italian design in this market.”
In her address, Dawn Lim, Guest of Honour and Executive Director of DesignSingapore Council affirmed: “FIND is more than just a trade fair. It’s a coming together of ideas, of people, of great minds.”
“As Design Singapore Council marks its 20th anniversary, FIND Design Fair is a partnership that anchors the design marketplace pillar, showcasing furniture, materials, design brands, and the top design aids from both East and West,” she added.
Further enriching the event’s offerings is “Emerge @ FIND,” a showcase of Southeast Asian design talent from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Themed “CRAFT + INDUSTRY: MAN + MACHINE”, this showcase in curated by Suzy Annetta to reflect the diverse spectrum of work produced by over 60 designers across the region, ranging from handmade and crafted, to industrially manufactured and mass-produced, to display the rich tapestry of Southeast Asian design.
Others officiating the launch included 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, and Poh Chi Chuan, Executive Director – Exhibitions & Conferences, Experience Development Group, Singapore Tourism Board.
FIND – Design Fair Asia 2023 also offers a 3-day Global Summit featuring 55 renowned speakers from 10 Asian countries as well as France, Italy, UK, Germany, the Netherlands and the US. Supported by the industry through associations including the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) and Society of Interior Designers (SIDS), amongst others, the summit comprises about 30 sessions curated by Yoko Choy, China editor of Wallpaper* Magazine and creative consultant. The summit explores five key pillars: Regenerative Design; Holistic Hospitality; The Asian Blueprint; The Innovation Era; and Creativity, Commerce and Communication.
Some of the panel discussions on the first day of the summit covered holistic Asia hospitality experiences that transcend value and luxury, regenerative designs in architecture to provide lasting positive environmental and societal impacts, as well as post-pandemic work changes, emphasising innovative design, hybrid models, and holistic workplace priorities for future generations.
A stand-out panel session on the second day, titled “The Asian Design Dialogue – Mapping the Present and Beyond” is set to tap into the insights of prominent figures in the Asian design landscape, namely Teo Yang, Artistic Director of the Craft Trend Fair of the Korea Craft & Design Foundation and founder of Teo Yang Studio; Dawn Lim, Executive Director of the DesignSingapore Council; Danh Tran, Founder and CEO of Vietnam Design Week; Andika Frestian, Artistic Director of Indonesian Contemporary Art & Design; Keat Ong, President, Asia-Pacific Space Designers Association; and Muhamad Razif Nasruddin, Festival Director, Kuala Lumpur Design Festival.
Other highlights include a keynote by Kenneth Cobonpue on his design journey of blending Filipino craftsmanship with global aesthetics and mentoring Southeast Asian designers to navigate industry challenges, and a panel discussion that explores Asia’s diverse creative strengths, regional creative industries and the transformative power of creativity.
On the last day of the summit, Tung Ching Yew, President, Society of Interior Designers Singapore (SIDS) will delve into “Quiet Luxury” and “Quiet Sustainability” as trends in luxury brands and hospitality. Lai Siew Hong, Co-Founder, Blu Water Studio (MY) will share his journey as a storyteller of space, while Peter Tay, Founder, Peter Tay Studio will explore the beauty of space.
FIND – Design Fair Asia 2023 takes place at Marina Bay Sands Singapore from 21-23 September 2023.
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