Company Name

Company Founded in

Name of Founder

Founder Birth Year 

Master in Design Research, School of Art, Design and Media, NTU 

Education 

Hothouse with Form Axioms and INTER-MISSION

Other Pursuits 

1st Office

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2nd Office

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2016 

Started making kettle-cooked Salads for Lunch

2017

2018 

2019

Kickstarted Hothouse shared between Research Lab and Media Art Collective

Initiated Art books a Beginners Guide series 

2020

2021

2022

An experience in a curatorial programme during his university days planted the seeds for Melvin Tan to organically grow his own studio. Having designed for major arts institutions and independent creatives, Currency Design is no stranger to Singapore’s arts and culture scene. In between running a design studio and caring for his plants, Melvin’s active role as an arts audience and organiser put him in the sweet spot of collaborating with artists, curators and programmers. We catch up with Melvin over a can of beer to discuss the ebb and flow of tending to his studio, how he navigates the intersection of art and design, and what keeps him going. 

Minting a Currency of His Own

Wong Ker How, Lim Jing Feng, Quck Zhong Yi 

Name of Founders

Founder Birth Year (Ker How)

Founder Birth Year (Jing Feng)

Founder Birth Year (Zhong Yi)

Education (Ker How)

Education (Jing Feng)

Education (Zhong Yi)

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3rd Office

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2013

2014

ASOLIDPLAN won up/coming designer of the year

"Light trancends Scale" exhibition at URA AUDE space

ASOLIDPLAN won 1st Taipei International Design Award

ASOLIDPLAN awarded Singapore Good Design Award for 3 projects

Three friends meeting across different circumstances and situations, all sharing a common vision to set up an architecture design practice—sounds like, Asolidplan. Almost ten years on, the practice has grown in experience and numbers. Their work stretches across residential houses and apartments, F&B and retail shops, hotels and office design. They were awarded the Singapore Good Design 2020 and received an honourable mention for Taiwan Interior New Talent Award in 2021, each member a winner at the 2021 SIDS’s 20 under 45 Awards. The practice is constantly pushing the limits with design and was recently was nominated for ArchDaily Building of the Year 2022. There is no looking back for the three partners in the architecture profession for the long haul, where it is really survival of the fittest, beyond passion and dreams alone. 

Solid Ahhhh!

Founder Birth Year

Diploma, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (2006)

Education

Degree, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (2020)

Costume Designer and Stylist, Mediacorp, (2007-08)

Previous Job

Adjunct Lecturer, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (2010 - Present)

Other Pursuits

Period of Occupancy

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Number of Staff

Attained 2nd Runner Up in the contest held in conjunction with Singapore Fashion Week.

2007

Image styling and costumer designer for Mediacorp TV, worked on a variety of television shows and concerts. Highlight projects include President’s Star Charity, Marina Bay Countdown Show, Campus Super Star, The Ultimatum etc.

2008

Founded MAXTAN Apparel Private Limited, a fashion design studio dedicated to the designing of women’s ready to wear collections.

2009

Became first Asian label to be featured on Styletight.com, a premier trend forecasting website, as one of the top ten Spring/Summer 2010 womens-wear collection.

2010

Showcased at Modefabriek #29 at the Cutting Edge Platform Show.

Awarded the silver medal at the China Fashion Creation Contest.

Invited to showcase the Autumn/Winter 2012-13 collection as part of the Fier Showroom during Berlin Fashion Week.

2012

Participated in a runway show as part of Future Fashion Now showcase at the Audi Fashion Festival Singapore.

Invited to showcase on the official schedule of Copenhagen Fashion Week.

Invited to create an exhibition garment for Nuyou’s 10th Anniversary celebration.

Became the only Singaporean label to be invited as a participant in a tradeshow held in conjunction with Copenhagen Fashion Week.

Showcased in the Hello Shibuya Tokyo Show, a cultural exchange show with designer from Tokyo Fashion Week.

Opening Show for Digital Fashion Week, featuring fashion legend Carmen Deli Orefice, in partnership with the British Council.

Selected to join a higher curated list of international designers in the Revolver Tradeshow.

2015

Selected as an international designer to present for the inaugural edition of “Who is on next? Dubai” talent scouting program.

Appointed costume designer for the theatre company, The Finger Players.

Presented collection at the 10th anniversary fashion show, Runway Hits, Senayan Fashion Nation organised by Studio One and Senayan City Mall (Jakarta, Indonesia).

Selected designer for Fashion Futures 2.0, a program initiated by SPRING Singapore and Mercury Marketing and Communications in strategic partnership with CFDA, Council of Fashion Designers America, (New York City, United States of America).

Won Best Costume Design for Life Theatre Awards.

Appointed costume designer for Independence Day celebration in Singapore.

Invited to be Singapore’s ambassador for the Microsoft Surface Studio Launch.

Max Tan draws inspiration from traditional Asian silhouettes that resonate in Paris, Middle East and Scandinavia. How does he bridge the practicalities of a fashion brand, while pushing forward ideas and concepts of a designer brand? An award-winning designer, Max prepares his next season for 2023 while making and crafting theatre costumes for Singapore International Festival of Arts 2022, and all this while teaching the next generation of design students, hungry to make their mark in the fantastical world of fashion. 

Yet to Max Out

Alvin Tan, Jackson Tan, Melvin Chee, William Chan

Founder Birth Year (Alvin)

Founder Birth Year (Jackson)

Founder Birth Year (Melvin)

Founder Birth Year (William)

LASALLE College of the Arts, Diploma in Visual Communications (1994)

Education (Alvin)

LASALLE College of the Arts/Goldsmith University of London, Masters, Fine Art (2015)

Education (Jackson)

LASALLE College of the Arts, Diploma in Visual Communications (1995)

Education (Melvin)

Education (William)

Central Saint Martins, BA (Hons), Graphic Design (2000)

Other Pursuits (Alvin)

Other Pursuits (Jackson)

Other Pursuits (William)

4th Office

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5th Office

Period of Occupancy (5th Office)

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6th Office

Period of Occupancy (6th Office)

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7th Office

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8th Office

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9th Office

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10th Office

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William, Alvin and Jackson met and became classmates while studying in LASALLE College of the Arts, Visual Communications.

1992

Melvin, who was childhood friends with Jackson since primary one, joined LASALLE and became part of the group. They considered starting a rock band together, but switched the musical instrument for a Mac instead.

1993

Graduated from LASALLE College of the Arts. Started 'Phunk' as a street wear label, it did not take off... but the name remained...

1994

Founded Guerilla Fonts to create original digital typeface designs and sent the typefaces to Garage Fonts, Del Mar, California (Co-founded by renowned graphic designer David Carson) 

1995

Self-published 'Transmission01' to "transmit" the collective's ideas worldwide.

Garage Fonts officially distributed PHUNK's original typeface designs worldwide.

1998

Founded and launched 'Trigger' Magazine, 20,000 copies snapped out within a week, left the project after 2 issues.

Organised theme parties with Zouk to launch ‘Trigger’, cited as one of the top 10 Zouk parties of all time.

Started long-standing working relationship with MTV Asia.

1999

Published 'Transmission02: Utopia', critically acclaimed by the international design community.

2002

Invited to exhibit 'We Love Utopia' at the Magma Gallery, London.

Launched '400ML’, a collaboration with French Graffiti artist, 123Klan.

Invited by the Reed Space in New York City to exhibit 'Control Chaos'. All artworks sold out on opening night.

2003

Launched 10 years retrospective monograph, 'A Decade of Decadence' book. Was awarded 'Best of Show' at Singapore Design Awards 2005.

2004

Featured on the cover of Creative Review, described as "Champion of Singapore's graphic scene".

"Baroqracy" exhibition launched in Taipei.

2005

Launch of Co+Lab project with Nike Asia Pacific.

Commissioned by Nokia, Finland to create interactive and audio/visual content for the brand's flagship stores worldwide.

2006

Created 'Invisible Forces' for Nike’s worldwide campaign, launched and exhibited at the Tokyo Designer's Week.

Launch of 'Universality' book, published by PageOne books.

Collaboration with Levis to create Phunk Studio 'Artist series' T-shirt series for Europe and Japan, launched spring/summer 2008.

Awarded ‘Designer of the Year’ at the President’s Design Awards 2017, the highest accolade for Singapore design. Youngest recipient of the award. 

Awarded 'Certificate of Typographic Excellence' for the 'MTV Top 100 Hits' show packaging at TDC 54, Type Directors Club, NYC.

Collaboration with Levis to create Phunk Studio 'Valentine's' T-shirt series for Asia Pacific, and Phunk Studio 'Artist series' T-shirt series for Europe. Solo exhibition at the Levi's Paris flagship store.

Collaborated with Giordano for the 'World Without Strangers – Giordano T-shirt project' for Asia Pacific.

Exhibited ‘Around the World Across the Universe’ at Vallery, Barcelona.

Collaborated with G-Shock (Japan) on limited edition watch.

Collaborated with legendary Japanese artist Keiichi Tanaami on artist collaboration artworks and exhibitions.

Collaborated with Uniqlo (Japan) on artist edition series for UT global launch.

Designed a series of merchandise for legendary rock band, The Rolling Stones.

2011

Exhibited in ‘Future Pass – From Asia to the World’ at the 54th Venice Biennale 2011 and Wereldmuseum, Rotterdam.

During the moving of the studio from LASALLE to Tanjong Katong, a fire broke out and destroyed everything in the studio.

Change of name from Phunk Studio to PHUNK to mark a new era of the collective after the fire.

Solo gallery exhibition, ‘Empire of Dreams’ at Gallery J. Chen, Taipei.

Site-specific public art installations on New York’s subway billboards as part of Inside-Out show.

Solo exhibition at Owen James gallery, New York.

Control Chaos: 25 Years of PHUNK, a commemorative exhibition that marks the beginning of the collective’s 25th anniversary celebration at National Design Centre, Singapore.

Global release of new monograph 'Control Chaos: Redefining the Visual Cultures of Asia’ published by Thames & Hudson. Celebration of twenty-five years of PHUNK.

Four friends meet at LASALLE College of the Arts in 1994; over the 26 years that have since passed,  Alvin Tan, Jackson Tan, Melvin Chee and William Chan built PHUNK, one of the most distinctive contemporary art and design collectives to have sprung forth from this little red dot. Harnessing their voracious appetite for pop culture to create ground-breaking multidisciplinary work, this homegrown collective has represented Singapore on the global stage in high-profile events such as the Gwangju Design Biennale 2005 and the 5th Fukuoka Art Triennale. Whether one calls PHUNK a collective, a band, or a family, their multifarious achievements speak for themselves – as does their enduring friendship. We look back on the twists and turns of their decades-long journey and get a little introspective with three of the members, Alvin, Jackson and William. 

Phunk Soul Brothers

Founders' Birthyear

Bachelor, Media, Edith Cowan University, Australia (1995)

Education (Mike)

Bachelor Business, Nanyang Technological University, 1995

Education (Eugene)

Master, Dux International Business, Melbourne University, Australia (2000)

Previous Job (Mike)

Eugene Yip Design (Now merged into Onlewo, 2007-Present)

Previous Job (Eugene)

Team Size

Participated in Singapore Inside Out (Tokyo)

Collaboration with Lingwu on Evening Clutch Bags

Collaboration with Soon Lee, The Dancing Kueh Collection

Collaboration with Lester Design, Lestari's Rattan Chair

Otters and kuehs, HDB façade patterns and Peranakan tiles. These are just some of the unique and endearing characters of an ongoing local story, weaved together by Onlewo, or  安乐窝 (an le wo in Mandarin), which translates into ‘a peaceful nest’. Onlewo is a wallpaper and textile design company created in 2016. Sharing our local Singapore stories to the great big world beyond, through brands such as Patek Philippe, Bulgari & New York Botanical Garden, among some. They have also represented this sunny island at London 100% Design, Indigo Brussels, Singapore Design Now in New York and Singapore Inside Out (in Tokyo).