SIDA 2022 Awards Spotlights Interior Luminaries; New Incubation Centre for Industry Entrants

September 28, 2022

The Society of Interior Designers Singapore’s (SIDS) annual Singapore Interior Design Awards (SIDA) was held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore, on 23rd September, after a 2-year hiatus during which the awards took place remotely.

One of the most prestigious design awards in the region, the event celebrated winners judged from over 400 entries from 10 countries. 

In his opening address, Tung Ching Yew, SIDS’ newly-elected president, and founder and managing director of the Singapore-based design firm SODA, took the opportunity to congratulate all winners and thank the judges for their time.

He also announced that the SIDS is setting up an Interior Design Incubation Centre to nurture local talent and help start-ups establish a firm foundation when they enter the interior design industry.

“This initiative is something close to my heart. I failed the first time trying to set up a design studio when I was 23,” Tung said. “This centre will help those like my then 23-year-old self better navigate the obstacles one may face as a start-up. The centre will allow for the sharing of both resources and expertise and considerably cut both cost and bandwidth for start-ups.”

Taking centrestage, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development, Indranee Rajah said, “I am heartened by the efforts of the Society of Interior Designers Singapore (SIDS) to raise standards of interior designers in Singapore and the region. Beyond SIDA, SIDS is also doing more to support and strengthen the profile and standards of interior designers in Singapore.”

In her speech, she encouraged interior designers present to seek out opportunities to give back to society and the community by contributing through their skillsets, talent and knowledge, even as they work to upgrade and improve the profession.

Speaking about how the profession has evolved, Keat Ong, immediate past president of SIDS and president of Asia-Pacific Space Designers Association (APSDA) said, “Interior design is becoming more important in the built environment today. Interior designer practitioners are now awarded separate independent contracts in public projects, working alongside with architects and engineers. The interior design professional has evolved tremendously. Interior design is no longer a subset of architectural practice. Neither is it a second fiddle to any profession.”

 

New interior design incubation centre for industry entrants 

Located at Grantral Mall @ Macpherson, the 8,500 sqft interior design incubation centre, expected to be up in May 2023, aims to provide better opportunities and more shared resources for those entering the interior design industry.

Estimated to cost about $2 million, the centre will function as both a co-working space as well as a resource and research and development centre. It will allow interior designers to access shared resources like building material libraries, R&D test labs, meeting rooms and computer labs. Interior designers will have to join SIDS as members.

According to Tung, more than half of the centre’s space will be set aside for training and workshop purposes. SIDS will curate training courses, seminars and mentorship programmes to support ID start-ups.

“We are honoured to be part of this meaningful initiative. We share SIDS’ vision to grow the expertise and professionalism of the interior design sector. This centre will set the bar for what is expected of new interior design firms,” said Goh Boon Peng, Group MD of Elegant Group.

The centre follows SIDS’ push to get Singapore’s IDs to place more emphasis on certification and embracing a life-long learning mentality. 

 

Winners Lauded at the SIDA 2022

Singapore Interior Design Awards 2022, or SIDA 2022, received over 420 entries from local and international interior designers across the Asia Pacific region – the highest number of entries received since the SIDA was launched in 2017.

Singaporean Mike Lim, principal designer of DP Design, bagged several prestigious awards including the Best of the Best and Lifetime Achievement Award 2022. His works including the Ruffled Ice installation at i Light Singapore 2022 and the 8 Tampines Grande Office Lobby earned Lim the Best of the Best gong during the event.

The Dulux Colour Award went to Geila Daughtrey of Rockett Studio for work at Bedrock Origin, a restaurant at Oasia Resort Sentosa. The beautifully restored heritage building that houses the restaurant was once Southeast Asia’s first Malay artillery barracks and dates back to 1940.

The Best Design Firm Award 2022 went to Singapore-based 932 Design – a firm that has won numerous awards all over the world, including Europe and the United States. Notable projects include Highline Residences and Balmoral Tower.

 

 

Awards were presented across main categories including Best in Exhibition Design, Best in F&B Design, Best in Hospitality Design, Best in Public Space Design, Best in Residential Design, Best in Retail Design, and Best in Workspace Design.

 

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