Design City: Talent Spotlight in Singapore
Interview with Donn Koh

TAXI >>Hi Donn! Thank you for taking time out to be with TAXI. Describe to us the real Donn Koh in let's say, 10 words. Donn Koh>> Jesus loves me, I know! The Bible told me so! =) TAXI >>Congratulations on your win for Leapfrog Assistive Walker! I believe it won the Red Dot Design Concept 07 as well as the BraunPrize 07. I'm sure everyone wants to know what is it about. Tell us more? Donn Koh>> LeapFrog helps children with impaired mobility to rise and stand from a sedentary position, allowing them to learn and practice walking. It is uniquely kind and gentle, automatically transforming to follow the intention of the child i.e. it automatically folds into a chair to allow the child to rest when he is tired, and gives him a little encouraging uplift to help him stand up when he tries to. Consequently, caregivers are freed from the hassle of having to repeatedly carry the child in and out of the walker between walking and resting, making frequent practice less of a chore. Thus, the child practices more often, and also interacts more with his environment and people. Most importantly, he gets to experience a sense of independence and achievement, and develops self-motivation and self-confidence. It also helps that Leapfrog is endowed with pretty looks, having a fun and toy-like charm quite untypical of medical devices. TAXI >>What is your main inspiration behind it? Donn Koh>>The opportunity to turn dreams into physical reality – for a special population of children. TAXI >>How would you describe the design scene in Singapore? Donn Koh >> On the verge of an exciting explosion. TAXI >>Do you think there is much exposure to budding designers in Singapore? Donn Koh>> The excellent information infrastructure and global culture of Singapore enables budding designers to see many things if we have the will to seek, see, and be seen – even within Singapore! With travel, it undoubtedly becomes even better as new experiences and new people are encountered in person. TAXI >>What do you think is lacking in the Singapore design industry? How do you think, you as a designer, can contribute? Donn Koh>> I’m tempted to pretend that I know – and sound smart! But honestly, I don’t have a clear answer: At times it seems like there is so much lacking, but at other times it seems that the struggle with these inadequacies is precisely what molds us to become even better, as individuals and as a community.

---

Design City: Talent Spotlight in Singapore
Interview with Gabriel Tan

TAXI >>Hi Gabriel! Thanks for taking time out to spend it with TAXI. Now, describe what Gabriel Tan is all about in one sentence. Gabriel Tan>> Whoa, introspective questions are tough. You can say that I’m a designer that tries to inject both provocation and functionality into my projects, because I believe outstanding designs cannot live without either. TAXI >> You won the first Asia Award of Bombay Sapphire Designer Glass Competition 2005. Congratulations! You also represented Asia to compete in the Global Award held during the Salone del Mobile. Tell us more about the project and what was your main inspiration behind the winning product? Gabriel Tan>> The project was about reinterpreting the traditional shape of the martini glass into a form that is not usually associated with a traditional drinking glass. I used sharp angles and straight lines to create the glass. At a time when curves was all that rage, I wanted to show that sophistication and beauty can be represented through geometry too. I also felt the design was an appropriate representation of Singapore as our country is characterized by modernity and progressiveness, like the stark modern architecture in our city. TAXI >>I believe you're ¼ of Outofstock. Who is Outofstock really for? Gabriel Tan>>Outofstock is for you, because we are trying to strengthen the relationship between the user and the products we own – through the formal translation of sentimental experiences into products, such as playing with snow (winter arrives) and with our eraser in elementary school (eraser usb). Outofstock is for us, because it is a design house where four close friends who really enjoy working with each other can strive towards their design ideals and ambition. TAXI >> What are your views on the design industry here in Singapore? Gabriel Tan>>I think it is certainly growing, we have to be patient to keep nurturing our talents with better education and continue to cultivate the environment – educate the public and companies and in time they will realize that design can improve their quality of life and business respectively, and then our design industry will thrive. TAXI >> What do you think the scene in Singapore is lacking and how can you as a designer contribute to it? Gabriel Tan>>I think we could still improve in terms of design education. By this I mean from the lower levels, such as primary, secondary education. If art and technical classes can be taught at that level, why not introduce elements of design (design history and theory as well as hands-on)? It will spark a more positive attitude towards design and a higher appreciation level from our younger generation. I intend to go back to my secondary and primary schools and volunteer my services for one-off design workshop, and see if they find it useful to their students. This will sometime in 3rd quarter 2008. TAXI >> If there is one thing that you could change about the design scene in Singapore, what would it be? Gabriel Tan>>I wish we could see more efforts put into nurturing the young, like I said; incorporating basic design education into primary and secondary schools is not that big a jump for us.

---

Design City: Talent Spotlight in Singapore
Interview with Tan Qiu Wen

TAXI >> Hello Qiu Wen! Thank you for being here with TAXI today. Now I'm sure our readers want to know how did iamwhoiam come about. Tell us more about it! Tan Qiu Wen>> Hi TAXI, iamwhoiam reflects my personality, kind of “like take it or leave it” attitude. I dislike doing things strictly by the book or doing things by following some kind of design methodology. I do it with a free mind. I enjoy making clothes & I enjoy the thinking process, and that’s what matters most. iamwhoiam is self explanatory in a way. The label may sound arrogant but it stays true to its own beliefs. TAXI >>Who exactly is iamwhoiam for? Tan Qiu Wen >>iamwhoiam can be anybody and is for everybody. Obviously not everybody might subscribe to my beliefs but perhaps they might be able to find a common ground with iamwhoiam. I can’t say that there is only one demographic, one character type that Iamwhoiam targets at. None whatsoever. All liberal here. TAXI >>Are there any projects that you are working on currently? Tan Qiu Wen>> Exploring on my new found interest (for the next collection). Sorry, still working on the initial concepts – nothing concrete yet. TAXI >> How would you describe the design scene in Singapore? Tan Qiu Wen >>Pretty promising. Things are definitely looking up and exciting. There’s a lot more going on, a lot more interest, and also a lot more connectivity. Could be improved on as with all things – but it’s definitely moving! TAXI >> What do you think is the design scene in Singapore is lacking? Tan Qiu Wen >>I feel there is a lack of understanding from the committee managing the local design scene. I feel that, in order to bring the local design scene to the next level, we need to be less commercial focus in the beginning. Obviously, we’ll need support for this. We should work on building the concept before we work on selling it.

---

Design City: Talent Spotlight in Singapore
Interview with Tan Kheng Ju

TAXI >>Hi Kheng Ju! Thank you for taking time out to spend time with us. To begin, what is Kheng Ju Photography all about and how did you get started? Tan Kheng Ju>> My father was a keen photographer when we were growing up, and there was always a camera in the house. I was shooting SLRs from the time I was fourteen. Still, I continued to spend half my life pursuing other careers. The scary thing is, if I were less of a restless character, I would probably have been quite content. The realisation came gradually in my 30s when I realized that life was too short to waste, so that’s when I rediscovered photography again, though it had never really left me. TAXI >> The design scene in Singapore is slowly branching out and expanding. What do you think about the scene here? Tan Kheng Ju>> My personal view is that design has never been more exciting in Singapore, but the general public needs to be more supportive of local talent. General attitudes have improved a lot in the past decade but we still have a long way to go in this respect. TAXI >>I also understand that you will be producing a series of images, commissioned by one of Singapore's premier boutique hotels for its 2008 calendar. Congratulations! How do you feel about that and can you tell us more about the project? Tan Kheng Ju>>I felt lucky to have been given so much creative freedom in this series, which involved shooting nudes and architecture ‘in the same breath’. So much similarity exists between the human landscape and the fluidity of architecture but the challenge was to merge them compellingly, which was new territory for me and for everyone involved in the project. I think I discovered a lot about myself doing this. It was a very gratifying experience, and I can say that I am proud of the outcome. TAXI >>How would you describe your own personal style that sets you apart from other Singaporean photographers? Tan Kheng Ju>>I don’t know what my personal style is and don’t really care. I prefer to think of my work as something fluid that is constantly evolving with one’s outlook and influences. I’d like to think that at each stage of my life, I shoot honestly to reflect the person I am. TAXI >>You're also a mentor for Noise Singapore. Tell us a bit more about this. Tan Kheng Ju>>I think we can all learn something from the idealism that young people bring to the equation. At the same time, it’s also important that they learn to be disciplined and translate this energy into sustaining their art. As creators, we are forging paths where there were none and it can be very lonely, and without a well of self-belief and motivation it’s easy to flounder. I try to guide my apprentices as they find their own voices.

---

Design City: Talent Spotlight in Singapore
Interview with Timothy Lee

TAXI >> Hi Timothy! I hope you're lovely today. How did you ever come up with the name N.CHAL.NT? Timothy Lee>> Hi there! I’m doing well, and I hope you’re great too! “n.nchal.nt” is for “nonchalant”. Removing the “o” and an “a”, replacing them with “.”s, was a way of personalizing the word. Nonchalant is what I feel with most things and situations in life. And since designing is part of my life, it seemed apt. TAXI >> You create clothes for women. How do you keep up with the fashion trends in order to deliver the best for your consumers? Timothy Lee>>Yes I do enjoy designing for women. But personally, I strongly believe that wearing what you want, following the dictation of your state of emotion or mind, that on its very own is or can be a trend. One that never goes out of style because it’s what you’re wearing is what you’re feeling or thinking like at that current point of time. Hence, i apply the same thinking to my designs. Designs for me, are often based on how I feel or think about any or every particular thing. TAXI >> What do you think is one piece of clothing that will never go out of style? Timothy Lee>>I don’t mean to seem like I’m dodging the question. But I feel that fashion is fast. It is quick to “in” or “out” something. And If I had to pick one article of clothing I feel will never go out of style, I reckon I’d say scarves. They can look good around your neck or as a complementary piece to a bag. No matter, I believe that scarves are easy to play mix-and-match with. TAXI >>Do you think the government is doing enough for the design scene in Singapore? Timothy Lee>>There has been support for the arts and design scene here in Singapore. This is evident; in comparison to how it must have been years ago. But still, everything in life could do with more improvements. Improvements are good. TAXI >>How would you describe the design scene in Singapore? Timothy Lee>>The arts and design scene here in Singapore is growing, definitely, a great thing. Nonetheless, I still feel that perhaps more focus and encouragement could be directed and placed upon local artists and designers. That said, I still stick to the statement that the scene here is better than how it must have been before. I just wish for more.

---

...................................................................................

TRAVEL ALBUM: DESIGN CITY publishes the essential photography subjects of a city. As they say, architecture landmarks denote the progressing development of a country. Design in each and every city speaks in different languages and dances to different cultures. A lot of cities are growing in the design realm but no one would know about this development but the travelers and the locals themselves. Only. The exciting quirks and electrifying eccentricity of Everyday Product, Design Schools, Designers, Resources, Hotels/Buildings, Design Studios/Personalities, Local Galleries, Museums, etc, are found in both secret and obvious places of the city.

We miss out on these simple things during travel or simply during our busy lifestyle in our own city. So the next time you travel, think of TRAVEL ALBUM: DESIGN CITY.

Design in Progress: Singapore. How Design a City is Singapore? We find out...

5 Hot Spots in Singapore. Where are the places to be? We'll show you...

...................................................................................



© 2003 - 2008 by TAXI Design Network. All rights reserved.