Company Name

Company Founded in

Michelle Au, & Jenny Widjaja (2011-2019), Michelle Au (2019-present)

Names of Founders

Founders' Birth Year (Michelle)

B.FA Communication Studies (Hons), Nanyang Technological University (2000)

Education (Education)

Previous Job (Michelle)

Founded & Designed Apartmentofu, Avid cook and plate collector

Other Pursuits (Michelle)

1st Office

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2nd Office

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3rd Office

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77 Robinsons, co-shared with WE Communications, Singapore

4th Office

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5th Office

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6th Office

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Co-founded Tofu with Jenny Widjaja & Started in Michelle’s study with team of 4

2011

First piece of work appeared in Design Society magazine

2012

Showcased in Tiong Bahru Design Studios Trail alongside Bureau and Foreign Design Policy

Founded Temporium a shop, diner and gallery on Dunlop Street, Little India, Singapore

2013

Curated Karafuru's branding from visual identity, interior design, flood plating to an instore brand collaboration experience with New York fashion brand Alice & Olivia 

2014

Part of K+, a curatorial lifestyle space and design store at Scotts Square

2015

Co-founder Jenny passed on the end of 2019

2019

Created Franklin Templeton’s “See A Different Blue” campaign celebrating 30th Anniversary, which was shortlisted for the MARKies Award in 2021

2020

Founded and designed Apartmentofu, a co-creation and collaborative space

2021

Created and produced a Christmas Live Show at Apartmentofu with LITO Labs and Super Farmers featuring local artiste duo, The Freshmen

Michelle Au is a creative and designer who constantly endeavours to turn her creative dreams into reality at Tofu. With her love for film, product and interior design, her works range from ad campaigns, to brand experiences, to multi-purpose spaces. Significant projects include Franklin Templeton’s “See A Different Blue” 30th Anniversary campaign, the Mid-Autumn “Over the Moon” Collection for Shangri-La Hotel, and Apartmentofu. Apart from these diverse works, Michelle is also an avid cook and plate collector. Join us as we explore Tofu’s philosophy and learn more about its talented co-founder, Michelle.

A Blank Canvas for Endless Possibilities

Edmund Seet, Yeo Gee Khuy, Yasser Bin Suratman

Founders' Birth Year (Edmund)

Founders' Birth Year (Kai)

Founders' Birth Year (Yasser)

B.FA, Design, Swinburne School of Design (1999)

Education (Edmund)

M.FA, Central Saint Martins (Dropped Out, 2003)

Education (Kai)

M.FA, Graphic Design, Yale University (2009)

Education (Yasser)

Previous Job (Edmund)

Previous Job (Kai)

Previous Job (Yasser)

LASALLE College of the Arts (2009-present)

Other Pursuits (All)

Other Pursuits (Kai)

2009

Launched Pyggy Bank for Sinagpore Art Museum and showcased in Shanghai World Expo

2010

Launched MOE Chairs; MOE Chair Series received a bronze award for Furniture Design, Gong Show Awards 2012

Launched the first edition of the Hpaper Series for HPL Hotels and Resorts

Partnership with RJ Paper to create their Maple Series sampler booklet

Showcased Fibonacci Bench for SFIC and produced Iskandar Jalil: Images of My Pottery Travels book

Launched Packaging for Tribe Nation, Beijing. Kai starts his own label, Hutan Tropical 

Launched brand identity and visual collaterals for The Maples Niseko, Hokkaido

2016

Presented HHH: Anniversary Book for RDA Singapore and facilitated installation support with Anonymous for Uniqlo Singapore's Flagship Store. Created packaging for Adidas EQT Limited Edition Design for T-Mall launch in Shanghai

2017

Created branding and visual identity for Niometrics and launched branding for boutique hotel, The Boathouse Phuket

2018

Launched Phase 1 of Community Foundation of Singapore

Developed and directed Wonderlit's brand identity design and spearheaded GoAirBorne Macau's marketing launch

Created branding and visual collaterals for Tembusu Grand's property launch for CDL and MCL

2022

Started back in 2009 by Edmund Seet, Yeo Gee Khuy (Kai) and Yasser Bin Suratman, Bureau is a design studio that has been making its creative mark on brand identities, product, editorial and spacial design. Originally called Bureau for Advancement of Lifestyle and Longevity and Success, or more affectionately, B.A.L.L.S. Having worked on countless projects from Pyggy Bank for Singapore Art Museum curated by FARM, Fibonacci Bench for SFIC in 2015 and more recently, branding for Wonderlit. We explore Bureau’s changing rhythms of their artistic direction over the years and how to navigate relationships in the design industry,

Nobody Dies From Bad Design

Founders' Birth Year (Both)

Diploma in Industrial Design, Temasek Polytechnic (2002)

Education (Both)

Masters in Contextual Design, DesignAcademy Eindhoven (2007-2008)

Part-time teaching at LASALLE, NAFA, and Nanyang Polytechnic

Other Pursuits (Both)

7th Office (Current)

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Alvin and Clara founded Atelier HOKO in Älmhult, Sweden

2002

Exhibited Index Ring for Global Identity by "chi ha paura...?" in Milan, Italy. Acquired as permanent collection of Stedelijk Museum's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands

Ongoing Series “Science of the Secondary”

2013 - Present

Participated in "THE FAB MIND: Hints of the Future in a Shifting World" for Design Sight 21_21, Tokyo

Exhibited "Café CUP – a drinking laboratory" at Singapore:InsideOut, Bank Gallery, Tokyo

Exhibited "A Dozen Eggs", "Plates Please" & "Café CUP" at Pon-Ding, Taipei

"Science of the Secondary" Acquired in Permanent Collection of MAK Museum, Vienna

Showcased "HABIT©AT"  for "ToGather", Singapore Pavilion, Mostra di Architettura di Venezia, Italy

Exhibited in "R for Repair" at the National Design Centre, Singapore

Directed "PEEL HERE" Exhibition at the Lim Hak Tai Gallery, NAFA, Singapore

Exhibited "Put On / Take Off", Singapore Art Week

2023

Alvin Ho and Clara Koh are designers and artists, but also researchers who study the increasing disengagement between people, objects, and space in Atelier HOKO. The duo – who are both business and life partners – have worked on projects all around the world. From having their wearable “INDEX RING” enter the permanent collection of Stedelijk Museum’s Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, to exhibiting “Café CUP”, a drinking laboratory which serves cups rather than drinks at Singapore:InsideOut Bank Gallery in Tokyo, to having their ongoing research publication “Science of the Secondary” join the DESIGN LAB collection at the MAK Museum, Vienna, their projects seek to defamiliarise common phenomena, helping people view them in a new and more curious light. Apart from engaging in projects, Alvin and Clara are also active part-time teachers, giving back to society by developing workshops and curriculum for Singaporean design and art schools like LASALLE, NAFA, and Nanyang Polytechnic. We dive deeper into the motivations behind Atelier HOKO’s unique projects, and also get to know their founders a little better.

Readjusting the Human Being

Name of Founder

Founder Birth Year

Education

Senior Arch. Associate, MKPL Architects, 2008-2013

Previous Job

Period of Occupancy

Estimate Space

Number of Staff

Graduated with M. Arch at National University of Spore

2008

Started professional practice at MKPL  Architects in Dec 2008 

Left MKPL Architects in Dec after 5 years of practice and completion of 14 units of strata bungalow project in Crescent Road

Joined uncle's company to work on a feasibility project in Malaysia, resulting in the design of "A Series of Barns"

1st house project "The Living Grid House" in Singapore is an A&A to an existing Bungalow at Ocean Drive Sentosa, L Architects was formally incepted to accept the project

Started on "House of Trees", L Architects' 1st opportunity to do a new erection project

1st commercial commission to design a multi-label kitchen appliances shop 

Completion of "House of Trees" and "A Brick & Motor Shop"

"A Brick & Mortar Shop" was conferred the highest accolade "Design of the Year" and "House of Trees" won a Merit Award at at the SIA Architectural Design Awards 2022 

In 2021, a relatively unknown Chinese Indie filmmaker, Chloe Zhao, beat a stable of more established directors and films with mega budgets at the Oscars to win Best Director and Best Picture with the unassuming film “Nomadland” done on a modest budget. In 2022 Singapore, a relatively unknown young architect Lim Shing Hui of L Architects beat a shortlist of established architects and bigger projects to win one of the two “Design of the Year” awards at the Singapore Institute of Architects Architectural Design Awards 2022 with her modest entry of a kitchen appliance showroom. The world always root for the underdog and it is even more cause for celebration when women make it in the male dominated industries. And as Chloe went on to make the blockbuster “Eternals” after her epic win, we are delighted to know that Shing Hui’s phone has indeed been ringing quite a bit after her win as well. So as we are rooting for Shing Hui to create her masterpiece, Kelley Cheng manages to catch the newly crowned winner for a heart-to-heart talk about her journey, her thoughts, her inspirations, her work and her favourite pair of shoes. 


The Brick & Mortar Whisperer

Name of Founders

Founder Birth Year (Ian)

Founder Birth Year (Catherine)

BArch, University of New South Wales (1967)

Education (Ian)

Education (Catherine)

BArch (Hons), University of Melbourne (1993)

Greenway Hirst Page/Progress Constructions, Melbourne – Intern (1990)

Akitek Barat Sdn. Bhd. – Intern (1990-1991)

Lee Kim Tah - Woh Hup JV – Site Architect at SAFTI Military Institute Phase I (1993-1995)

Tan See Kiat Chartered Architects – Project Architect (1995-1998)

Catherine Loke Architect – Principal (1998-1999)

Associate of Trinity College of Music, London (ATCL) – performance diploma (1986)

Other Pursuits 

Monash University Choral Society – Asst. Conductor (1992)

Ab Oriente vocal ensemble – Manager and Singer (2004-2013)

National University of Singapore – Lecturer (2017-2018)

National University of Singapore – Adjunct Associate Professor (2019-2022)

Singapore Institute of Architect – 1st VP (2018-2019)

Singapore Institute of Architect – Council Member (2012-2021)

Board of Architects – Chief Examiner (2014-2017)

Board of Architects – Board Member (for term 2022-2024)

Asia Pacific Institute of Experts – Member (2021-Present)

The Circle for Human Sustainability – President (2021-Present)

1st Office 

The practice was founded as Group Design Partnership by Lim Tong Kee & Ian Lander

1995

Catherine Loke joined as Partner, after Lim Tong Kee left the practice

1999

The practice changed its name to Lander Loke Architects and rebranded itself to reflect the partners' personalities 

2001

Factory & Workers' Dormitory awarded the BCA's Best Buildable Design Award 2003, Certificate of Merit

2003

2006

First project fully documented and submitted in BIM 

Video of Alterations & Additions to a Semi-Detached House featured in the Singapore Institute of Architects' Why Architect?

Alterations & Additions to the RDA Centre – supported the Riding for the Disabled Association, Singapore

Completed the Woh Hup Technical Hub, including an office building using mass engineered timber structure

Engaged as Domain Expert and Domain Reviewer for specification writing and review of the Intelligent National Productivity & Quality Specification (iNPQS)

Tree House featured in the Singapore Institute of Architects' Why Architect? Forum as part of Archifest, to demonstrate how meeting regulatory requirements and constraints are part of the creative process of design

How we use BIM featured in Graphisoft's Experience Archicad 24 Digital Event in Malaysia and Singapore 

Jurong Lake Gardens MET structure – provided service to Venture Pte. Ltd. on BIM implementation and pre-fabrication design development/modelling/scheduling

Catherine Loke – winner of RICS Awards 2020 Southeast Asia - Women of the Built Environment Award

Woh Hup Technical awarded ASEAN Energy Awards 2021, Tropical Buildings, Second Runner Up

Completed the design and documentation of the Learning & Technology Room at the Kids Club, Hyatt, Maldives, including formulating a Learning Programme and Lesson Plans

The Tao of BIM–BIM is just a tool; BIM in not just a tool featured in Graphisoft's Building Together Digital Event 2021, a three-day event featuring global leaders in the use of BIM

The Circle for Human Sustainability was founded by Catherine Loke and 11 other like-minded individuals, to address sustainability holistically and bring about an ecologically responsible way of life

Supporting the setting up of a Rooftop Urban Farm at Beauty World Centre

Architect Catherine Loke is not just an architect. While the veteran architect has nearly three decades of experience under her belt, she is also an educator and activist with a transdisciplinary approach towards life. So while Catherine’s experience and achievements in the architecture field speak for themselves – having been awarded the Women of the Built Environment Award at the RICS Awards 2020 Southeast Asia, and been the first Vice-President of the Singapore Institute of Architects for Council Years 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 as well as an  Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore since 2017 – in this interview we shine the spotlight on her work beyond that. Our writer Michelle JN Lim finds out about Catherine’s goals as the Founding President of The Circle for Human Sustainability, how she thinks architects can play a part in our volatile future, and the importance of asking good questions.  

Envisioning Little Farms Everywhere

Company Founded In

Founder Birth Year (Jamie)

Founder Birth Year (Gideon)

B. Arts, Industrial Design, National University of Singapore, 2014

Education (Jamie)

M.Arts in Research, Nanyang Technological University, 2021

Education (Gideon)

Designer, Singapore Polytechnic (2014-2017)

Previous Job (Jamie)

Previous Job (Gideon)

Lecturer, LASALLE College of the Arts (2017-Current)

3rd Office 

Exhibited in Fikra Graphic Design Biennial, Sharjah

Starting out from a partitioned space with a modest area of just 9m2, Gideon Kong and Jamie Yeo adapted constraints into an attitude towards graphic design, and adopted temporary measures as sustainable systems. Since beginning their collective practice as gideon-jamie in 2017, the duo has expanded into the realm of publishing (Temporary Press) and conceptualised their current studio (Temporary Unit) as a versatile space for connecting with communities through events. From their background in product design to their inclination towards economical DIY methods, we learn about what shapes their sensibilities and how they collaborate as partners in work, creative practice and life.