National Design Centre

Scheduled to be open in 2013, the National Design Centre (NDC) seeks to achieve overall growth and transformation for the design cluster, and to develop design both as a vibrant, integrated and competitive cluster, as well as an enabler to enhance the performance of other economic clusters and the society as a whole. The centre aims to catalyse the growing design culture and be the place where creative minds meet and creative businesses are seeded.

The upcoming NDC at 111 Middle Road will be a key node in the design eco-system to develop trade, promote knowledge exchange and transfer, and provide assistance to accelerate the development of new growth industries and targeted economic sectors. Its facilities will support the development, showcase and commercialisation of innovative works and projects by design talents, promising start-ups, SMEs and innovative enterprises.

Development and Programming 

The NDC will operate as a one-stop integrated resource hub where designers, businesses and associations can gravitate to exchange ideas, obtain assistance, use its facilities and do business while reaching out to the public through its programmes and exhibits.

The centre will house programmes such as the Design Thinking and Innovation Academy, Asian Insights and Design Innovation Lab and Collaborative Spaces as well as facilities such as the Prototyping Lab, Materials Library, Design Gallery and an auditorium. The NDC will also provide a platform to engage businesses in other industries through the Design for Enterprises Centre, a business advisory centre.

Besides serving as a showcase for DesignSingapore Council programmes, the NDC will spur design innovation and lower the barriers for the adoption of good design for designers to pursue design R&D and IP creation.

Collaborative Spaces

The Collaborative Spaces programme is a design-driven innovation incubator that brings together designers, manufacturers, retailers and investors to develop innovative and cutting-edge design solutions, products and services.

A diverse and multi-disciplinary tenant mix will be housed in affordable and configurable studio spaces of varying sizes, on short term and finite tenancies, to encourage the test bedding of products and services co-created across design disciplines and industry sectors. The co-location of budding and established design talents and companies with promising start-ups, innovative enterprises and/or organisations from new growth economic sectors will facilitate interaction and collaboration. They will be able to leverage on the shared facilities of the NDC, particularly the Prototyping Lab and Materials Library, to test and exchange ideas, network and collaborate to co-create new products and services