Future Impact 3: Design Nation, the third of its series celebrating Singapore Design, returned to Milan Design Week from 8 to 13 April 2025. Presented by DesignSingapore Council, it was co-curated by its first Singaporean curator, Hunn Wai, with Tony Chambers and Maria Cristina Didero. Hunn Wai, a DID alumnus, is the co-founder of the design consultancy Lanzavecchia + Wai, which was founded in 2010 and is based in both Italy and Singapore.

A total of 14 designers were featured in the exhibition held at Milan’s Chiesa di San Bernardino all Monache. Five of these features are DID graduates who were part of a segment called Virtuoso Visionaires, showcasing how they as the next generation push the boundaries of design with a cultural take.

These emerging designers are E Ian Siew (Industrial Design, '23), Wong Eng Geng (Industrial Design, '23), Kalinda Chen (Industrial Design, '24), Nazurah Rohayat (Industrial Design, '24), and Tan Cun Jia (Industrial Design, '24). Their work explored themes of Singapore’s ever-evolving multicultural identity, environment and culture, such as furniture waste and design as a tool to spark conversations through the use of Singlish.

Hunn Wai and Eng Geng were also invited to a radio episode with Monocle on Design during the exhibition, where they were paired with other designers to discuss design topics.

Outside of Future Impact 3: Design Nation, Alumni Emeline Ong (Industrial Design, '23)'s work from her Twinkle and Pastille collection was also featured at this year's Milan Design Week in two other exhibitions, marking her second appearance at the event. Inspired by her fondness for sugary delights, her designs often incorporate playful colours.  

Twinkle was featured in the SaloneSatellite exhibition, which was dedicated to young designers from around the world. Her Pastille collection was featured in the ENHANCE exhibition, which spotlights designs that address social and environmental challenges based on the United Nations's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Emeline's Pastille furniture pieces are handmade through a labour-intensive process that utilises paper pulp mixed with a composite, which is a sustainable source of material.