The woman putting Singapore industrial design on the map

CNA Lifestyle

The woman putting Singapore industrial design on the map

At 34, industrial designer Olivia Lee is already on the picket list of design publications around the world. Dream wildly, she says, and make it a reality.

30 Mar 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 04 Jul 2022 03:52PM)

There's a wonderful passage in Patrick Rothfuss' award-winning fantasy novel, The Proper noun Of The Wind, in which the main character Kvothe describes someone from his past.

"No matter where she stood, she was in the centre of the room. Practise non misunderstand. She was non loud, or vain. Nosotros stare at a burn down because it flickers, because it glows. The light is what catches our eyes, but what makes a human lean close to a fire has nothing to practice with its bright shape. What draws yous to a burn down is the warmth yous feel when you come near."

This passage came to heed when I idea about how best to depict award-winning, local industrial designer Olivia Lee. She ever seems to be in deep idea whenever I come across her, quietly contemplating what's happening effectually her.

Maybe that's merely her mode. She wears stillness and confidence like a tailored gown.

READ: Creative Capital: These siblings desire to brand their sunglasses the next big affair 'since chicken rice'

And while most taciturn people fade into the background, you always feel Olivia'south presence. Y'all're always aware of this intelligent and creative person in the room, and are oft wondering, what is she thinking?

Books Of Life is a series of leather-bound accessories washed in collaboration with Bynd Artisan. (Photograph: Olivia Lee)

At the offset of 2018, Olivia was a name every designer in Singapore knew. She was one of those brilliant young prodigies that had fabricated a name for herself early on – topping her class at Key Saint Martins Higher Of Art And Pattern, and winning the opportunity to represent her form at a branding workshop in LVMH. She created a graduation project that went viral and worked for famed French designer Sebastian Bergne.

READ: Creative Capital: This local tailor wants you to invest in 'fabricated in Singapore'

At home, she worked with the Economical Development Board to foster the growth of Singapore'due south pattern sector. Olivia established her ain studio at the age of 28, and has been named one of the eight nearly promising young designers at the renowned Salone del Mobile (Milan furniture exhibition) in 2017.

The Athena Collection. (Photo: Olivia Lee)

The accompanying press meant that Olivia was featured in almost every major publication in the country and is, today, arguably Singapore's most recognisable young female designer.

Hither, in CNA Lifestyle's series, where nosotros speak with creatives making their mark in Singapore, Olivia discusses overcoming Singapore'southward supposed limitations, and how social media is helping to empower our female creatives.

LAST YEAR WAS A MEMORABLE ONE FOR YOU. LOOKING BACK, WHAT WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS?

2018 was indeed a special year. My highlights include getting to work with Hermes on their store scenography, beingness featured in Wallpaper Handmade, making Dezeen's x Designers To Watch From Milan Design Week 2018 list.

I also exhibited my design commission for The Balvenie and was a panellist for The New York Times' T Magazine. I received the Her World'southward Young Adult female Achiever 2022 accolade from President Halimah Yacob; was invited to the Istana for National Day; and most chiefly, I married the love of my life, Hunn Wai.

HUNN WAI IS Some other HIGHLY ACCLAIMED DESIGNER. Accept Yous GUYS DISCUSSED COLLABORATING PROFESSIONALLY?

Many people have asked us this question and they usually mean if our studios would ever piece of work on a project together and co-sign it. Of class, we would absolutely be open to the correct opportunity. But we'd only do it if it was a resounding "yes" for both of usa, as it has to be an endeavor that resonates with the values of our respective practices and merits our combined efforts.

The way nosotros see it, Hunn Wai and I are always in a country of collaboration. As life partners, we are lifelong co-conspirators. Nosotros dream and deliberate all the time, whether in our personal or professional chapters.

FOR SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW YOUR WORK, HOW WOULD You DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO?

As an industrial designer by discipline, I am trained to conceive and translate concepts into something tangible that can be produced or manufactured at calibration. We are encouraged to dream wildly and taught to find a fashion to brand it a reality. Historically, that has meant anything from furniture and lighting, to vehicles and consumer electronics.

Today, the definition of what we are able to create has actually expanded to include interior spaces, new materials and surfaces, user research, apps and new business concern models.

It is a fine balance of art, science, verse, engineering and commerce. And so, for anyone who has polymathic aspirations, industrial blueprint is an first-class entry-point to becoming a multidisciplinary person.

A collection of drawing tools named Instruments Of Beauty: Divine Tools. (Photo: Olivia Lee)

IS SURVIVING IN SINGAPORE AS A DESIGNER DIFFICULT? HOW DO YOU BALANCE Beingness A BUSINESSPERSON AND A Creative?

Doing something well and knowing how to translate that into a healthy ways of living is hard, whether it is in design or any other industry.

One key challenge operating in Singapore is that we accept a small domestic market, so it would be hard to rely simply on that every bit a creative practitioner. The upside is, this forces one to remember globally from the onset.

I find information technology useful to look for the opportunities within our supposed limitations. Sometimes, all it takes is a picayune reframing to run into a style out. This applies to both the creative and business do.

Majesty Of Nature was commissioned by Temasek Holdings and Supermama for Temasek'southward 40th Ceremony celebration. (Photo: Olivia Lee)

HAVE THERE BEEN ANY Low POINTS SINCE YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER AND HOW DID Y'all GET THROUGH THEM?

I feel like nothing ever felt and so destitute that I would be "low". I have been fraught with worry and felt disappointed, emotionally and creatively spent, mentally wearied, frayed at the edges, merely I've never felt despondent.

Over the years, I've made it a point to empathize how I work best and what makes me tick. We are all unique individuals with specific needs and it is so important to acknowledge what will help us function at our highest levels.

This has given me the awareness and conviction to know when I need to step back or just get a good nighttime's slumber… And be kind enough to myself to take a pause without feeling guilty about information technology.

READ: Creative Capital: The Singaporean brothers who congenital a Japanese fashion brand

Float is a coffee table that looks like a levitating lotus pond. (Photo: Olivia Lee)

WHAT BRAND HAVE You E'er WANTED TO WORK WITH?

There are and then many! I would really honey to pattern furniture for Fritz Hansen, work on a new Aesop store, create a popular-upward for COS, design jewellery for Cartier, create new dwelling house products for Google, create installations for Gentle Monster, develop a new dining feel for a restaurant like Noma. The list goes on.

Wonder Facility is a multi-concept workspace designed and launched by Olivia Lee. The space brings together people whose work spans across design, fine art, innovation and engineering science. (Photo: Sean The Photographer)

Exercise You FEEL THAT YOUNG Female person CREATIVES ARE MAKING A Marking IN SINGAPORE TODAY? OR HAVE In that location ALWAYS BEEN AMAZING WOMEN Changing SOCIETY Only WITHOUT THE Acclaim AND PRESS COVERAGE?

I think there take always been many amazing creative women in Singapore. I think one reason why nosotros are hearing more about them is because social media has empowered them, helped them class their base of operations and given them access to channels with a global reach.

The fact is that anyone today has the ability to create their own platform, profile their work and build their ain tribe. The Internet has made talent more discoverable and the ones that really stand up out get picked up by the mainstream media, amplifying the event and creating a feedback loop.

Deputed past the Singapore Article of furniture Industries Council, Struck was showcased as a public installation for SingaPlural, the anchor event of Singapore Pattern Week 2014. (Photo: Olivia Lee)

WHAT'Due south ON THE HORIZON FOR THE COMING YEAR?

Many exciting and highly confidential things! [Laughs] I tin can't tell y'all.

The woman putting Singapore industrial design on the map

Ad