9 Things to Know About Nathan Yong
Singapore's quintessential furniture designer speaks on his 15 years of experience making local design world-class
Some people have dubbed him “the godfather of Singapore product design”, a title that Nathan Yong would shake his head about. The fact is, he is the one designer who many young designers want to be when they grow up. How did he do it, and how did it all begin?
1. His favourite piece of furniture is the Flow bench, created on commission for H&M’s Laneway Festival in Singapore
“It’s made from very humble material – strips of plywood – yet involves a lot of technology,” Yong says. “The brief was to design a bench that would be used for one day only, big enough to seat 4-5 and shaped so that festival-goers wouldn’t be able to carry it and use it to hit things (or people), and affordable.”
“It’s made from very humble material – strips of plywood – yet involves a lot of technology,” Yong says. “The brief was to design a bench that would be used for one day only, big enough to seat 4-5 and shaped so that festival-goers wouldn’t be able to carry it and use it to hit things (or people), and affordable.”
2. He thinks his most iconic design is the Folks’ Line credenza for Design Within Reach
“Sometimes I’m watching a (Hollywood-produced) movie, and suddenly I see my Line credenza on the set! It’s the design that has made my name recognisable overseas, I think, more than anything,” says the award-winning designer.
“Sometimes I’m watching a (Hollywood-produced) movie, and suddenly I see my Line credenza on the set! It’s the design that has made my name recognisable overseas, I think, more than anything,” says the award-winning designer.
3. If a first-time homeowner were to ask him for advice on furniture selection, he would recommend his Line collection
Line includes the wine cabinet, the credenza and a low TV console.
Line includes the wine cabinet, the credenza and a low TV console.
“It’s a versatile piece that fits into most styles of interiors,” he says. More importantly, “Line complements multipurpose spaces very well, and you don’t have to buy too many designer pieces.”
4. He’s also proud of his Primary Desk
Like the Line collection, it has become a bestseller on Design Within Reach, and Yong has seen this in movies and on TV, he says.
As an aside, it’s my lust-have piece of Singapore design (yes, that’s lust, not must!) for its sleek-yet-warm look and small-space-friendly form.
Like the Line collection, it has become a bestseller on Design Within Reach, and Yong has seen this in movies and on TV, he says.
As an aside, it’s my lust-have piece of Singapore design (yes, that’s lust, not must!) for its sleek-yet-warm look and small-space-friendly form.
5. He was presenting prototypes at the Milan Furniture Fair in 2008 when the Pebble coffee tables caught the eye of Ligne Roset CEO Michael Roset
Roset describes them as “very low tables looking like wooden stones. This was full of poetry, and the way of using wood was new and original”.
Roset describes them as “very low tables looking like wooden stones. This was full of poetry, and the way of using wood was new and original”.
6. He’s been working with Ligne Roset every year since then
In 2013, Yong designed the Parachute and Bloom lamps for Ligne Roset, and they are one of the French brand’s bestselling items today.
In 2013, Yong designed the Parachute and Bloom lamps for Ligne Roset, and they are one of the French brand’s bestselling items today.
7. He also designs for other European brands such as Living Divani …
The Bolle pouf for Living Divani is a stool with a cushion; remove the cushion and it serves as side table.
The Bolle pouf for Living Divani is a stool with a cushion; remove the cushion and it serves as side table.
… Ethnicraft …
… and spHaus.
8. But he’s not just a designer; he’s also still a visual merchandiser
Because Grafunkt is a retailer of many European brands, with its own house brand, Yong is also the buyer for the local store. He and Kurniadidjaja attend IMM Cologne to look for furniture from Poland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden and Spain. “I like IMM Cologne because it’s where you can find furniture that follows Grafunkt’s aim of making good-value design available and accessible in Singapore,” Yong says.
Because Grafunkt is a retailer of many European brands, with its own house brand, Yong is also the buyer for the local store. He and Kurniadidjaja attend IMM Cologne to look for furniture from Poland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden and Spain. “I like IMM Cologne because it’s where you can find furniture that follows Grafunkt’s aim of making good-value design available and accessible in Singapore,” Yong says.
9. We can thank him for introducing beautifully designed yet affordable brands such as Hay, String and Treku to Singapore
After all, it’s his designer’s eye that has done the editing and curating of these. “I would say it’s our passion for good design, but certainly price point is also a major factor when we’re sourcing for Grafunkt. The brands and designs have to be at that friendly range, and still offer aesthetic value and good quality,” says Yong.
After all, it’s his designer’s eye that has done the editing and curating of these. “I would say it’s our passion for good design, but certainly price point is also a major factor when we’re sourcing for Grafunkt. The brands and designs have to be at that friendly range, and still offer aesthetic value and good quality,” says Yong.
Today many Singaporean households have a Nathan Yong design, whether it’s an early Air Division dining table, a Folks Line console, or a Grafunkt sofa. As the country’s most recognised name in product design, Yong has helped to define contemporary Singapore design, which he sees as urban, pragmatic, versatile and simply tasteful. “I think it’s one of the reasons why my designs are also appreciated overseas”, he says.
If you’re interested in the story behind your Nathan Yong furniture, his anthology, Being: The Thoughts and Work of Nathan Yong is a must-read.
TELL US
What’s your favourite design by Nathan Yong?
If you’re interested in the story behind your Nathan Yong furniture, his anthology, Being: The Thoughts and Work of Nathan Yong is a must-read.
TELL US
What’s your favourite design by Nathan Yong?
He began selling his own designs when he co-founded Air Division in 1999. During the the ‘00s, Air Division became the go-to place for mid-priced, locally designed furniture, and helped to define Singapore style in terms of furniture and interiors.
Yong received Singapore’s ultimate prize for design, the President’s Design Award, Designer of the Year in 2008. The following year, he exited Air Division to pursue a Master’s Degree in design from the University of New South Wales, Australia. After graduating, Yong founded Folks Furniture, which designs and produces for retailers such as Design Within Reach, Grafunkt (his retail store with business partner Jefery Kurniadidjaja) and Spence & Lyda.