Singgih S. Kartono

Singgih S. Kartono is redefining the relationship between design, sustainability and rural development in Indonesia. The internationally acclaimed designer behind Magno wooden radios and Spedagi bamboo bicycles, he has transformed local materials and craftsmanship into products recognised by leading institutions, including London’s Design Museum, Japan’s Good Design Award and Hong Kong’s Design for Asia Award. His recent creations include the Spedagi Dalantrasah and Trengginas bicycles (2024), as well as LemPit (2025), the world’s first bamboo folding bicycle.

Beyond product design, Kartono sees design as a catalyst for community-led development. Since 2019, he has led the Murakabi Movement, bringing together artists, designers, architects, makers and local food literacy advocates. In 2026, he founded Daya Temanggung, an independent research and development institution that serves as a social laboratory for collaboration between local governments and communities, with a focus on inclusive and sustainable development. He also joined Tokyo Zokei University in Japan as a Visiting Professor in 2026. Through initiatives such as Pasar Papringan and the Spedagi Movement, Kartono continues to demonstrate how design can help revitalise rural communities and foster more sustainable ways of living.