Hans Tan is a designer, curator, and educator based in Singapore, recognized for his innovative work at the intersection of design, craft, and art. He serves as an Associate Professor at the Division of Industrial Design, National University of Singapore, where he has led curriculum reforms and introduced modules such as Design Thinking, impacting thousands of students annually.
Career and Practice
Hans Tan’s design practice is characterized by using utility as a pretext for visual discourse, focusing on material and process development to comment on industry phenomena like heritage, consumption, and waste. His works have been exhibited globally, including shows at the Venice Biennale, M+ Museum Hong Kong, MAXXI Museo Rome, and Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York. His pieces are held in both private and prominent public collections in Singapore, Hong Kong, New York, and the Netherlands.
Recognition and Awards
Hans has received notable recognitions such as the President’s Design Award (Design of the Year, Designer of the Year), the Outstanding Educator Award at NUS, and distinctions at international design events, including Maison et Objet in Paris. He was listed among 36 Young Asian Designers by Designnet Korea and has earned multiple teaching excellence awards for his impact on design education.
Curatorial and Educational Impact
Hans Tan is active in curatorial work, establishing influential projects like R for Repair and the National Vending Gallery, and partnering with major clients such as Changi Airport Group. He champions “deformative inquiry”—an approach to design pedagogy emphasizing imaginative thinking through generative deformations, language, and systematic reflection. His leadership in education and mentorship has helped students achieve international recognition, and he continues to shape the future of design in Singapore and beyond.