100% Design Singapore 2012

Last week, I attended the first 100% Design Singapore at Marina Bay Sands SECC. If you're not too familiar with it, 100% Design first started in London, and has since been one of the largest and well-known design trade shows in the world. You'll also find 100% Design in Japan and Shanghai, and it's now made its way to our Singapore shores. In the past five years, Singapore is not short of design events. There's a new one added into the mix every year.

This show touted itself as the first and only curated design exhibition in Singapore. So if you're talking about curated design exhibitions, then I do think that 100% Design Singapore is a pretty curated one, when compared to the other exhibitions so far. But what I like is that although there's a smattering of designs from around the world, the Singapore brand takes the spotlight here. Designs by some of our homegrown designers are literally placed in the middle of the exhibition venue, so you can't miss them. And that's a nice thing to see.

In addition to that, there are also showcases of international designs, such as this selection of furniture designs available at furniture retailer Space. I like that the furniture are elevated on wooden pallets. I particularly like the B&B Italia Terminal 1 chaise longue. 

The 100% Materials by Chris Lefteri Design, along with the designs by university students that played with magnets and movements, were fascinating. I find it fascinating to have a look at the technology and research that drive design, and see how they could be applied. Didn't manage to capture shots of the students' works.

The show was a tad too small, though and, for the casual visitor, it really wouldn't take long to make the rounds. But it would be interesting to see how the show grows over the years. Design is still such so young here.  It's far from coming into its own. Even though the emphasis on design has spiked recently, I think it's a process that cannot be rushed. Gotta leave it to time to do its work.