6 New Asian Design Stars

ABIE ABDILLAH, INDONESIA

Passionate about rattan and committed to its revival in his home country, Jakarta-based Abdillah draws attention to its strength and flexibility by combining modular units of bent pieces into structured and contemporary shapes. His inspirations are also as quirky as they are diverse, ranging from pretzels, honeycombs and even the Oplet, a popular car in the Jakarta of the 1970s, bringing a uniquely Indonesian flavour to modern furniture design.

Asha Stool

MONICA TSANG, HONG KONG

If you are looking for a quirky take on home accessories and tableware, Tsang is the designer for you. Translating a life spent living in different countries into a singular aesthetic, Tsang thrives on the unusual. Think plating and utensils that re-interpret traditional Chinese icons and symbols or a knife holder designed as a skull for a touch of black humour. A Ceramic Design Masters graduate from Staffordshire University, Tsang has worked with industry giants such as Siemens and Wedgwood and won the 2006 Red Dot Design Concept Award and Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award. Her designs are currently sold and exhibited worldwide.

Swimming Fish Chopstick Stand from the Emersion series

OUTOFSTOCK, SINGAPORE

Specialising in devising elegant and conceptually-driven solutions to living, working and dining spaces, this Singapore-based collective was created in 2006 and offers product, furniture, lighting and spatial experience design to a global clientele in addition to art directing photography and short films. Comprising Gabriel Tan and Wendy Chua from Singapore, Gustavo Maggio from Argentina and Sebastián Alberdi from Spain, this talented group has already chalked up numerous accolades for their work. It garnered the award for Elle Decoration Spain’s Young Designer of the Year 2008 as well as the top prize at the President’s Design Award 2010. More recently, Outofstock was named Asia Talent of 2014 for their lightpiece, Luna.

The Art of Focus, a limited edition book receptacle crafted for Wallpaper* Handmade Collection 2014, in hand-moulded and stitched leather as well as radio frequency-shielding textile.

PARK WON MIN, KOREA

Balancing commerce and fine art is never an easy task, but Netherlands-based Park manages to strike a balance between the two with his distinctive furniture designs. Rendered from resin, with their sculptured forms and vibrant hues combining to convey the feel of abstract painting, his works draw the eye without compromising on the conceptual. It is this successful straddling of the pragmatic and artistic that has earned the designer, who was educated at Design Academy Eindhoven, critical acclaim. To date, he has exhibited his works in Korea, the Netherlands, Italy, German and USA, and his awards include winning the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2014 for best Transparency and the 2014 Global Star Designer from the Korea Institute of Design Promotion. He established his own studio in 2011, and will soon be exhibiting solo shows at the Carpenters Workshop Gallery in Paris and London.

Yellow Beam Mirror

POETIC LAB, TAIWAN

Comprising the Taiwanese duo of Hanhsi Chen and Shikai Tseng, the London-based Poetic Lab takes a lyrical approach to lighting and furniture design, with the aim of creating poetry out with objects. Think a light installation that imitates movement of water, or a minimalist set of furniture inspired by the cool elegance and natural beauty of a bamboo forest. Both Master graduates from the Royal College of Art, London, Poetic Lab has won awards including the Design Report Award, Salone Satellite Award and Elle Deco International Design Award Chinese Edition’s Young Designer Talent of The Year 2014 award. Their works have also become part of the permanent collection of Vitra Design Museum in Germany.

A unique piece from the Bronze China collection

ZHANG ZHOUJIE, CHINA

Rooted in the notion of ‘spontaneity’, Zhang believes in design that happens without anticipation. Coupled with an emphasis on revealing the true properties of material and forms in his work, this Central Saint Martins Industrial Design alumnus works from his eponymous digital laboratory and blends Chinese traditional art perspectives, western design methodology, digital engineering and handmade craftsmanship to create futuristic furniture pieces that reflect his innovative sci-fi aesthetic. To date, Zhang has shown at over 30 exhibitions worldwide and has garnered prestigious awards including the ELLE Deco Young Designer of the Year, the IF Design Award China and the SHDC 50/100 Young Talent of the year.

Chairs from The Brass Collection

Maison & Objet Asia will be held from 10 to 13 March 2015 at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre.