Mark Wee is the executive director of DesignSingapore Council, a national agency that focuses on the role design plays in encouraging innovation, growing businesses and improving the quality of life. The multi-hyphenate is apt for the role, having worked as an artist and architect, and being one of the country’s foremost advocates for design. Wee steers the agency, which is part of the Singapore Economic Development Board, in its efforts to encourage the use of design as a strategic tool for the government and businesses.

The founder and principal of design, innovation and architecture studio Annex A Architects has a wealth of industry experience. He represented Singapore at the 11th Venice Biennale International Architecture exhibition as part of Union Experience. Wee also launched award-winning architectural firm Ong&Ong’s Experience Design Studio in 2011 and helmed it until 2016, working with clients such as Singapore Airlines, Sentosa, the State Courts and the Housing & Development Board.

On top of that, Wee is an adjunct lecturer in digital service design and innovation at the National University of Singapore’s Institute of Systems Science, and the co-author of Let’s Experience Design.