What if a city told its life story through design? That’d be pretty cool, huh? Well, Singapore did just that at Milan Design Week 2025, with the opening of Future Impact 3: DESIGN NATION. As the nation turns 60, the exhibition captures how design has quietly shaped Singapore’s growth – and how it continues to pave the way forward.
Presented by the DesignSingapore Council and curated by Tony Chambers, Maria Cristina Didero, and Singapore’s own Hunn Wai, this third edition of the Future Impact series transforms the historic Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Monache into a creative portal into Singapore’s past, present, and future.
Visitors in Milan’s bustling Cinque Vie district will experience how this small island-state became one of the world’s most design-forward cities — and what comes next!
Future Impact 3: DESIGN NATION
The exhibition is divided into three acts. The first, Little Island of Brave Ideas, is a tribute to Singapore’s design roots — from its world-renowned public housing system to quirky but clever ideas like colour-coded plates in hawker centres and beer brewed from reclaimed water. The foundations of innovation were laid long before the word became trendy!
In the central segment, Future Impact 3, eight leading Singaporean designers and collectives take on today’s biggest challenges – from urban overcrowding and accessibility to sustainability and cultural identity. Highlights include Claudia Poh’s adaptive bag that molds to its user, Olivia Lee’s reimagining of the humble solar cooker, and Ng Sze Kiat’s sculptural stainless-steel fungariums.
Wei Xiang’s Knots Stool turns old curtains and blankets into sleek, knotted furniture, while Randy Yeo explores nation-building through sculptural objects made from paper offcuts.
Equally impressive is the collaboration between FARM, Vouse, and Changi General Hospital, who created a digital twin of a hospital emergency department – a data-driven tool for better decision-making in healthcare. Sacha Leong’s architectural woven screen offers a meditative solution to dense urban living, and Supermama’s futuristic take on Japanese Kintsugi with 3D printing brings cultural preservation into the digital age.
The final segment, Virtuoso Visionaries, shines a spotlight on six emerging talents shaping the future of design. Their work experiments with AI, circular design, Singlish as identity, and sustainable living spaces – proving that Singapore’s next generation of designers are just as thoughtful as the pioneers who came before them.
Apart from the exhibition, a lively programme of public activities fills the week – from Singlish decoding workshops and make-your-own fungarium sessions to live interviews hosted by Monocle, evening cocktail events, as well as a Friday night Singapore-themed party to close things out with a bang!
A Proud Moment for Singaporeans
Singapore isn’t just celebrating its birthday; it’s showing how a nation built on resourcefulness and vision can inspire the world through the power of design! So, if you happen to be in Milan at the moment, stop by to experience Future Impact 3: DESIGN NATION in person – before the live showcase ends on 13 April 2025!
For more details on the exhibition and associated events, visit the DesignSingapore Council’s official website.
Visuals Courtesy of Hunn Wai and Milan Design Week.
