Indesign is proud to be teaming up with top Singapore-based design magazine Cubes for Saturday in Design Singapore. Here we chat to Cubes Editor Rachel Lee-Leong about what she’s most looking forward to on the day, and how Saturday in Design Singapore will shape the design community of the bustling island state.

Why are you excited about Saturday in Design Singapore?

I think it has a lot to do with how Saturday in Design has been such a big hit in Australia and how it has come to play such a big role in the Australian design calendar. The potential of it becoming a regular design heavy hitter in Singapore’s own design calendar is huge.

What drew you to the event and inspired you to get involved?

Singapore’s design scene has come a long way, but there is still a lot of room for us to grow. Before that can happen, there has to be a certain level of appreciation for design by the general public, so an event like Saturday in Design that brings design to the people is always worth getting involved in.

What is unique about the event and how will it positively impact the Singapore design community?

Unlike many other design events that we’ve had, there is also the commercial aspect to Saturday in Design, where people can buy products that they see and like.

The event creates a very comprehensive platform for design – more specifically, product design – in Singapore. The mix of established brands (both local and international) provides a firm foundation for the event while younger, up-and-coming designers can tap on that and show off their wares too. It’s all about creating design awareness and opportunity.

Why is Singapore the perfect city for the event, and what will international visitors take away from it?

For one, the design climate here is starting to mature and more and more people are beginning to appreciate design. Geographically, Singapore is a great walking city, with great little enclaves that are not too far away from each other. I’d imagine that many of the exhibits can be found within these less commercial little enclaves that bring an added dimension of interest to the different routes.

What are you most eager to experience at the event on 21 May 2011?

It’s always exciting to have new blood in the design scene and accordingly, seeing what young local brands have to offer will be a highlight. It will also be a good opportunity to see how they measure up against foreign brands — we need to use an international benchmark if we want to be taken seriously in the design world.

What are the biggest things to look out for in the design industry in Singapore in 2011?

Saturday in Design Singapore, of course! Of course, we have large scale design events like Archifest coming up in the second half of the year and the first Men’s Fashion Week in Asia happening in Singapore this year too. We’re having a sudden bloom of design concept stores at the moment, so that’s interesting to watch too.

Want to be part of the action on 21 May 2011? Online registration for Saturday in Singapore is now open. Visit the website, fill in your details and stay tuned as we keep you up to date on the latest in the lead-up to the design event to see and be seen at!