Prototype Island: Singapore unveils a living laboratory of innovation at Milan Design Week 2026

Celebrating Singapore’s bold ideas for world-building, the exhibition will explore new visions for thinking, living and designing global futures

February 24, 2026

Left to right: Eian Siew (Assistant Curator)and Hunn Wai (Lead Curator). Photos courtesy of Eian Siew and Faris Mustafa respectively.
Left to right: Eian Siew (Assistant Curator)and Hunn Wai (Lead Curator). Photos courtesy of Eian Siew and Faris Mustafa respectively.

Wednesday 25 February, Singapore - The DesignSingapore Council announces its return to Milan Design Week with Prototype Island at Foro Buonaparte 54, located in the prestigious Brera Design District from 20 - 26 April 2026.

Following the success of its Future Impact showcase series from 2023 - 2025, DesignSingapore Council reveals an all-new exhibition concept that explores Singapore as a living prototype nation, continuously evolving, optimising and future-proofing against global challenges through the potential of design.

Demonstrating how ideas can become realities that shape everyday life through Singapore’s distinctive culture of modelling, testing and implementation at scale, Prototype Island will serve as a platform for translating possibility into practice, exemplifying Singapore's brand of innovation and creativity.

Appointed as Lead Curator is internationally recognised Singaporean designer Hunn Wai, Co-founder of Lanzavecchia + Wai and the first Singaporean co-curator of Future Impact 3: DESIGN NATION in 2025, bringing global perspective and grounded local insight to Prototype Island. He is joined by Eian Siew as Assistant Curator, an award-winning emerging designer who debuted new work in last year’s showcase, reflecting DesignSingapore Council’s commitment to cultivating Singaporean talents.

The pair are joined by renowned curator and author, Maria Cristina Didero as the Global Perspectives Advisor, bringing an outward-looking lens that bridges Italy and Singapore – connecting cultures, contexts, and conversations.

Render of Prototype Island. Image courtesy of Lanzavecchia + Wai.
Render of Prototype Island. Image courtesy of Lanzavecchia + Wai.

Uniting established and emerging designers, all living and working in Singapore, Prototype Island presents exciting new ideas in response to topical global challenges. The gallery walls of Foro Buonaparte 54 will come to life with design solutions, addressing themes of care in society, the relationship between humanity and technology, contemporary reflections on heritage and more. In doing so, Prototype Island offers much-needed insights and inspiration for other global cities to shape a better tomorrow for generations to come.

Hunn Wai, Lead Curator of Prototype Island said: "Prototype Island frames design as an ongoing act of world-making, where the ambition is not resolution, but the sustained capacity to recalibrate, adapt, and reinvent under real conditions. Bringing Singapore’s flair for purpose-driven design to the fore, this exhibition will translate inquiry into action, presenting tangible responses that navigate constraint, uncertainty, and lived realities with rigour and imagination.”

Prototype Island spans a variety of disciplines, practices and forms, with designers balancing experimental methods and digital techniques alongside traditional craftsmanship, echoing Singapore’s unique approach to design and blend of cultures.

“The DesignSingapore Council is excited to debut Prototype Island this Milan Design Week, bringing Singapore’s creativity with new thinking under Hunn Wai’s curatorial direction. Singapore is a Nation by Design, one that iterates in real time and operates as a living prototype, a distinction which has shaped us into the globally recognised hub for design that we are today,” said Dawn Lim, Executive Director of DesignSingapore Council.

Prototype Island will be on display at Foro Buonaparte 54, a short distance from Sforzesco Castle. The exhibition is located in the Brera Design District, one of the most prominent areas known for its international reputation, creative atmosphere, and the presence of many design showrooms and art galleries.

Participating designers and their works will be announced shortly, alongside a programme of activations and events that will be hosted within the space.

 

*ENDS*

 

Notes to Editors

Prototype Island ​ is presented by the DesignSingapore Council, with Lead Curator Hunn Wai, ​ Assistant Curator Eian Siew, and support from Maria Cristina Didero as Global Perspectives Advisor.

Press Preview: 20th April 2026, Monday, 12 - 5pm

 

For images and further information, please see the link HERE

 

Showcase details

Address: Foro Buonaparte 54, 20121 Milano MI, Italy

Open daily from 10am - 7pm on 21st - 26th April 2026

 

Media Contacts

For international PR requests, please contact Camron:

Judith Fereday ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Priya Suman

Head of Design ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Senior Account Director

Judith.Fereday@camronglobal.com ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Priya.Suman@camronglobal.com

 

DesignSingapore Council

Sara Chong ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Serene Lim

Senior Manager - Marketing Communications ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Assistant Director - Marketing Communications

sara_chong@designsingapore.org ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ serene_lim@designsingapore.org

Contact us

Judith Fereday

Head of Design, Camron
judith.fereday@camronglobal.com

Priya Suman

Account Director, Camron
priya.suman@camronglobal.com

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About DesignSingapore Council

The DesignSingapore Council was established in 2003 to help develop the nation’s design sector. This follows from the Singapore’s Economic Review Committee report, which identified the creative industry as one of the three new sectors (including education and healthcare) for economic growth. Developing the design sector can help to enhance Singapore’s value proposition; as well as contribute to the country’s economic growth and social progress.

The vision of the DesignSingapore Council is for Singapore to be an innovation-driven economy and a loveable city through design by 2025. As the national agency for design, the Council’s mission is to develop the design sector, help Singapore use design for innovation and growth, and make life better in this UNESCO Creative City of Design. Our work focuses on three areas. First, we help organisations and enterprises use design as a strategy for business growth; and for excellent delivery of public services. Second, we nurture industry-ready talents skilled in design and innovation; and engender a design-minded workforce for the future economy. Third, we advance the Singapore brand through raising design appreciation on homeground; and making emotional connections with people across the world.

Singapore was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Design in December 2015. This designation supports the development of a creative culture and eco-system in Singapore that fully integrates design and creativity into everyday life. It is also an opportunity for Singapore to collaborate internationally with the cities of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The City of Design Office is sited within the DesignSingapore Council to coordinate and implement programmes that contributes towards the UCCN mission.