The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has been a champion not only of hardwood timbers, but of the designers who use them, helping to facilitate exceptional outcomes across international architectural typologies. This series, “The Material and the Maker”, explores the close collaborative relationship between AHEC and designers over more than a decade.

In our first instalment, we explored collaborations across Australia and New Zealand, where partnerships with AHEC produced immersive work that reimagined existing designs and vernaculars. Our second edition travelled to India, examining how local design icons and innovators combined their distinctive flair with the richness and versatility of American hardwoods. Now, for this third instalment, we turn our attention to Southeast Asia, a region experiencing remarkable growth both as a manufacturing powerhouse and a hub of leading design talent, where domestic demand for American hardwood species continues to flourish alongside the region’s established reputation as a major manufacturer of furniture for markets globally.

Lifecycles

When esteemed Singaporean designer Nathan Yong launched Lifecycles in July 2023, his five-piece collaboration with AHEC aimed to be deliberately provocative. Crafted from American cherry, maple, and red oak – species that collectively make up 40% of American hardwood forest volume yet remain underutilised in design – the collection challenges viewers to rethink their assumptions about environmentally responsible design.

“It should start with a feeling of strangeness,” Yong explains. “Why is it built that way? What is the point of it? I hope our curious minds will lead us to understand and appreciate the things around us more, be they natural or manmade.” Drawing on constructivist theory, Yong emphasises active participation in the creation and interpretation of experience, with each piece inviting engagement that extends beyond mere aesthetics. That said, in addition to being easily renewable and serving as a natural carbon store, the hardwoods are strong, tactile, versatile, and aesthetically appealing, all unique through their own distinctive features.

What sets Lifecycles apart is its rigorous environmental accountability. A comprehensive lifecycle assessment calculated the collection’s total carbon footprint at 1,257kg of CO2 equivalent, roughly what the average Singaporean produces in 55 days, or equivalent to a one-way economy flight from Singapore to Sydney. This transparency underscores Yong and AHEC’s broader investigation into the scientific underpinning of sustainability claims, demonstrating that minimising environmental impact requires commitment from designers, manufacturers, policymakers, and consumers alike. As Yong notes, “Through artistic pieces people question the real value of objects for them, for nature, for communities and the good of the planet.”

Discovered Singapore

Following its original London exhibition, Discovered Singapore brought together 10 emerging designers from across the Asia Pacific region in an extraordinary showcase at the Red Dot Design Museum in 2024. Selected from a global line-up of 20 participants, these young creatives including Nong Chotipatoomwan, Kodai Iwamoto, Mew Mungnatee, Trang Nguyen, Taiho Shin, Ivana Taylor, Yunhan Wang, Vivienne Wong, Tan Wei Xiang, and Duncan Young each developed objects from their choice of American red oak, cherry, hard or soft maple.

Supported by AHEC’s technical experts and mentored by established designers Nathan Yong and Adam Markowitz, the designers explored themes of identity, cultural heritage, and social ritual, resulting in a diverse selection ranging from functional furniture to abstract sculptural works. The exhibition represented both functional and emotional connections to everyday objects, with the inherent comfort of touch serving as a central consideration throughout the creative process.

Man x Machine x Material

Australian-Singaporean designer Jarrod Lim pushed boundaries in an entirely different direction with his Man x Machine x Material collaboration, presented at the recent Interzum SEA in Jakarta, Indonesia. Experimenting with human-computer interaction, Lim engaged ChatGPT in the design process for his Airstream table and Diffuse stools, all crafted in American red oak.

“I needed to begin the design of the AHEC booth with an open mindset, free from preconceived notions,” Lim notes. However, the collaboration revealed current AI limitations, particularly around industrial production methods. “The AI struggled when prompted to consider the technical aspects of production, which are second nature to a craftsman,” Lim explains. “This highlighted the current limitations of the AI, which I found easier to resolve using my past experience rather than further instruction.”

Drawing inspiration from Indonesian lattice screens and Balinese interior styles, the resulting pieces merge contemporary aesthetics with cultural influences. Further, Lim elaborates, “These pieces also reflect Indonesia’s shipbuilding heritage through the bent wood construction of the legs.” Exemplifying how technology can enhance, but not replace, human creativity and material knowledge, the Man x Machine x Material collaboration represents a dynamic fusion of AI-generated concepts with Jarrod Lim’s design language.

Karana

Indonesian designer and founder of his eponymous studio, Hendro Hadinata’s KARANA Collection was unveiled at Indonesia Design Week in September 2025. Drawing on the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, harmony between people, nature, and spirit, the three striking pieces –the Kuta Bench, Sanur Lounge Chair, and Ubud Light – are inspired by sculptor Ida Bagus Nyana’s work from the 1930s, blending elongated, flowing forms with contemporary function. The result is both culturally rooted and globally resonant design.

This marks Hadinata’s first major exploration of American hardwoods, working with red oak and cherry to achieve sculptural curves while honouring cultural inspirations. “Our previous projects mostly used locally sourced timber, so working with American cherry and red oak has been an insightful experience,” he explains. “This pushed us to explore further possibilities and think about how American hardwoods can be elevated in future indoor and outdoor furniture projects.”

The collaboration with Indonesian manufacturer Omega Mas proved essential to the collection’s success. “Their team is highly cooperative, with a strong sense of dedication and work ethic,” Hadinata notes. “What stood out most is how they approach every project wholeheartedly – not just as a job, but as a craft they truly care about.”

As Southeast Asia continues to evolve as both a manufacturing hub and leading creative force, collaborations such as these demonstrate how sustainable, versatile and tactile American hardwoods can perfectly complement the dynamic region’s distinctive design vernacular, opening new frontiers for innovation, aesthetics and cultural expression.