DesignSingapore Council Executive Director, Jeffrey Ho appointed to the board and advisory council of two international design organisations

March 13, 2012

The DesignSingapore Council’s Executive Director, Mr Jeffrey Ho, is appointed a member of the Executive Board of the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda) and a member of the International Strategic Advisory Council of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI).  Both appointments are for a two-year term, starting from 2012. 

2.         Trained as an architect, Mr Jeffrey Ho assumed the helm of the DesignSingapore Council as its Executive Director in December 2009.He spearheads the national agency for design in Singapore by charting national policies on design, leading the Council in developing design capabilities, enabling enterprises to leverage on design to be more competitive and better exploit design-driven innovations to make Singapore the global city for design creativity in Asia. 

3.         At the DesignSingapore Council, he founded the Design Thinking & Innovation Academy with the aim to infuse design thinking in Singapore, train participants from pre-school children to CEOs, and develop design-driven innovation capabilities in the people, private and public sectors.  He also set up the Asian Insights & Design Innovation Lab to understand the Asian users’ lifestyles, needs, wants and desires to drive product, service and experience innovation in Singapore.  In addition, Mr Ho is the founder of the National Design Centre in Singapore, which will open in 2013.  Please refer to Annex A for the biography of Mr Ho.

4.         The Icograda Executive Board explained the appointment: “Jeffrey brings experience in policy development and building strong relationships amongst the government, business and design sector.  The Board has identified such affiliations as a key priority for Icograda in this term.”  The new appointee is also expected to advance Icograda’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.

5.         “Seeing that businesses and governments all over the world are recognising the power of design to transform lives, I would like to help Icograda harness the power of design and designers to become an international lobby and advocacy group for design.  We aim to work with governments and organisations, to effect social, cultural, political, economic and technological policies that make lives better for all of us,” said Mr Ho.

6.         At the same time, Mr Ho is also appointed a member of the IFI International Strategic Advisory Council.  He will help IFI to strategise business practices, format global initiatives and related outreach.  Ms Shashi Caan, IFI President said: “We look forward to Jeffrey helping IFI initiate and develop strong strategic business approaches and outreach, which will be instrumental not only for the general growth and significance of IFI but also for the understanding and expansion of Interior Architecture/Design worldwide.”

7.         Founded in 1963, Icograda is the world’s body for professional communication design.  Icograda promotes communication designers’ vital role in society and commerce, and unifies the voices of graphic designers and visual communicators worldwide.

8.         IFI was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1963 as an international not-for-profit, sole global authority for professional Interior Architects/Designers.  IFI furthers the dialogue exchange and development of knowledge and experience in education, research and practice.  It also impacts and influences the application of the design of interiors and the built environment.  Both Icograda and IFI are partners of the International Design Alliance.

ISSUED BY

DESIGNSINGAPORE COUNCIL,

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS & THE ARTS

13 MARCH 2012

 Download the media release and Mr Jeffrey Ho's profile here

MEDIA CONTACTS

1.         Frances Kong
DesignSingapore Council
Ministry of Information, Communications & the Arts
Email: frances_kong@mica.gov.sg  

            T: +65 6837 9314
F: +65 6837 9686
140 Hill Street
5th Storey MICA Building
Singapore 179369

2.         Adrian Heok

            DesignSingapore Council
Ministry of Information, Communications & the Arts
Email: adrian_heok@mica.gov.sg  

            T: +65 6837 9634
F: +65 6837 9686
140 Hill Street
5th Storey MICA Building
Singapore 179369

About the DesignSingapore Council

The mission of the DesignSingapore Council is to develop Singapore into a global city for design where design innovation drives economic growth and enhances the quality of life.  DesignSingapore promotes and develops the design industries as a creative cluster, encourages the adoption of design by enterprises and nurtures a climate of co-creation and innovation through design.

The DesignSingapore Council is the national agency for design and is a part of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.