Prototype Island exhibition highlights Singaporean design at Milan design week

The Prototype Island exhibition, organized by the DesignSingapore Council, took place from 20 to 26 April 2026 during Milan design week. Curated by Hunn Wai (co-founder of Lanzavecchia + Wai), Eian Siew, and Maria Cristina Didero, the show presented 15 works by Singapore-based designers exploring themes of experimentation with technology, reinterpretation of care systems, and reshaping urban living. Featured projects included a modular ceramic furniture system by Parable, post-consumer waste objects by ODD M., a reimagined tea table by Roger Ng, 3D-printed vessels with lacquer threading by Melvin Ong, Shervon Ong, and Andy Yeo, garments merging Chinese calligraphy with English alphabet by Serina Lee, a tactile Braille book by Tusitala, an AI-based memory prompt system by Celeste Seah, a 4D-printed cast system, and a flexible joint system by Reynard Seah. The exhibition framed Singapore as a living prototype using design to address global challenges. It succeeded the DesignSingapore Council's Future Impact series (2023–2025) and precedes the Singapore Design Biennale launching in 2027.