Designing the Future: Key Takeaways from the APSDA at FIND Design Fair Asia 2024

The launch of the Asia Pacific Interior Design Accreditation Program (AP-ID-AP) marked a major milestone in the region’s design industry. Prof. Keat Ong, Head of the AP-ID Accreditation Council and President of APSDA, delivered a compelling speech outlining the mechanism of the program, including its prerequisites and the detailed application process, emphasizing the initiative’s potential to elevate professional standards for interior designers across Asia Pacific.

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting marked the promotional launch of the AP-ID-AP, signifying a new era for aspiring interior designers looking to achieve recognized professional standards. This initiative is poised to enhance the quality of design practices across Asia Pacific, offering valuable opportunities for professionals to gain accreditation.

Then, the preview of the APSDA Awards 2025 took centre stage, with Ms. Tanya Suvannapong from the APSDA Awards & Competition committee highlighting the introduction of innovative categories designed to recognize a broader spectrum of talent and creativity in interior design. She expressed excitement about how these changes will not only celebrate established designers but also provide emerging talents with greater visibility and opportunities to showcase their exceptional work. This forward-thinking approach aims to inspire a new generation of designers and elevate the standards of excellence within the industry. This was followed by the ceremonial launch of the APSDA Awards, symbolizing the commencement of the award registration process in January 2025.

We were also honoured to have representatives from Daikin and Tucson, our esteemed platinum sponsors for the APSDA Awards 2025, who shared their support for the event and the importance of recognizing outstanding achievements in the industry.

Daikin is the global leader in the HVAC&R (heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigerating) industry with sales over 29 billion dollars in markets extending from residential to commercial and industrial, with nearly 350 subsidiaries around the globe. Utilizing its eco-friendly technologies, Daikin manufactures and sells cutting-edge air conditioning products and services to customers in more than 170 countries. From its global headquarters in Osaka, Daikin leads the industry through its pioneering business strategies and technological breakthroughs for the realization of sustainable air comfort solutions.

Zhejiang Tucson Custom Home Furnishing Inc., established in 2008, is a high-tech enterprise focusing on high-quality, personalized custom-made wooden home decoration and home space creation. Under the brand "Tucson," the company has been deeply involved in the high-end custom home furnishing field for over a decade, possessing a team with strong capabilities in product structure research and development, colour aesthetics, technical deepening, fine production, and engineering services.

A highlight of the Preview of APSDA Awards 2025 in Singapore was a talk given by Ms. Jessica Leong from SPARK, who represented the Silver Winner in the Retail Category at the APSDA Awards 2023 for the winning project, GriD. She shared insights, experiences, and the creative journey that contributed to their success.

Apart from the launching events, one of the key highlights of APSDA at FIND Design Fair Asia 2024 was the CARA (Critical Adaptive Regionalism for the Asia Pacific) Initiative Exhibition, a movement aimed at mediating between global and local design languages and encouraging an in-depth understanding and integration of Asia Pacific culture into design works. This initiative encourages designers to embrace cultural nuances and local contexts, fostering projects that resonate with both global challenges and regional identities. By fostering projects that resonate with both global challenges and regional identities, CARA highlights the importance of context in design. The exhibition showcased groundbreaking projects and insights from 42 designers representing 14 countries across the Asia Pacific, celebrating the rich diversity of design practices in the region. The CARA Initiative was proudly supported by Marano Furniture, enhancing the exhibition's exploration of cultural integration in design.

“For a long time, Asian design and designers have been severely underrated and underrepresented on the global stage. There are many crouching tigers and hidden dragons in the region, and the Asia Pacific Space Designers Association (APSDA) has been bound by a sense of duty and enthusiasm to uncover these world-class talents to the rest of the world!” said Prof. Keat Ong, the curator of the CARA Initiative.

APSDA's participation in FIND Design Fair Asia 2024 underscored a pivotal moment in the evolution of interior design across the Asia Pacific region. By fostering collaboration, celebrating creativity, and recognizing a wide array of talent, the event not only showcased innovative design but also laid the groundwork for a more inclusive and dynamic future in the industry. As we move forward, the initiatives and connections made during this event promise to inspire and elevate the standards of interior design for years to come.