“EMERGE @ FIND” grows beyond Southeast Asia with expanded Pan-Asian presence for Singapore Design Week 2025

The fourth edition injects fresh perspectives from first Singaporean co-curator and features a bold line-up of new designers joining from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Singapore, 12 August 2025 – EMERGE @ FIND marks its most expansive and inclusive edition yet for Singapore Design Week 2025 with a local voice at the curatorial helm for the very first time as the festival celebrates “Nation by Design” for Singapore’s 60th year of independence.

Presented by DesignSingapore Council (Dsg) and supported by FIND – Design Fair Asia, this year’s design talent showcase introduces Edwin Low, founder of Singapore design brand SUPERMAMA as co-curator, alongside returning co-curator Suzy Annetta.

“Over the years, we have witnessed how EMERGE @ FIND continues to push boundaries and grow into a standout feature of FIND – Design Fair Asia. What began as a Southeast Asian platform in collaboration with the DesignSingapore Council and FIND has evolved into one of the region’s most dynamic Pan-Asian showcases for contemporary design. This year’s edition exemplifies FIND’s devotion to championing design that is globally resonant, regionally grounded, and always forward-looking, while continuing to nurture the next generation of emerging design talent,” said Carl Press, Event Director, FIND – Design Fair Asia.

The showcase continues to spotlight Asia’s most exciting designers while reinforcing Singapore’s role as the convenor across borders and culture. Expanding its geographical reach, this year’s showcase will feature over 70 designers and present more than 100 works. For the first time, designers from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan will join the line-up, in addition to established names from Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste.

Together, the works curated will investigate processes, its role as tools for storytelling, and how it can forge meaningful links between disciplines, cultures, and the complexities of our time, as they respond to EMERGE’s theme, “Dialogue through Design”, which reflects on design as a powerful medium for exchange, storytelling and connection across borders and discipline.

“As the first Singaporean curator for EMERGE, I am proud to present a showcase reflecting where design in Asia is headed, it’s one rooted in material culture, open to new voices, methods, and ways of connecting. What excites me most is seeing a shift from solitary authorship to collaborative making, from static outcomes to dynamic engagement,” said Low.

“I’m thrilled to return as co-curator for EMERGE and to witness the region’s creative voices come together in one space. It’s always a joy to reconnect with familiar faces and even more exciting to discover fresh talent from across Asia. This year’s expanded line-up truly reflects the richness and diversity of design in this part of the world,” added Annetta.

Cross-cultural innovation and craft 

The showcase is structured around two main segments, Design Object and Design Social – the former focusing on materiality, craft, and innovation, while the latter delving into design’s role in addressing social, cultural, and environmental contexts. The revival and reimagining of tradition in contemporary contexts also remain as a defining influence on many of the works from Southeast Asia.

Threads of Becoming by Shervon and Melvin Ong from Singapore, in collaboration with lacquer threading master Andy Yeo, fuses hand-threaded lacquer technique traditionally used in religious effigies with contemporary 3D printing, highlighting how craft can continue to transform by connecting heritage and emerging design futures.

At the other end of the spectrum, pushing the boundaries in experimentation and material innovation is Eian Siew from Singapore, who recently showcased at Future Impact 3: DESIGN NATION during Milan Design Week 2025. He presents (Air)just, which explores how air might shape, hold, and reconfigure light by replacing traditional joints with inflated bladders.

Zooming out to the wider region, Lana Daya from Indonesia brings renewed attention to the near-forgotten practice of ramie fibre cultivation while LAITA Design from Vietnam applies industrial acrylic bending techniques to present the WV Collection – a series of console tables and shelves that challenges traditional ideas of artisanship.

“It’s about finding resonance with others who believe design holds meaning beyond objects – design as memory, culture, and the preservation of tradition,” said Lana Daya.

Similarly, Thailand’s THINKK Studio merges 3D-printed concrete with recycled plastic and rice husk components to mimic the texture of weaving in their LoopLine outdoor furniture collection, and Margarita Viray from the Philippines creates the Hatch Occasional Chair with machine-cut strips of veneer, inspired by the cross-hatching technique in sketching.

Incorporating Pan-Asian perspectives 

Making their debut at EMERGE 2025, designers from several East Asian cities bring an added layer of cultural resonance to the showcase. Drawing references from Korean tradition of stacking stones to express wishes and hopes, Seoul-based Ok Kim presents Merge_Wishing Pagoda, which is created through repetitive layers of natural lacquer, while Hong Kong’s Ultramar Studio channels celestial mythology and imperial architecture into their Citadel light sculpture series.

Textile designer Amy Lewis digs into her Japanese heritage to reinterpret the Samurai armour with pre-consumer waste generated from local companies, paying tribute to how the armours were traditionally crafted with repurposed metals; Jochieh Huang of Tshioh Rushcraft from Taiwan transforms rush grass into functional tableware, reimagining how heritage craft can be activated in dining experiences while connecting guests to Taiwan’s culture and history.

“EMERGE brings together designers from diverse cultures with shared values and I’m excited to be part of a platform that encourages global connection and creative growth,” said first time participant, Ok Kim.

Expanded footprint and fringe activations

EMERGE 2025 also marks a significant milestone in the showcase’s evolution. It is expanding in reach, resonance and ambition as it extends beyond the trade fair and the festival period. Look forward to a dedicated showcase at the Enabling Village in October 2025, a vibrant hub with inclusive experiences dedicated to people with diverse abilities, as well as retail activations such as the EMERGE Prelude Showcase and The Contemporary Asian Design Store in the Asian Civilisations Museum store.

“With the expanded footprint featuring designers across Asia, our curators have created a showcase that is at once deeply regional and broadly global, where conversations between cultures unfold through the language of design. This year’s EMERGE @ FIND exemplifies design as a living dialogue that bridges communities and engages diverse audiences across civic and cultural spaces – a commitment that remains central to the Council’s mission,” said Dawn Lim, Executive Director of the DesignSingapore Council.

For high-res images, full list of designers participating at EMERGE @ FIND 2025, and curators’ biographies, refer to the press kit HERE.

For more information, visit supermamastore.com/emerge.

EMERGE @ FIND 

11 September to 13 September 2025
10.00am – 6.00pm

Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre
Hall A (Level 1)

Admission to EMERGE @ FIND is complimentary, with pre-registration available until 11 September 2025. An admission fee of S$39 will apply for on-site registration.

• EMERGE 2025 Prelude Showcase: Lead-up to EMERGE @ FIND 2025, featuring more than 20 works by EMERGE alumni.
  23 August to 21 September 2025
  11.00am – 6.00pm
  Supermama Store @ Asian Civilisations Museum
• The Contemporary Asian Design Store: A retail continuation of EMERGE, featuring selected, market-ready works from the 2025 edition.
  26 September to 24 October 2025
  10.00am – 7.00pm
  Supermama Store @ Asian Civilisations Museum
• Design Social: A thematic fringe show exploring inclusive design. Featuring community-led, accessibility-focused projects alongside EMERGE works with social impact.
  1 October to 31 October 2025
  12.00pm – 6.00pm
  wearesuper Gallery @
  Enabling Village

Singapore Design Week 2025
11 September to 21 September 2025
sdw.sg
#SDWSG25 #SingaporeDesignWeek #NationByDesign

About FIND – Design Fair Asia

FIND – Design Fair Asia is a joint venture between dmg events (organisers of INDEX, HiDesign etc) and Fiera Milano (leader in Italy and one of the main integrated operators worldwide in the exhibition and congress industry). It is a combination trade show and design fair, offering a carefully curated selection of furniture, interiors and design brands. A key event of the Singapore Design Week (organised by DesignSingapore Council) acts as a stimulating marketplace connecting leading suppliers across furniture, lighting, décor, textiles, design technology, home K&B and surface materials with retail buyers, residential and commercial property developers, architects, hospitality professionals, interior designers, high-net-worth individuals and Asia-based FF&E contractors.

With key stakeholders such as DesignSingapore Council, numerous regional partner associations and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), FIND is to return to the iconic Marina Bay Sands with extended event offerings on over 17000 sqm, 300 international brands, VIP buyer program and exciting on-site initiatives.
designfairasia.com

About dmg events

At dmg events, we understand that rapidly evolving markets are driving organizations to rethink strategies, expand globally, and form new partnerships. As a leading event organizer and publisher, we facilitate and accelerate this transformation by providing direct access to new markets, inspiration and leadership, innovative products, and valuable business opportunities. With a presence in 30+ countries and 13 offices worldwide including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, South Africa, the UK, Canada, Singapore and India, dmg events organizes over 95 large-scale events annually, attracting 425,000+ industry professionals. As the largest international event organizer in Saudi Arabia since 2011, dmg events connects international businesses with local demand through its offices in Riyadh and Jeddah. Our growth in the Kingdom is driven by our ability to geo-adapt strong brands, build strategic partnerships and align our events with market needs. Flagship events like Big 5 Saudi, INDEX Saudi, The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia, The Saudi Food Show and Saudi Infrastructure Expo drive industry transformation and lasting impact across sectors.

For more information, visit www.dmgevents.com. Founded in 1989, dmg events is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT, www.dmgt.co.uk).

About Singapore Design Week

One of Asia’s premier design festivals, Singapore Design Week (SDW) celebrates Singapore’s distinctive brand of creativity, exploring design through three defining festival pillars: Design Futures (the design of the future and the future of design), Design Marketplace (lifestyle trends with a spotlight on Southeast Asia) and Design Impact (innovative solutions for a better world). Organised by DesignSingapore Council, SDW is a celebration of creativity and innovation, championing thought leadership and showcasing the best of design from Singapore and beyond.
sdw.sg

About the DesignSingapore Council

The DesignSingapore Council’s (Dsg’s) vision is for Singapore to be an innovation-driven economy and a loveable city by design. As the national agency that promotes design, our mission is to develop the design sector, help Singapore use design for innovation and growth, and make life better in this UNESCO Creative City of Design. Dsg is a subsidiary of the Singapore Economic Development Board.
designsingapore.org