A University of New South Wales Master of Design graduate, Nathan started his career as a buyer and engaged in product development for various companies in Singapore. His foray into furniture design started in 1999, with the opening of the first retail store, Air Division,  which achieved commercial success both locally and overseas. A long list of accolades followed, including Red Dot Concept Design Award, the Singapore President’s Design Award in 2008 and one of ARCHITONIC's TOP 200 DESIGNERS 2015.

He currently runs Nathan Yong Design, a multidisciplinary design consultancy practice. His work spans industrial design, graphics design, interior design, architectural design, strategic planning in product development, manufacturing process and branding.  He is also the co-founder of furniture retail store, Grafunkt.

Travel and cultural differences have continually influenced Jarrod throughout his developing career.  Trained in Industrial Design, he moved to Milan after graduation to work with Patricia Urquiola, one of the world’s most sought-after designers. His next stint took him to the UK where he was employed by SCP, one of the UK’s top design and furniture manufacturers.

Developing projects from a manufacturing perspective gave him a well-rounded viewpoint of the industry and a solid foundation to launch his own design studio. Returning to Melbourne for a brief stint as a design lecturer, a strong desire to open his own studio finally prompted him to explore opportunities in Singapore. Located in Eastern Singapore, Jarrod Lim Design studio greets visitors with an enticing gallery space at the front and his office tucked away at the back. Jarrod continues his search for new and interesting projects with clients that are open to fresh thinking and looking for an innovative solution.

Educated as an industrial designer at the National University of Singapore, Hunn Wai later earned a Masters in Design from the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands. His design studio, Lanzavecchia + Wai, has collectively garnered attention and accolades in major design platforms such as the SaloneSatellite, Fuori Salone and the Triennale Design Museum in Milan. The design studio’s diverse portfolio includes limited editions for galleries and museums, mainstream products for major companies, special commissions for brands like Alcantara,  Samsonite, Mercedes Benz and helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland. Internationally renowned periodicals such as *Wallpaper and FRAME have also featured the prolific design outfit.

Recent accomplishments include being awarded the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2016,  “Innovation in Inclusive Design Practice Award” by the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art, London in 2015 and  “Young Design Talent of the Year” by Elle Decor International Design Prize 2014, selected by the 25 editors worldwide.

An Industrial design graduate from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia, Patrick Chia is also the founding director of the Design Incubation Centre at the National University of Singapore.  His designs have been exhibited and represented by galleries in Paris, New York, Los Angeles, London and Tokyo. Since 2002, he has collaborated extensively with the Japanese company Time and Style. In 2006, Patrick was awarded The Best Breakthrough Act by the influential international design magazine, Wallpaper*, during its 2006 Annual Design Awards.

A 2013 recipient of the President’s Design Award, Patrick has invited to judge various competitions and awards including the Red Dot Design Awards and James Dyson Award. He is also the Chief Judge of the Furniture Design Award organised by the Singapore Furniture Industries Council as well as Jury Chair for President’s Design Award Singapore 2015 and 2016.

A designer and an educator, Hans Tan’s work is occupied with the authenticity of the contemporary design artifact being a deliberate gesticulation of material culture. His achievements include the conferment  of  the Design of the Year title at the President’s Design Award 2012 and 2015. Named as one of 36 Young Asian Designers by Designnet magazine in Korea, the accomplished designer's works have been exhibited in Venice, New York, Paris and Hong Kong, China. He is currently an assistant professor at the Division of Industrial Design, National University of Singapore.

(Source: Furniture Times)