Cover Shoson Thatawakorn and Jarupatcha Achavasmit, founders of Ausara Surface & Textile (Photo: Find – Design Fair Asia)
Shoson Thatawakorn and Jarupatcha Achavasmit, founders of Ausara Surface & Textile (Photo: Find – Design Fair Asia)
1 / 1
Discover how these Southeast Asian designers have breathed new life into traditional craft at the Emerge @ Find talent showcase for Singapore Design Week 2023
From September 21st to September 23rd, Emerge @ Find played a pivotal role at the 2023 Singapore Design Week. Having invited over 50 designers from all across Southeast Asia, this year’s fair was focused on the theme of ‘Craft + Industry: Man + Machine.’
“Whether rooted in ancient craft, interpreting the traditional through new materials and techniques, or relying entirely on contemporary technological innovations, each piece helps to shine a light on the crosscurrents between traditional crafts, new technologies, and interdisciplinary methods,” chimes Suzy Anetta, the founding editor in chief of Design Anthology and curator of this year’s exhibition.
Here are our top 5 picks from Emerge @ Find’s 2023 design exhibition, with these designer pieces now available for purchase at emerge.design-anthology.com
Read more: Discover how Cosentino’s latest Silestone collections are the epitome of luxury innovation
1. Shoson Thatawakorn
Above Shoson Thatawakorn with his co-founder, Jarupatcha Achavasmit (Photo: Find – Design Fair Asia)
Shoson Thatawakorn with his co-founder, Jarupatcha Achavasmit (Photo: Find – Design Fair Asia)
1 / 1
Shoson Thatawakorn majored in product design at the School of Architecture, Art and Design at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang in Bangkok. After graduating, he worked for 11 years as a product designer for Alexander Lamont before establishing Ausara Surface & Textile with textile designer Jarupatcha Achavasmit in 2013.
Based on the outskirts of Bangkok, Ausara currently employs nine craftsmen and weavers to create handmade collections of textiles and wall coverings based on the two owners’ designs. The company has already gained international recognition with large-scale installations for Shangri-La Singapore, The Den Bengaluru, and Four Seasons Bangkok.
Combining traditional Thai craft with innovative fabrication techniques, Ausara brings unconventionality and a passion for exploration to its fabric and surface collections, offering a modern reinterpretation of the traditional use of precious metals in textiles.
See also: Home Tour: A Pretty Pastel Mumbai Apartment With Transformable Bedrooms
A traditional method from thousands of years ago, Ausara showcases the beauty of this old art form (Photo: Shoson Thatawakorn / Behance)
1 / 4
2. Denny Pritayna
Above Denny Priyatna (Photo: plussome / Medium)
Denny Priyatna (Photo: plussome / Medium)
1 / 1
An industrial and product designer from Indonesia, Denny R Priyatna is also the founder of the Jakarta-based AIEVL design studio. Currently an alumnus of the Bandung Institute of Technology, Priyatna also has a Master’s degree from Central Saint Martins in London.
Priyatna’s designs have been exhibited internationally and won various awards, including the Silver Award at the A’ Design Award 2014–15 and two Merit Winners at the Singapore Furniture Design Award 2013.
In his current work, Priyatna is interested in exploring the limits of interaction between humans and inanimate objects, experimenting with materials and manufacturing techniques to create commercial, conceptual, and experimental products.
Read more: Sime Darby Property is a proponent of sustainable and responsible development
The Eum Stool is made from engraving patterns into upholstery foam to create a texture resembling stone. The patterns are reinterpretations of traditional Indonesian patterns, such as Kawung and Parang (Photo: Instagram / @aievl)
1 / 3
3. Hendro Hadinata
Above Hendro Hadinata (Photo: Shooting Gallery)
Hendro Hadinata (Photo: Shooting Gallery)
1 / 1
The founder of Studio Hendro Hadinata and Every Furniture, Hendro Hadinata’s designs feature collaborative works between local designers and craftsmen, reflecting the brand’s core values of creative innovation in collaboration with local expertise.
Gaining international recognition for his work, Hadinata has showcased his designs at leading global design exhibitions, such as Maison & Objet, the International Furniture Fair Tokyo, and CASA Indonesia.
Incorporating many traditional techniques from the local craftsmen in his hometown, Hadinata’s designs carry a modern aesthetic that originates from cultural themes. When asked about his creative process, Hadinata looks at cultural references of his hometown to see how the past can be used as an answer to the present.
See also: Salone del Mobile Milano 2023: 8 home design trends to watch
The glass side table is made using traditional glassblowing methods from Hadinata's home region (Photo: Studio Periphery)
1 / 3
4. Tiffany Loy
Above Tiffany Loy (Photo: Shooting Gallery)
Tiffany Loy (Photo: Shooting Gallery)
1 / 1
Trained in industrial design in Singapore and textile weaving in Kyoto, Tiffany Loy graduated from the Royal College of Art in London with an MA in textiles and specialises in weaving. In 2018, Loy received the DesignSingapore Scholarship and won the Design Anthology Award for Textiles the following year.
Since founding her studio in 2014, Tiffany has exhibited her experimental works at venues such as the Singapore Art Museum, the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, and Triennale Milano.
Her background in product and textile design has led to her unique approach to creating materials with minute details, emphasising their overall impact in the larger, spatial context.
Don't miss: History Unravelled: Textile artist Marcos Kueh explores what it means to be Sarawakian
In a project titled ‘Lines in Space II’, Loy explores the potentials of embroidery techniques to create 3D forms (Photo: Instagram / @tffnyly)
1 / 4
5. Budiman Ong
Above Budiman Ong (Photo: Instagram / @budimanong)
Budiman Ong (Photo: Instagram / @budimanong)
1 / 1
Born and raised in North Sumatra, Budiman Ong is a graduate of Gray’s School of Art in the UK. In 2008, he founded Ong Cen Kuang (OCK), focusing on quality handmade decorative lighting. Ong and his team at OCK have created a strong collection of original pieces that reflect Ong’s core design principles, one that respects both the production process and the unique characteristics of the materials used.
Founding Jia by OCK, a local home accessories and styling brand, in 2020 with his two friends, Jia aims to build and sustain a healthy ecosystem of creative communities within Indonesia.
Since young, Ong has always been drawn to lighting. Using this obsession to inspire his latest designs, his creations at the 2023 Emerge @ Find design exhibition fuse traditional craft with modern elements to form timeless and innovative products.
Don't miss: Mood Board: How Gabriel Scott Designs Beautiful Lighting Inspired by Jewellery
The folds of this lampshade are meticulously crafted by hand to mimic traditional Chinese lanterns (Photo: Instagram / @ongcenkuang)
1 / 4
Topics
Best of Tatler Asia video highlights
Featured videos from around Tatler Asia: Get exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the interviews we do, the events we attend, the shoots we produce, and the incredibly important people who are part of our community
About
A city girl at heart, Amber is happy to analyse intricate plot points, design concepts, and the best tea spots in Malaysia for those brave enough to ask. When she’s not writing, knitting, or playing the latest JRPG in her free time, she is most likely thinking of her next creative endeavour to immerse herself into.
Work
A senior writer primarily under Tatler Homes, Amber uses the analytic skills given to her by her Literature degree, her professional online marketing background having worked in various marketing agencies, and her own interest in functional home designs to create distinct and engaging pieces about the latest home tours, designers, and architectural news happening around the world.
You can find out more about her professional career on LinkedIn
