30 May 2011

The Project, Singapore 2011

A very impressive showing for Singapore’s first edition of The Project – definitely on par with Australian standards, so Sydney beware!

Standouts were BW Furniture/INFINITY with Hassell and LaSalle College of the Arts (LCA), who took recycled cans to create crumpled figures whose shadows became life-sized models on the furniture.

Bene/Waldmann Lighting with DEGW and Nanyang Polytechnic School of Design created rooms representing ‘Global Connection’.

Similarly, Xtra/Herman Miller and Contrac-Image/InterfaceFLOR worked with HBO+EMTB, Woodhead, PDM International, MMoser Associates and LCA to deconstruct the traditional work environment to explore Alt.Work.Space.

Distillery created a life-size ribbon to wrap around the New Majestic Hotel lobby using Woven Image's newly released EchoPanel Mura; Vitra elephants wandered up trees in front of Schiavello, courtesy of Geyer; while at Foundry, :phunk created a special edition Loppa paper lamp, artfully displayed in a unique hanging installation.

Over at Dream Interiors there were 4 colourful projects to catch the eye: origami butterflies inspired by Cappellini's colourful and playful approach to design were suspended by Elixr Design above a setting of kikki.K products; HJGHER put up an installation titled Crazy Diamond; DDB used alphabets to create furniture; while outside, one could not miss HCF and Associates' bright orange structure.

Collaboration was at the core of Grafunkt, who worked with a number of local designers on a new platform called Verses/Versus; Stylecraft invited Karen Fairfax of PDM International and Natalie Louey of Ong&Ong to make an 'Oriental Connection'; K2LD created a setting for people to take a framed photo on a Miles & Theodore lounge; Bode and Vantage Concept worked with Dean Sharpe to showcase their range of fabrics, textiles and motorised blinds.

Indesign’s own 2 installations at Warehouse 72-13 took quite different approaches to each other. Hansel + Blow Inc. created a life-sized plywood seat and lamp, which when viewed through the cover, became a page of Habitus magazine. HJGHER put their installation in motion, with marbles moving continuously around a structure of pallets and Indesign and DQ magazines.

Thanks to everyone who took part in The Project. A lot of hard work and valuable time goes into these installations, which heighten the creative content at Saturday in Design. As well as fantastic sights on the day, we hope that some lasting relationships have been forged in this collaborative initiative. Singapore has certainly set the bar high for future editions.

Photography by Yong Sze Yuen Kelvin