Our Association

Welcome to Singapore’s only multi-disciplinary design community. Since 1985 we have been gathering designers from diverse disciplines to act for the common good.

Join us, if you believe in the value of a pluralistic design industry and understand how our collaborative work can shape the future of design.

As a community of business leaders, practitioners and academia, we hail from diverse creative disciplines such as graphic and packaging design, product design, new media, textile design, environment design, exhibition design, furniture design, fashion design and interior design. This allows us to learn from one another and collaborate to enhance opportunities.

Membership in the DAS means that you see the value of a pluralistic design industry and confirms your status as a qualified, credible and ethical practising professional.

As a member, you gain access to an extensive network of designers both locally and internationally. Valuable insights from experienced practitioners on design issues, professional practices and management of business opportunities can broaden your creative thinking.

VISION AND MISSION

Vision To be the nation’s most inclusive body representing professional designers, design students and design businesses from all creative disciplines, sharing a common interest to raise professional standards, expand opportunities and nurture leading design leaders.

Mission

To promote best practices in the profession of design in Singapore by strengthening and promoting the capabilities of the Singapore design profession, as well as amplifying and presenting a unified voice to influence public policy, shape the industry and engage the public.

DAS IN SINGAPORE

Support for designers

The DAS accredits designers and ensures a high level of professionalism and ethics amongst its members. It also affords a unified design voice to government, education and industry. Its resources and framework are used to forward the cause of design and designers in Singapore and the rest of the world.

The DAS represents designers and design businesses in all disciplines of design. This includes Interactive Media, TV & Film, Photography, Visual Communications, Interior Architecture, Fashion, Furniture, Product and Industrial Design, Exhibition, Design Academics and Management. The DAS represents all professional designers in Singapore. The student network of DAS provides a voice and a platform for design students to ensure that their needs are met in education, flowing on to employment conditions in the industry. DAS advises on credible and proper employment status and conditions for young designers going into the work force.

The DAS is managed by the Executive Committee who are elected biennially by members. The Executive Committee is responsible for running the Association and for formulating policies and initiating projects to promote design and the interests of its members

Roles of the DAS

In support of the Vision & Mission statements, the key roles of the DAS are to:

  1. Provide accreditation framework and assessment to ensure a high level of professional practice and design capabilities
  2. Promote excellence in design and practice by strengthening the training, education and skills development infrastructure in Singapore
  3. Be a conduit for a comprehensive range of programmes and activities that will be of interest to its members and the design sector
  4. Play an integral role as a national strategic body advising government, industry, education and the community
  5. Provide designer referral services
  6. Provide professional advice, design and legal information to its members
  7. Represent a congruent view and the interests of the design collective to government regulatory bodies, economic development agencies, business, academia and the public
  8. Establish, uphold and enforce a high level of professional code and conduct amongst designers
  9. Be a platform for authoritative design research, knowledge and information

CONTEXT FOR DESIGN

Every economy in today’s advanced world depends in one way or another upon design to make a difference to their development and prosperity.

As global competition mounts and new challenges evolve, design has emerged as the key differentiator in an era of rapid change and rising global brands. With giant emerging economies such as China and India having a pivotal role in the world stage, tough choices will have to be made to advance local industries to compete on level terms, at the same time, reducing the impact of climate change. Carbon footprints are the talk of the town in this environmentally aware landscape. To compete and survive in this ever-changing business environment will require much effort from associations such as the DAS to nurture and reach new levels of unity, creativity, innovation and training. Designers in Singapore need to consolidate and strengthen their creative capabilities to make it in the global stage.

History of Achievements

The DAS has a history of successes in promoting the services of design and designers, locally and internationally.
Some highlights:

  1. International Design Forum (IDF)
  2. Young Designers Awards (YDA)
  3. Young Asian Designers Awards (YADA)
  4. Designer Magazine
  5. Singapore Design Awards (SDA)