At this year’s Milan Design Week (20-26 April), Singapore is presenting a curated exhibition of 15 design works that bring together technology, material innovation and product design across multiple sectors.
Named Prototype Island, the exhibition is presented by the DesignSingapore Council, at Foro Buonaparte 54 within the Brera Design District. It features contributions from designers and studios based in Singapore, selected by lead curator Hunn Wai and assistant curator Eian Siew.
The works are organised around three broad areas, covering material experimentation, care and accessibility, and everyday infrastructure.
AI, materials and modular design feature across exhibits
Several projects focus on material systems and computational design tools. These include modular ceramic components that can be reconfigured over time, and objects produced using post-consumer waste.
An AI-driven platform for architectural and spatial planning is also part of the exhibition, designed to support design workflows while maintaining creative control. Alongside this, an interactive installation explores computational approaches to modelling dynamic interactions.
Design extends into healthcare and accessibility
A number of works address healthcare and accessibility through product and system design.
These include a 4D-printed medical cast developed as an alternative to conventional fibreglass casts, designed to adapt to patient requirements. Another project introduces a compact insulin needle holder focused on safety and ease of use.
Accessibility-led design is also represented through a tactile book that combines raised imagery with Braille text, and a series of objects co-created with persons with disabilities. In parallel, generative AI is used in one project to support reminiscence therapy for people with dementia.
Craft and digital production intersect
Traditional craft practices are revisited through contemporary production methods. Projects include reinterpretations of Peranakan furniture using digital fabrication techniques, and vessels created through a combination of 3D printing and lacquer threading.
Another work draws from calligraphy traditions to develop a system that merges Chinese script with the English alphabet for application across both physical and digital formats. A separate installation references the South Indian practice of kolam drawing through computational systems.
Everyday systems reimagined through design
Other exhibits focus on everyday objects and structural systems. These include a flexible joint system inspired by plant cells for use in modular environments, and experimental approaches that turn common visual elements such as barcodes into interactive design components.
Across the exhibition, the projects are presented within a lightweight spatial layout designed to allow flexible movement and interaction.
The exhibition forms part of Singapore’s participation in Milan Design Week and is accompanied by a series of talks and public programmes featuring designers, curators and guest speakers.
