Meet FDA Finalists Diego Lee and Didi Ng
In this six-part series, we talk to the finalists of Singapore's Furniture Design Awards 2017 about their design process
The Furniture Design Award (FDA) is an annual furniture design competition organised by the Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC). The Award aims to uncover budding design talents both locally and internationally and be a reputable showcase for the unique creations of the world’s best creative minds. Increasingly, FDA has become a platform for exchange and networking amongst furniture manufacturers and designers internationally.
Here are two of the 12 finalists whose entries are on display at the International Furniture Fair Singapore/ASEAN Furniture Show in 2017. They are vying for the Grand Award of S$20,000 in cash, plus a 12-square-metre exhibition booth to present his/her designs at the fair the following year.
Here are two of the 12 finalists whose entries are on display at the International Furniture Fair Singapore/ASEAN Furniture Show in 2017. They are vying for the Grand Award of S$20,000 in cash, plus a 12-square-metre exhibition booth to present his/her designs at the fair the following year.
Diego Lee’s award-winning Yilan Chair
What was the first thing that you designed that’s now in the market?
Yilan Chair was my first design and is still in the market. I used recycled wood as the material, carefully planed and assembled the new external surface to
maintain the weathered paint and original shape of the wood, and that enables the chair to tell its own history.
What was the first thing that you designed that’s now in the market?
Yilan Chair was my first design and is still in the market. I used recycled wood as the material, carefully planed and assembled the new external surface to
maintain the weathered paint and original shape of the wood, and that enables the chair to tell its own history.
What’s the inspiration behind your entry for FDA?
My inspiration came from the ordinary steel wire net which can be found in local hardware stores. We Taiwanese use these nets to make temporary
fences to enclose the burning paper money for the gods. I once saw an abandoned steel wire net in the waste – twisted, deformed and isolated on the ground like a sculpture. I thought it might be a good idea to do something with steel wire net,
My inspiration came from the ordinary steel wire net which can be found in local hardware stores. We Taiwanese use these nets to make temporary
fences to enclose the burning paper money for the gods. I once saw an abandoned steel wire net in the waste – twisted, deformed and isolated on the ground like a sculpture. I thought it might be a good idea to do something with steel wire net,
Tell us what your creative process is like, using your FDA entry as an example.
After being formed into a chair shape, the wire net shows its texture with grids but also reveals the chair’s other sides through its transparency. That blurs the lines between the chair’s ‘inside’ and ‘outside’.
After being formed into a chair shape, the wire net shows its texture with grids but also reveals the chair’s other sides through its transparency. That blurs the lines between the chair’s ‘inside’ and ‘outside’.
FDA 2017 Finalist: Aires Chair by Diego Lee
Martial expanding steel is a common material used in building and construction. It is economical, clean and durable and can be formed into different shapes with existing technology. The diamond shape grid gives the Aires Chair an interesting texture. Light and elegant, it is see-through and gives the user a whole view of the structure. Expanding steel material is made of stainless steel which is weatherproof, easy-to-clean and suitable for outdoor use. The mesh and grid structure means rainwater does not collect or pool on the chair.
Martial expanding steel is a common material used in building and construction. It is economical, clean and durable and can be formed into different shapes with existing technology. The diamond shape grid gives the Aires Chair an interesting texture. Light and elegant, it is see-through and gives the user a whole view of the structure. Expanding steel material is made of stainless steel which is weatherproof, easy-to-clean and suitable for outdoor use. The mesh and grid structure means rainwater does not collect or pool on the chair.
Didi Ng Wing Yin
Ng is a furniture/product designer based in Hong Kong. An industrial and product design graduate of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, his designs are inspired by how furniture and smart objects are connected to human behaviour.
How did you get into furniture design?
I started my first furniture project when I was in university. It was a plywood chair with simple slots. I was so lucky to have a very good teacher who taught me how to look at furniture carefully. I enjoy exploring, thinking, making and looking at the details of furniture. The whole process from drawing on paper to making the actual prototype makes me feel so happy and excited. I just feel so good whenever I am at a place that has furniture I love.
Who are your heroes in the world of furniture design, and what are your inspirations?
My favourite designer is Shiro Kuramata. He is considered one of the 20th century’s most influential persons in the design industry. His works are poetic and beautiful. The simplicity of his designs always reminds me how very important spacing is to aesthetics. Furniture is all about the creative mixing of art and design.
Ng is a furniture/product designer based in Hong Kong. An industrial and product design graduate of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, his designs are inspired by how furniture and smart objects are connected to human behaviour.
How did you get into furniture design?
I started my first furniture project when I was in university. It was a plywood chair with simple slots. I was so lucky to have a very good teacher who taught me how to look at furniture carefully. I enjoy exploring, thinking, making and looking at the details of furniture. The whole process from drawing on paper to making the actual prototype makes me feel so happy and excited. I just feel so good whenever I am at a place that has furniture I love.
Who are your heroes in the world of furniture design, and what are your inspirations?
My favourite designer is Shiro Kuramata. He is considered one of the 20th century’s most influential persons in the design industry. His works are poetic and beautiful. The simplicity of his designs always reminds me how very important spacing is to aesthetics. Furniture is all about the creative mixing of art and design.
Didi Ng’s Rice Cooker
What was the first thing that you designed that’s now in the market?
My rice cooker (from 2013) is a very simple design targeted at the small family. Its one-click operation and detachable design allow you to carry it from the kitchen to the dining room.
What was the first thing that you designed that’s now in the market?
My rice cooker (from 2013) is a very simple design targeted at the small family. Its one-click operation and detachable design allow you to carry it from the kitchen to the dining room.
What’s the inspiration behind your entry for FDA?
I’ve always wanted to design something inspired by what is happening around me. I am from Hong Kong which is a place full of skyscrapers, and I think the relationship between the bamboo scaffolding and the buildings is very interesting. I tried to merge the two ideas together to capture how we look at the building as we’re walking down the street.
I’ve always wanted to design something inspired by what is happening around me. I am from Hong Kong which is a place full of skyscrapers, and I think the relationship between the bamboo scaffolding and the buildings is very interesting. I tried to merge the two ideas together to capture how we look at the building as we’re walking down the street.
Tell us what your creative process is like, using your FDA entry as an example.
In the first stage, I did research by looking at things around me. I recorded them with my camera and sketched them out and put the inspirations together to explore what I could make with them. A mock-up model was made to see whether the structure and the outlook was good or not. After several changes and tests, I moved to the 1:6 scale down model and finally to the 1:1 prototype.
In the first stage, I did research by looking at things around me. I recorded them with my camera and sketched them out and put the inspirations together to explore what I could make with them. A mock-up model was made to see whether the structure and the outlook was good or not. After several changes and tests, I moved to the 1:6 scale down model and finally to the 1:1 prototype.
FDA 2017 Finalist: Urbanscape by Didi Ng
Urbanscape is a modular shelving unit and room divider made from dyed black wooden rods and bent acrylic sheets. The design was inspired by the unique structure of bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong. It brings the modern city view to the home in an abstract way. Scaffolding structures can always be found in Hong Kong as it is used in all kinds of building construction. The designer was intrigued by the contrast between the manual work of scaffolding and the high quality industrial mirrored finish of the buildings. The two processes happen mutually. This merging led to Urbanscape, a representation of the modern architecture culture in Hong Kong.
MORE
Which Design Will Win Singapore’s Furniture Design Award 2017?
Urbanscape is a modular shelving unit and room divider made from dyed black wooden rods and bent acrylic sheets. The design was inspired by the unique structure of bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong. It brings the modern city view to the home in an abstract way. Scaffolding structures can always be found in Hong Kong as it is used in all kinds of building construction. The designer was intrigued by the contrast between the manual work of scaffolding and the high quality industrial mirrored finish of the buildings. The two processes happen mutually. This merging led to Urbanscape, a representation of the modern architecture culture in Hong Kong.
MORE
Which Design Will Win Singapore’s Furniture Design Award 2017?
Born in Taiwan, Lee majored in furniture design at the National Taipei University of Technology. He founded both Image Interior Design Studio and Fruitful Furniture Studio, and has earned acclaim for his work as a furniture and interior designer in his home country.
How did you get into furniture design?
I majored in furniture design in university, and to design an ideal piece of furniture comes naturally to me. Besides, as an interior designer in Taiwan, furniture is a fundamental element in my work.
Who are your heroes in the world of furniture design, and what are your inspirations?
Inspiration comes from observing my surrounding environment. My design process starts from the material itself, just like a chef looking around the
market for various ingredients, and seeking the best way to turn them to delicious recipes.