SINGAPORE, 10 March 2016 – The Design Masterplan Committee (DMC) has released its report, Design 2025 – Singapore by Design. The committee was appointed by the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) in May 2015, to develop the strategies that will take design in Singapore to the next level of development. MCI has accepted the report and its recommendations.

Panelists from left to right: Mr Peter Overy (Managing Director, IDEO Singapore), Mr Low Cheaw Hwei (Head of Design, Philips ASEAN Pacific & Philips Design Consulting Asia), Mr Robert Tomlin (Chairman, DesignSingapore Council Board, Vice Chairman, Lepercq deNeuflize Asia Pte. Ltd), Dr Beh Swan Gin (Chairman, Economic Development Board), Mr Tai Lee Siang (Group Managing Director, ONG&ONG Singapore; President Design Business Chamber, Singapore), and Mr Tim Kobe (Chief Executive Officer, Eight Inc.)

Singapore by Design – Vision for Design 2025
The vision of Design 2025 is for Singapore to be a thriving innovation-driven economy and a loveable city by design. Singapore companies will become highly adept at reinventing themselves to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. Using design as a strategic tool, companies will be able to create new businesses, new opportunities and new jobs. Residents in and visitors to Singapore will enjoy services as well as user and customer experiences that are people-centered. By 2025, our community will also embrace the use of design and actively participate in co-creating their living environment, which will in turn, cultivate a stronger sense of belonging and develop an endearing home for all.

“We believe that design can play a significant role in the future economy of Singapore. Design is an important driver of innovation and value creation for businesses and society. It can also add vibrancy and richness to our national identity,” said Dr Beh Swan Gin, Chairman of the Design Masterplan Committee.

Five Strategic Thrusts
Design 2025 sets out 15 recommendations under five strategic thrusts.  The first thrust aims to nurture design as a national competency to prepare the next generation of Singapore’s workforce for the future economy. It also seeks to develop a multi-disciplinary, industry-ready design workforce that will excel at a higher level of practice.

The second focuses on promoting the adoption of design and strengthening the design capabilities of businesses and the public sector.

The purpose of the third thrust is to help our design firms grow and expand internationally through initiatives that foster collaborations and the pooling of resources, as well as support for design research and experimentation to stay ahead of the curve.

The fourth thrust looks at bringing design closer to the community to promote greater appreciation of good design and a higher level of co-creation activity to improve daily living experiences.

The fifth thrust seeks to strengthen the Singapore Design brand. It aims to expand the global mindshare of Singapore as a design thought-leader, and to rally the design community here to achieve greater international influence and impact.

Accepting the report and its broad recommendations, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information, said, “I am confident that the recommendations outlined in Design 2025 will help increase design adoption and grow the design industry further. More importantly, they will enable businesses to create business opportunities, and society to improve the quality of life for our people through design. I look forward to the strong support and participation from the public, private and people sector to realise the vision of making Singapore an innovation-driven economy and a loveable city by 2025.”

For speech by DR YAACOB IBRAHIM, Minister for Communications & Information, at the opening of Singapore Design week 2016, click here.

Source: DESIGNSINGAPORE COUNCIL, MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION