This is the year of transformative change in more ways than one. Singapore Design Awards has been honouring outstanding designers, design students and design practices from across the world and it remains the leading design award in Southeast Asia. To foster a more inclusive creative industry and supportive ecosystem for designers, the 31st edition of the awards will introduce new changes this year.

The awards will do away with specific entry categories which separate students, professionals and corporates, and instead accept submissions from any creative persons who use design as their primary problem-solving tool. It will be one that is relevant to the current challenges that Singapore faces and we are very honoured to be working more closely with the government agencies - Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY).

The award evaluation criteria will place greater emphasis on solutions which demonstrate empathy, impact, and creativity, stirring up interest and adding tangible value to the end-user experience. These changes are in line with our manifesto of achieving better business by design, and to use design for social good. It also enables us to impart to different communities that social cohesion can be achieved through intentional co-design.

Designers have a raw skill set that’s very valuable in the future, in that we offer much impact on a product or company through our creativity and innovative thinking. I welcome you to support this exciting revamped initiative and look forward to receiving your submissions!