Singapore, 25 November 2025: Singapore’s design sector reached a defining moment on Tuesday as the Design Business Chamber Singapore (DBCS) marked its 40th anniversary by unveiling the World Design Business Organisation (WDBO), a landmark global platform set to advance the economics and business of design. The occasion, graced by Guest of Honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, also spotlighted the winners of the Singapore Good Design (SG Mark) Awards 2025, reinforcing Singapore’s rising influence in global design innovation.
The anniversary celebration underscored DBCS’s four decades of work in shaping design as a strategic engine for business transformation, technological progress, and social wellbeing. The launch of WDBO represents the next evolution of that mission, expanding Singapore’s design leadership to a global audience at a time when design is increasingly being recognised as a key driver of economic competitiveness, innovation ecosystems, and societal resilience.
A Global Shift: WDBO Takes the Singapore Model Worldwide
Developed in partnership with the global creative change firm Consulus, the WDBO extends DBCS’s successful cross-disciplinary philosophy beyond Singapore. Its core mission is to build a unified international movement that advances design not just as an aesthetic discipline, but as an economic force.
Central to WDBO is the Design Power Index (DPI) — the world’s first longitudinal study designed to measure how design contributes to business growth, market creation, technological advancement, and social impact. The DPI evaluates how design intellectual property (IP), user-centric strategy, and organisational design capabilities translate into long-term economic value.
In its inaugural year, 40 organisations made the index, collectively generating over S$140 billion in verifiable commercial value, with operations spanning more than 60 countries and a combined workforce of 140,000 employees. Over the next three years, the DPI will track how these organisations leverage design to create sustained competitive advantage.
Nine organisations received special recognition from President Tharman for their design-driven impact: A*Star, Banyan Group, Kingsmen, Lam Soon, Mandai, Mediacorp, RSP, Zig by ComfortDelGro, and V3 Group.
“WDBO builds on the spirit of DBCS — the belief that design excellence and business strategy are deeply intertwined,” said Chee Su Eing, Global Chair of WDBO and former DBCS President. “By expressing the value of design in the language of investors and policymakers, we can make design a measurable and indispensable part of economic and social progress.”
SG Mark Awards 2025: Celebrating Purposeful and Inclusive Design
The SG Mark Awards 2025 highlighted outstanding achievements across design disciplines, with winners exemplifying innovation that supports inclusivity, ageing resilience, and community wellbeing.
The Platinum Award went to Castomize’s TessaCast, a 4D-printed orthopaedic cast that self-moulds to the patient’s contours. Its breathable, reusable design reduces medical waste by 30% and offers a new standard for sustainable healthcare technology. Jurors praised the project for combining technical ingenuity with thoughtful patient-centric design.
Three Gold Awards were presented:
ReBalance by Ability Robotics, recognised under the special Silver Futures category, for its balance-assist wearable that restores mobility and independence for older adults. The jury noted its empathetic design for ageing-in-place.
Accessible Sights by Trigger Design and Beyond Vision International, honoured for multisensory tours led by visually impaired docents, redefining accessibility and inclusive tourism.
SCDF’s myResponder App by EY Digital, winner in Digital Design, for strengthening civic resilience by empowering citizens to respond quickly to emergencies.
Special Mentions went to notable projects including MonoLab Studio’s The Reserve, a secure vault reimagined from an industrial site; Gallery G(ai)le + Musebox by NCS and the National Gallery Singapore, which uses conversational AI to democratise art access; and CPF’s Life Supermart by PLUS Collaboratives, which simplifies retirement planning through interactive design.
These winners were selected by an international jury panel across a rigorous two-stage evaluation, reaffirming SG Mark’s standing as a symbol of design excellence and societal purpose.
Recognising Legacy and Emerging Talent
Marking its milestone year, DBCS also introduced The ReMarkables, a new category honouring companies that have achieved five to nine consecutive years of SG Mark wins since 2013. Twenty-one organisations — including OCBC, DBS, Keppel Land, Philips, ONG&ONG, HP, and Dell Technologies — were recognised for long-term excellence and adaptability in evolving design landscapes.
The ceremony also applauded the top 10 recipients of the Seed Award, DBCS’s talent development initiative that supports promising design students and young graduates. The award nurtures future leaders in the field, offering access to real-world projects and deeper engagement with the design industry.
A Vision for Singapore’s Next Design Era
Reflecting on the Chamber’s 40-year journey, DBCS President Hong Khai Seng said, “SG Mark has always mirrored Singapore’s design story — one rooted in empathy, purpose, and innovation. With WDBO and the DPI, we elevate design not only as a creative discipline but as an economic driver with global relevance.”
Over the past decade, SG Mark has recognised design excellence across sectors including healthcare, education, mobility, sustainability, and public service. With WDBO now joining its portfolio, DBCS aims to position Singapore as a global hub for design economics, fostering deeper collaboration between creative thinkers, businesses, investors, and policymakers.
As Singapore embarks on the next chapter of its design evolution, DBCS’s 40th anniversary signals a future where design shapes not only how we live — but how economies grow, innovate, and include.
Singapore’s leading multidisciplinary design chamber
Design Business Chamber Singapore (DBCS) is the nation’s leading multidisciplinary design chamber since 1985. Founded by a diverse group of 13 forward-thinking designers, the organisation was formerly known as Designers Association Singapore. It was renamed Design Business Chamber Singapore in 2012.
As a dynamic community of business leaders, practitioners, and academia from diverse backgrounds, DBCS believes that a pluralistic design approach is key to gaining a competitive edge in today’s global market. As a champion of applying design in business, DBCS seeks to raise the standard of professional practices and create business opportunities through cross-collaborations in local and international contexts.
For more information, visit https://dbcsingapore.org/
Creating a melting pot of diverse perspectives for common action
In a world increasingly shaped by trade wars and the rapid advancement of AI, a new understanding of the economics of design isn’t just relevant – it’s crucial for survival and evolution of the creative industry. DBCS has for 40 years experimented with being interdisciplinary at its core through fostering collaboration between designers, engineers, policymakers, and business leaders, creating a melting pot of diverse perspectives for common action. On 25th of November, during DBCS 40th anniversary gala dinner and in partnership with global impact investment and creative change firm, Consulus, DBCS shall replicate this model and launch this global version of DBCS known as World Design Business Organisation which shall focus on the following 4 areas:
World Economy of Design – Shape the economic value of design in world trade through measurable indexes, intellectual property benchmarks, financial models on the impact of design and the intersection of design with capital markets
Design for Value – Shape the economic practice and social impact of design through aiming for global ranking in design
education and preparing future designers for an Age of AI
Business of Design Resiliency – Shape the economic valuation of design practices or companies that use design through business advisor, and setting up World Design and AI Institute.
Organising for Unity – Shape a global multi-disciplinary, and multi-stakeholder movement that can mutually bridge Asian and Western creative companies at a time of rising division. The inaugural World Design Business Forum is an example of this.
Global creative change firm
Founded in Singapore in 2004, Consulus is a global creative change firm working with persons, organisations, and cities in their transfiguration toward an Economy of Communion. With a presence in 23 countries, Consulus believes that purpose and unity are essential to innovation and inclusive growth.
Consulus’ six practice areas:
Consulus Capital – Consulus Capital facilitates strategic impact investment opportunities, guided by the principles of the Economy of Communion, to address global challenges in Food, Environment, Data, and Space.
Consulus Changemakers – Consulus changemakers facilitates a global network of changemaking organisations and individuals from companies, academia and non-profit who share in Consulus theory of change
Consulus Consulting – Practice areas in Business, Digitalisation, Place & Cities, Sustainability, and Impact Transformation
Consulus Press in partnership with LID Business Books of London – Books for changemaking
Creative Change Tools – Personal books and creative aids for changemaking
Creative Changemakers School – Leadership workshops and learning circles with global universities in Asia, Europe and the United States
For more information, visit: www.consulus.com
List of Remarkables Winners
Electrolux Group — The Swedish home appliance leader has consistently created purposeful design innovations such as the Electrolux Washer and Iceberg Refrigerator, combining sustainability with everyday functionality.
DBS Bank — With innovative solutions like DBS Livebetter, and DBS Digibank, DBS has won multiple SG Mark awards for its
Far East Organisation — Singapore’s largest private real estate developer has earned multiple SG Marks for its thoughtful urban projects, including The Cape and One Holland Village, which reimagine community living and placemaking.
OCBC Bank — Has been recognised for customer-centric innovations such as the Next-Generation Branches and Online Investment Platform, setting new standards in digital banking experience.
Dell Technologies — Winning products like the XPS 14 Laptop 9440 and 32-inch 4K QD-OLED Monitor S3225QC has earned the SG Mark for precision engineering and human-centred design.
Kris Lin International Design — The architectural firm has been honoured for evocative spatial works such as Lines of Light, Flying and Textile, which blend art, materiality and structure.
D’Perception Ritz — Redefining meaningful environments with empathy through projects such as St Luke’s Eldercare Nee Soon Central and Civil Service College Learning Oasis
LIXIL — Recognised for pioneering sustainable bathroom and kitchen solutions, including the Accustream Sensor Faucets Collection and WizFlo Hand Shower Range.
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) — The institute has received SG Marks for forward-looking educational and commemorative projects such as Timescapes: SUTD 10th Anniversary Time Capsule and SUTD Campus Design,
We Are Perspective — Projects like the Certis Security Robots have made its mark by advancing robotics integration into real-world safety solutions.
D’Perception — Transformed public service environments, including CPF Tampines and Woodlands Service Centres, through experience-driven spatial design.
DP Architects — One of Singapore’s most established architectural firms, lauded for landmark developments such as The Cape and JTC BioMed Hub @ Tuas Biomedical Park.
ID21 — The workplace design specialist has won multiple SG Marks for projects including IMC Pan Asia Alliance Group and LifeLabs@LEC, for their expertise in creating agile, human-centred offices.
M Moser Associates — The Beam Suntory Singapore Office, Sony Music Mumbai Office and Singtel SingPost Centre Office are a few of the projects recognised for creating transformative workplaces.
ONG&ONG — The design group has received SG Marks for projects including 360 Circle by ONG&ONG and Artyzen Singapore, for holistic design that integrates architecture, interior and branding.
Pico Art International — Large-scale activations like Embodying the Synergy of Connection, the Singapore Pavilion at COP29 and Singapore Day 2019 have won them several SG Mark awards.
Playpoint Singapore — Known for inspiring imaginative outdoor experience projects such as Bird Paradise Treetop Play, Yew Tee Lifestyle Corridor – Oil Drum Playground and Chandelier.
Philips — Has won the SG Mark for innovations including the PerfectCare Pure GC7635 Iron and CTainer Medical Imaging System, reflecting its focus on intelligent, user-friendly healthcare solutions.
Conexus Studio — Created winning workplace environments such as Conexus Studio @ MTower and the Sartorius Singapore Office to foster collaboration and community.
Keppel Land Limited — The global sustainable-urban-solutions provider has been recognised for projects like the Sliding Integrated Multifunction Slim Wall System and Ocean Financial Centre
List of Design Power Index Awardee
Business of Design
Bengawan Solo
CapitaLand Group
Commune
CPG Corporation
Gryphon Tea
Kingsmen
Lam Soon
Mediacorp
OCBC
ONG&ONG
Pico Art International
Raffles Design Institute
RSP Architects Planners & Engineers
Singapore Airlines
SPH Media
Supermama
UOB
V3 Group
Zig by ComfortDelGro
Market of Design
Birds of Paradise
Hegen 22.JustCo
PRISM+
Uniseal
Technology of Design
Carousell
Circles.Life
Endowus
GovTech
Razer
YouTrip
Social Impact of Design
A*STAR
Banyan Group
Bettr Group
Centre for Healthcare Innovation (CHI)
Dementia Singapore
Epigram
Mandai Wildlife Group
Potato Productions
raiSE Singapore
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
