DesignS

 

DesignS, a group partnership of design-centric institutes and associations in Singapore, was officially launched today. Formed in 2009 to provide a platform for the creation of a coordinated Design network, it comprises eight member institutes - the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Singapore (4As), Designers Association Singapore (DAS), Interior Design Confederation (Singapore) (IDCS), Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC), Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects (SILA), Singapore Institute of Planners (SIP) and the Textile & Fashion Federation (TaFF). The new brand name was unveiled by Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts. DesignS was established in 2009 to collaborate on common issues within the local design industry and the primary goals of DesignS are:

  • To foster a sense of community and network amongst the design fields
  • To work in concert on joint educational and continual professional development
  • To jointly promote and advance the “Singapore Brand” of design

DesignS is also committed towards several anchor events and activities, all aimed at ensuring the sustainability and promotion of Singapore’s Designcommunity. These events include the annual PUSH Showcase to recognise talented designers amongst the eight member institutes and planned activities to promote continued professional development as well as Singapore’s creativity capabilities to the world market.

Designers Association Singapore
1. Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Singapore
2. Designers Association Singapore
3. Interior Design Confederation (Singapore)
4. Singapore Furniture Industries Council
5. Singapore Institute of Architects
6. Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects
7. Singapore Institute of Planners
8. Textile and Fashion Federation of Singapore

Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Singapore
The Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Singapore, better known as the 4Rs, was founded in 1948 during the days of largely black and white media ads.

Though the ads now maybe in full, living colour, the purpose of the 4Rs remains the same. Its key objectives are to elevate the stature of the advertising and marketing communications industry, provide advertising professionals with a collective voice and to nurture talent and creativity. Today, advertising has been transformed with the applications of relevant technology which offer exciting new advertising media, among them the internet, mobile phones and personal digital assistants. Now, more so, the objectives of the association remain relevant.

The 4Rs represents advertising and marketing communications practitioners, agencies and related businesses in Singapore. It works in close co-operation with other related trade associations, schools and government bodies. Over the years, it has introduced a series of industry awards to recognize outstanding talents in advertising, media and related fields to motivate those in the industry to achieve greater heights.

Several key events are held annually by the 4Rs. Prominent among them are the Singapore Creative Circle Awards or the Gong Show; the Students creative Awards, popularly known as The Crowbars; and the Singapore Media Awards.
Designers Association Singapore
The Designers Association Singapore (DAS) is the nationally acclaimed membership body for professional design practices and designers. A notional strategic body for design and designers.

Membership in the DAS profiles your status as a qualified, credible and ethical practicing professional.

Your DAS membership affords many benefits, such as access to an extensive network of designers, both locally and internationally, services and information about designers, design, design-related industries and para-design associations globally.
Interior Design Confederation (Singapore)
The Interior Design Confederation (Singapore) or IDCS is a non-profit organization and a registered society under Singapore law.

First registered in 2003, IDC evolved from the merger of two professional organizations with common goals and objectives, the Interior Designers association and the Society of Interior Designers (Singapore). The core members of IDC are individual designers qualified to provide interior design and related services.

Our membership provides these services under a wide range of circumstances, across all sectors of our industry. The confederation spearheads industry initiatives to re-enforce our goals. These include:

- Raising profile of our members
- Promoting a clearer understanding of our profession
- Increasing the level of professionalism of our members thereby elevating the status of the profession
- Managing corporate & individual expectation with regard to the level of service our members will provide

The Confederation assists and advises organizations and persons working in related areas such as architecture, engineering building and construction. We are in close contact with government departments, institutions and neighbouring design associations and are members of IFI (International Federation of Interior Architects/ Designers) and APSDA (Asia Pacific Space Designers Association).
Singapore Furniture Industries Council
Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC) was established in 1981 as the official representative body of Singapore’s furniture industry. It currently represents 95% of furniture manufacturers in Singapore, 65% of whom have subsidiary manufacturing plants in the region, including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Its primary roles include promoting the interest of its members and the Singapore furniture industry, facilitating members’ exposure to the world market, creating more entrepreneurs through human resource development, developing local talents, creating more leading-edge and award winning designs by organized competitions such as the annual Furniture Design Award, forging strategic partnerships with government and trade related agencies, harnessing technology and knowledge for growth through the use of information technology.

SFIC, the parent company of International Furniture Fair Singapore Pte Ltd, is the organizer of the annual International Furniture Fair Singapore and ASEAN Furniture Show. SFIC also manages the International Furniture Centre at Sungei Kadut and represents Singapore in the ASEAN Furniture Industries Council (AFIC).
Singapore Institute of Architects
The Singapore Institute of Architects is a professional organization established in 1961 with the objective to promote the architectural profession and the built environment in Singapore. The Institute is the sole representative for the architectural profession in Singapore.

MISSION: To champion excellence in architecture and the built environment.
VISION: Singapore as an ARCHITECTURE CAPITAL.

Singapore Institute of Landscape and Architects
SILA represents a professional body of qualified landscape architects with the aim of advancing the art of landscape architecture and civic design in the Singapore environment. It also hopes to promote research and education in landscape architecture as well as to create and maintain a high standard of professional qualification.

SILA presently has a membership of 65. We hope, and are confident that with increasing awareness of the public to our environment, and the corresponding desire for good, healthy designs of buildings and their associated surroundings, our membership will expand.

Over the past decade, SILA has been represented in various committees formed by the Government to provide its expertise in the field of landscape design. Through participating in meetings and conferences organized by other professionals, SILA members keep themselves abreast of related industries.

There are also informal gatherings amongst SILA members to share professional knowledge of the latest trends in landscape architecture, in the belief that is through collective knowledge and collaboration that the entire field of landscape architecture in Singapore progresses.

SILA has also through circulation of its in-house journal, Landscape East, increased overall awareness of the benefits of the profession, and the role landscape architecture plays in improving the overall living environment for Singaporeans.

 
Singapore Institute of Planners
The Singapore Institute of Planners (SIP), registered in April 1971, is a professional body for town planners in Singapore. The Institute is dedicated to the advancement of urban planning and to promote planning practice as a profession. The specific objectives of the Institute are to promote and contribute towards advancement of urban planning and planning practice as a profession and encourage planning consultancy work in both the public and private sectors.

For the last 35 years, the Institute has maintained an active part in supporting the development of the town planning profession in Singapore. It has played a pivotal role in the providing feedback to the planning authorities in Singapore and has made representation on committees and panels set up by the former Singapore Planning Department and the Urban Redevelopment Authority in Singapore.

The Institute was represented in the making/ review of the Singapore Concept Plan 2001, Master Plan 2003 and Green Plan 2012 as well as dialogues with the relevant government agencies to promote urban planning excellence in Singapore.

Over the years the Institute’s membership has grew steadily. As at December 2005, the institute has a total of 102 members, comprising 21 Fellows, 54 Full Members, 26 Affiliates and 1 Student. Majority of our members are trained overseas. Formal academic training in urban planning is not available in Singapore at the moment. Aspiring planners have to attend overseas universities to pursue either a 4 year undergraduate programme, or a 1 to 2 years graduate urban planning course.

A large number of the Institute’s Fellows and Members are currently employed by Government and Statutory Bodies such as Urban Development Authority, Housing & Development Board, National Parks Board and Jurong Town Corporation. They largely undertake strategic planning studies, preparing master plans and executing regulatory and enforcement functions regularly.

Others are employed in the universities, property development and planning consultancy companies, such as SURBANA, CPG Consultants, Jurong Consultants. Yet others, especially those who are architect/ planners are operating their own professional offices. The largely undertake physical planning projects, urban design and strategic planning studies.
 
Textile and Fashion Federation of Singapore
As a non-profit organization, Textile & Fashion Federation (ToFf) has been the voice of the Singapore’s Textile and apparel industry since 60’s. Our main objective is to create a conducive environment to businesses involved in textile and apparel sourcing, fashion designing, distribution and fashion apparel retailing.

As the industry proponent, ToFf works closely with Singapore government agencies to introduce many initiatives to help the industry players, develop Singapore companies and also to provide associated services and to supply our members with economic and statistical data necessary for them to further their growth and expansion at international level.

MISSION: Promote Singapore as an International Fashion Business Hub for Textile and Apparel
VISION: Assist our members to become international class apparel providers and build Singapore own International brands
OBJECTIVE: To promote the manufacturing, marketing, sourcing, merchandising and distribution of all fashion related businesses in Singapore and to represent and safeguard the interests of these industry players in the Singapore.