If you’re familiar with our Launch Pad competition for emerging product designers, you’d know that there are some changes to this year’s program. The winner’s manufacturing grant – that’s AU$10,000 to help take your prototype to production! – is one of those changes. And some restructuring, with the winners from the Asia and Australia/New Zealand rounds vying for the titles of regional ‘Ultimate Winner’ and ‘Runner Up’, is another.

Last year, we celebrated two very worthy Launch Pad winners. In the Asia competition, the judges were deeply impressed by the sophisticated Never Mind Tableware Series by Singapore-based Indonesian undergraduate designer Jonathan Saphiro Salim. Take a look at the refinement of the ceramic products in this story’s images, and equally, the beautifully cultivated communicative tone of those images, and you’ll see why. It’s great to hear that Jonathan is in the process of expanding the series now.

We caught up with him to ask why Launch Pad was a valuable experience for him.

What was your situation when you won Launch Pad Asia?

When I won Launch Pad Asia I had just finished my undergraduate thesis project.

What’s been happening for you since then? What are you doing now, career wise?

I am currently working as a Junior Industrial Designer at STUCK Design in Singapore.

What was your most valuable take-away from Launch Pad Asia? Why do you think young designers should enter the Launch Pad competition?

I got to meet the judges and the other participants face-to-face during the judging round which many other competitions don’t provide. It was a valuable experience to be able to see the way other designers think and inspire each other. I think it is important for young designers to gain insight about what’s actually happening in the design industry and Launch Pad Asia gave me the opportunity to get constructive comments and critique directly from the judges.

In your opinion, what are the most important things young designers should keep in mind today?

I believe the world of design is shifting together with the way people live today as it is so largely influenced by the development of technology. Young designers should have an open mind in order to adapt to the change and improvise, and keep looking for opportunities to create good design – design that actually improves people’s quality of life; design that is helpful and selfless.

Entries are closing on Monday 12 March! Enter now!

Head to indeawards.com/launchpad for more info, check out the Terms & Conditions, and lodge your entry here!

Thank you to the amazing partners who make Launch Pad possible: Principal Partner Schiavello, Founding Partner Living Edge, and Strategic Partner Workshopped. Launch Pad is presented by Indesign Media Asia Pacific as part of the INDE.Awards.

Profile photography of Jonathan Saphiro Salim by Margareth Puteri.