Meet the Design Team
Design Advisory Panel – Local Members
SIMON ONG
Chairman

As the Group Managing Director of Kingsmen Creatives Ltd, Simon Ong provides overseas strategic direction for the growth of the Group. Simon is also actively involved in the creative industry, including having held the position of President of the Interior Designers Association of Singapore (1995-1997) and Executive Committee Member of Singapore Furniture Industries Council (2002 - Present).

He is presently also a member of Advisory Committee of Temasek Polytechnic, School of Design, Singapore and the Chairman of SFIC design Development Committee. He is often invited to present papers and lectured in various international design conferences in Asia and USA.

ANDREW PANG
Vice Chairman

After graduating from Temasek Polytechnic with a diploma in Product Design in 1996, Andrew Pang joined Barang Barang as the Product Developer/Purchaser before moving to X-tra Designs Pte Ltd. In 2003 Andrew joined Contract Seatings International, a subsidiary of X-tra Designs where he was in charge of Design & Business Development which required him to market, brand and sell the company’s products in Singapore and develop new business.

He had won Merit Awards in the Furniture Design Award organized by Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC) and is actively involved in the local furniture scene. Since 2005, he has been appointed as the Vice Chairman of SFIC Design Advisory Committee as well as the Chairman of SFIC Furniture Design Award Organising Committee. The entrepreneur has recently set up his own company, Lavaworks, to provide a wide range of design consultancy services.
CARSTEN OVESEN
Member

Carsten Ovesen, a Denmark born designer who specializes in furniture design and furniture fabrics, has been residing in Singapore since 1990. Currently the Managing Director of Carsten Ovesen Design, Carsten's existing clients include Agio International in USA and Eurosa China Ltd in China, Koda Ltd in Singapore as well as many others.

Carsten was also the winner of many design competitions such as "Best Bedroom Design in USA (1993), "Product of the Year" (Gold) in London (1993) and "Best of British" at Spoga Fair in Germany (1994). He has also been on the judging panel of the SFIC’s Furniture Design Award for the past 16 years.
FELIX LOW
Member

Felix Low majored in Economics and Finance and despite a different academic background and a brief stint in the world of commerce, his passion for design saw him design several projects which included the presentation stage for the Singapore Business Awards in 2000.

In 2002, he focused his attention to furniture design and founded Urban Foundry, which produces the bulk of his designs and exclusives for other designers under its label. His designs have been exhibited in Salon Satellite, Milan, Cologne and published in several magazines and national newspapers.
JEREMY ONG
Member

Jeremy Ong, who was a graduate from Temasek Polytechnic, owns a Diploma in Interior Architecture and Design. He started off as a Senior Designer at Vision Designs & Contracts Pte Ltd in 1999 and proceeded to Actus Furnishing Pte Ltd where he worked as a Showroom Manager.

Jeremy is currently a Partner as well as Design Director with Designscale 1:3 Pte Ltd. Jeremy has been awarded the Gold Award for Young Designer Category, Furniture Design Award organized by Singapore Furniture Industries Council in 1999, 2002 & 2004 respectively.
   
KELLEY CHENG
Member

Kelley started her own publishing firm where she published her first architecture and design magazine, "ish" in 1999 where she sold publication to Page One Publishing Pte Ltd and sat in as the Editorial Director from 2002 to 2008.

In 2009, Kelley set up her a publishing and design consultancy, The Press Room, and is the Editor-In-Chief/Creative Director for Singapore Architect magazine, published by the Singapore Institute of Architects. A vivid player in the design arena, Kelley is often invited to judge at various design competitions.
 
KENNY HONG
Member

A graduate from Temasek Polytechnic in Product Design, Kenny further attained his Masters in Design in Domus Academy in Milan, Italy as well as Masters of Arts in Design in University of Wales. An active participant of major exhibitions, Kenny was the proud winner of That’s Design 2007 Competition where he exhibited his design in That’s Design 2007 in Milan (Superstudio @ Zona Tortona).

Currently, apart being the Deputy Manager of Product Development in Technigroup Far East Pte Ltd, where he manages the Product Development Department, Kenny also does part time teaching in Furniture Design at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Singapore).
LIM CHOON HONG
Member

Choon Hong, the Founder & CEO of XTRA Designs Pte Ltd, holds a degree in Bachelor of Architecture from the National University of Singapore. Together with XTRA Office Pte Ltd, the XTRA Group is recognized as a renowned high-end furniture purveyor in the Singapore and Malaysia market.

Choon Hong’s exposure in high-end design furniture industry started in the mid 80s in Knoll and Abraxas. Abraxas was then a market leader in a niche industry where there was a fusion in furniture design, lifestyle and fashion. Subsequently, he spent 3 years as an Interior Designer in Space Partnership.
MICHAEL IAN BUCKLEY
Member

Michael Buckley is an acknowledged expert on the uses and market applications of hardwood species and products. He has a Masters in US and EU hardwoods; is a Fellow of the Institute of Wood Science, a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Advancement of the Arts in London and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, an ancient craft guild in the City of London.

He is the organiser of the Wood Awards, the leading UK award for design and installation in wood. Now based in Singapore he takes a keen interest in designing with timber, working with leading furniture designers and many architects and continues close ties with furniture and panel industries in the region.
 
PATRICK CHIA
Member

Born in Singapore with a degree in Industrial Design from Australia, Patrick Chia's designs have been exhibited and represented by galleries in Paris, New York, Los Angeles, London and Tokyo.

His works have been published extensively in major international design journals. Since 2002 he has collaborated extensively with the Japanese company Time and Style. In 2006, Patrick Chia was awarded The Best Breakthrough Acts by the influential international design magazine, Wallpaper*, during its 2006 Annual Design Awards.

Concurrent to his current practice, Patrick Chia has recently been appointed as the Design Director of the Design Incubation Centre at the National University of Singapore.