Dezeen promotion: entries are now being accepted for the Furniture Design Award and Furniture Design Platform 2013 organised by the Singapore Furniture Industries Council.

Above: FDA 2012 Grand Award Winner, Designers Category - Wake Chair, Israel

Twelve entries will be shortlisted and a panel of industry professionals will interview candidates, after which finalists will showcase their designs at the Singapore Expo during the International Furniture Fair Singapore 2013/30th ASEAN Furniture Show, Décor Asia 2013 and The Hospitality Show 2013.

Above: FDA 2012 Honorable Mention Award, Students Category - Zomm Stool, Singapore

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
» Grand Award - S$10,000 Cash + Certificate + Trophy + 12sqm booth space at Platform 2014
» Honourable Mention Award - S$1,000 Cash + Certificate + Trophy
» Merit Award - Certificate + Trophy
» Best Use of Material - Certificate + Trophy

Above: FDA 2012 Honorable Mention Award, Students Category - Gaun coffee table, Singapore

The Furniture Design Platform showcases work by independent designers, architects and arts and design institutions and all applicants are eligible to show their new prototypes at the events mentioned above, subject to approval by a panel of industry practitioners.

Above: FDP 2012 exhibitor - aBalcony from Singapore

Application forms for both FDA and FDP can be downloaded from www.furnituredesigndna.com. Entry for the award closes on 1 September 2012 and Furniture Design Platform applicants receive 20% off the participation fees before 16 September 2012.

Above: FDP 2012 exhibitor - Lacquer Plan from Taiwan

Here’s some more information from the organisers:

Aspiring designers can once again look forward to the highly-contested Furniture Design Award (FDA) which is now open for registration for 2013. Organised by the Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC), FDA 2013 seeks budding design talents from all over the world to showcase their unique creations amongst international furniture manufacturers and designers. The FDA is an annual furniture design competition which aims to uncover creative minds across the globe. Winning entries will be showcased and presented at the International Furniture Fair Singapore 2013/30th ASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS 2013), Décor Asia 2013 and The Hospitality Show 2013 in the first quarter of 2013.

Above: FDA 2012 Grand Winner - Mr Ori Ben Zvi from Israel with the winning entry - Wake Chair

"Since its inaugural edition in 1993, the Furniture Design Award has seen unique concepts and elaborate creations that challenge traditional design notions across the globe. 20 years later, we continue to look forward to innovative ideas that showcase the potential to command the next wave of furniture design trends," said Mr Simon Ong, Chairman of Design Development, SFIC.

The 20th edition of FDA introduces the theme, “CO-EXIST”, challenging designers to rethink their roles and contemplate global issues affecting the living environment today. In view of the rising frequency in natural disasters, global warming, and over-population, FDA 2013 invites participants to address pressing issues across social, economic and environmental landscapes to create furniture that not only serves its aesthetic purpose, but has the ability to coexist with the ever-changing environment.

Over the years, FDA has grown to include international submissions as well as an international panel of judges. It has become a recognised platform for furniture industry players to network with one another, creating opportunities for collaborations and business exchanges across countries.

Last year, FDA 2012 received submissions from countries including Denmark, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Israel and Thailand, judged by international jury members such as Chris Lefteri (United Kingdom), Pepe Heykoop (Netherlands), Roberta Mutti (Italy) and Christina Ghion (France).

The entries for FDA 2013 will be judged based on several criteria including creativity, functionality, renewability, efficient use of sustainable materials and how the prototyped is best designed for a harmonious fit with the living environment. The FDA will be presented under the following categories:
• Grand Award
• Honourable Mention Award
• Merit Award
• Best Use of Material

Since 2007 SFIC has extended the call for submissions to international students and designers, giving opportunities for a wide range of concepts and fresh ideas to be considered in both the Students and Designers category. The Students category is open to any student studying in local and international arts and design institutions and the Designers category welcomes participants local and worldwide that are aged 40 years and below as of 9 March 2013. The members of the FDA 2013 panel comprise prominent industry personalities and renowned international designers.

FDA 2013 can be entered online at www.furnituredesigndna.com and entry submissions start on 1 June 2012 and close on 1 September 2012. A full list of categories, deadlines and award criteria is available at the website. FDA 2013 is organised with the full support of DesignSingapore Council, International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, SPRING Singapore, American Hardwood Export Council, and DesignS. Along with FDA, the council also provide another avenue, the Furniture Design Platform (FDP) to help promising, young local and international furniture designers launch their new prototypes in the international market, kick-start their design careers and form fruitful partnerships with leading manufacturers and buyers that visit IFFS/AFS, Deco Asia and Hospitality Asia. It aspires to add to the design thrust of SFIC by branding Singapore as Asia’s furniture design hub.

FDP, formerly known as PLATFORM, showcased pieces from 75 young furniture designers at last year’s show. 15 participating design studios and institutions from six countries, namely Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, United Kingdom were represented. According to exhibitors, a total of 20 potential business leads as well as 21 on spot orders were generated at the exhibition last March.

Above: FDP 2012 exhibitor - MacMaster Design from United Kingdom

All independent designers (not associated with manufacturers or established in the business), architects and arts and design institutions will be eligible to showcase their new prototypes at FDP 2013. Applications are subject to approval by a panel comprising prominent industry practitioners. Interested applicants can send in their application form (downloadable from www.furnituredesigndna.com) to SFIC and enjoy 20% early bird rates off the participation fees before 16 September 2012.

Above: FDP 2012 exhibitor - Koji Sekita from Japan

www.furnituredesigndna.com