It’s never been more vital to go on the ground and engage, and Singapore Design Week (SDW) 2018 is doing just that. The annual festival organized by the DesignSingapore Council, now in its fifth edition, returns Mar 5-18 with a new plan to involve the public—in their most frequented public spaces.
This year’s initiative sourced ideas in an open call to the public—a first for SDW—placing more emphasis on “district activations” and interactive design trails. Design creatives Lopelab, Hjgher, and Shophouse & Co answered the call—with placemaking initiatives bound to sit well with the public. Of the chosen districts to see a design-centric makeover, Holland Village and Tanjong Pagar will serve as the main hub for the festivities, hosting pop-up stores, workshops, designer open houses, installations, talks and street parties.
At Holland Village, the District Design Dialogue will open up 10 terrace houses in Chip Bee Gardens to host the various events, which include the kick-off block party. And Tanjong Pagar, no stranger to street festivals like the widely popular Urban Ventures Street Party series on Keong Saik Road, will be the site for Singapore’s first Urban Design Festival. Organized by creative studio Lopelab, who’s also behind Urban Ventures, the event will bring in film screenings and music performances.
Urban Ventures Street Party Vol. 7
The fun continues over at the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct, which will play host to the Bras.Basah.Bugis Arts Sprawl and The City Ramble Design Trails—a selection of guided tours to places of architectural and heritage value, as well as self-guided trails, curated by Shophouse & Co.
For those who prefer to consume their design from a safe distance, SDW’s anchor event SingaPlural 2018 is back at the National Design Centre as well, with a new theme focused on exploring the concept of play in design work. And rounding up the calendar of events nicely is the Red Dot Design Museum’s Market of Artists And Designers (MAAD), which will join the festivities at i Light Marina Bay, and showcase 50 makers from Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia; plus offer craft and design workshops.
Singapore Design Week 2018 will run Mar 5-18 at the National Design Centre and various locations. More information here.
