Design Conversations

Design Conversations with Nathan Yong and Alvin Tjitrowirjo

This event is free.
Registration (with a $10 refundable deposit) is required
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This two-part talk series hosted by the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) explores design and making cultures in Southeast Asia and beyond. In conversation with curators from the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), designers Nathan Yong and Alvin Tjitrowirjo reflect on their creative journeys, the networks that enable design practice, and the evolving relationship between craft and design.

This event is part of ACM’s commitment to building Design Collection Singapore, with a focus on furniture and fashion design. Launched by the National Heritage Board in 2023, Design Collection Singapore is a collaborative initiative involving ACM, DesignSingapore Council, National Library Board, National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Art Museum, and Urban Redevelopment Authority.

4:00 – 4.45pm: Nathan Yong in conversation with Zara Arshad
The first session sees Nathan Yong and curator Zara Arshad discuss the design industry in Singapore – past, present, and future. From cultivating local furniture brands to working closely with regional craftspeople, Yong shares insights into collaboration, innovation, and the changing landscape of design education.

4.45 – 5.30pm: Alvin Tjitrowirjo in conversation with Seet Yun Teng
In the second session, Alvin Tjitrowirjo speaks with curator Seet Yun Teng about reimagining rattan furniture for contemporary contexts. Drawing on Indonesia’s rich craft traditions, he discusses his approach to building sustainable practices and working with local communities.


About the Speakers


Nathan Yong is a designer know for his thoughtful approach to furniture and product design. His work balances modern functionality with Asian sensibilities. Yong is the founder of Nathan Home and co-founder of Grafunkt, and is an educator at LASALLE College of the Arts.


Alvin Tjitrowirjo is an Indonesian designer and founder of furniture brand alvinT, which amalgamates Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage and artisanal approach with contemporary sensibilities. His work advocates for craft and sustainable material use through collaborating with local communities. Tjitrowirjo’s furniture collections have been exhibited internationally, including at Milan Design Week, Maison et Objet Paris, NYC Design Week, and Tokyo Designart.


Zara Arshad is curator for design at ACM. She has held design curatorial and research roles at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), Asia Culture Centre Gwangju, and Beijing Design Week, and given lectures at the Royal College of Art London, University of the Arts London, LASALLE, and Kaywon University of Art and Design. She is currently completing her PhD on Korean craft and design with the Centre for Design History, University of Brighton and the V&A.


Seet Yun Teng is assistant curator for design at ACM. She specialises in contemporary Asian design practices, particularly in furniture design. Her research explores the intersections between design, craft, and materiality. With an MA in Material and Visual Culture (Anthropology) from University College London, she has worked with various art institutions and cultural platforms like NTU Centre of Contemporary Art and Appetite Singapore.


^{Image courtesy of alvinT Studio, photo by Christopher Octaviano}