Singapore – The Singapore Interior Design Festival (SIDFest) is back after a year’s break and will boast it’s most creative and immersive edition yet.

From interactive, multi-sensory showcases that are set to thrill visitors, to discussions on key emerging issues facing the design world today, SIDFest will appeal to both design novices and seasoned professionals.

The festival, at the National Design Centre (NDC), was officially opened on Thursday 17 June 2021 by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, who is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development. The month-long event will be opened to the public from June 18 to July 18.

“SIDFest is a key platform to profile our local designers. I am glad that the Society of Interior Designers Singapore (SIDS) is continuing to look at ways to engage our designers and develop the field of interior design professionally,” said Minister Indranee.

Beyond the theme for this year’s festival, Optimised/Optimism also captures the resilient and innovative spirit of Singapore’s interior design community. Into its third edition, SIDFest was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and was postponed for a month this year after Singapore entered a state of heightened alert.

SIDS persevered with the planning of the festival. Working closely with the NDC, it created a compelling showcase that shines the spotlight on Singapore’s emerging design industry, while reflecting NDC’s overarching, curatorial theme of Casting Hope.

In some ways, the pandemic served as a catalyst for many positive changes and initiatives in the design industry. Said SIDS President Keat Ong: “It has brought the important work of our designers to the forefront. In a post-Covid world, elements like better ventilation and air circulation have become magnified. Wellness-focused design also becomes more important as people spend more time at home, and at times in isolation.

The issue of design in a post-Covid world will be one of the major themes at SIDFest. It will be discussed at the SIDS Symposium, which is supported by the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) and will be attended both physically and virtually by IFI delegates and the international design community. The subject will also be touched on at the Asia Roundtable, which will feature industry leaders from 15 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region.

The topic will further be explored at the Generation Next showcase, which will feature works from Singapore youth who were tasked to improve, rethink and tackle issues of today - while creating an impact on tomorrow. Issues range from social to environmental ones, including the topic of the day - living with the new norm in a post-pandemic world. The highlight of the festival is set to be the Design By Numbers showcase, which will occupy NDC’s main atrium space. 

Said festival director Dennis Cheok: “For Design By Numbers, we carved out a grid of 1.5 metres by 1.5 metres, established the rules of the game, and it was basically carte blanche for each of the creatives and brand partners. “From experiential tunnels, a glass corridor with brush strokes, to an installation exploring the metamorphosis from sand to quartz, it’s all quite excitingly varied and with very intriguing results. It’ll be a multi-sensory treat SIDFest will also see the unveiling of the inaugural SIDS 20 Under 45 Awards. 20 Under 45 is both a showcase and an awards ceremony recognising the works of some of the most promising young interior designers in Singapore.

Said DesignSingapore Council Executive Director Mark Wee: “This edition of SIDFest with its theme of ‘hope and optimism’ offers the public an uplifting and exciting view into the future of work and live environments in a post pandemic world. We believe that in such difficult times, the festival will offer fresh ideas and new designed experiences that we can all look forward to. We welcome all of you to the NDC to be inspired by what the interior design community has in store.”   

Added Prof Ong: “SIDFest 2021 promises to be our most engaging and exciting festival yet. Whether you are a lover of good design or just curious to see how spaces could evolve in a post-Covid world, there will be something for everyone.”