Drawing From The Past

SINGAPORE'S TRANSFORMATION from a small fishing village to a modern city today can be seen through its architecture - from the kampong houses of old to today's gleaming skyscrapers.

What's less obvious is that our history can also be seen in other ways, from old school matchbox designs to even the menus from zichar eateries.

If you're curious about such things, check out the Singapore Design Archives set up by Justin Zhuang, who has his own writing studio.

For Mr Zhuang, 34, the Archives is a side project that he runs as part of the DesignSingapore Associates Network, an alumni group of individuals who received scholarships from the DesignSingapore Council.

Some years ago, he was writing a book about Singapore's graphic design history, when he thought of archiving such material to make it easier for people to study and critically appreciate design in Singapore.

Since then, he has garnered a collection of material on Singapore architecture and design, including books, ephemera and objects. The last of which include restaurant menus which Mr Zhuang says, "help us understand how such restaurants think about eating and the ways they operate as a business."

Several items were donated to him when he was writing his book. He has also purchased old books and design annuals from used bookstores and junkshops.

One of his most precious acquisitions is the 1971 annual of Baharuddin Vocational Institute, the first national design school set up by the government. "This the first-ever annual produced by the school and it's a highly crafted design book which details who its staff and students are. It also gives a glimpse into the work that was produced, says Mr Zhuang, who bought it from a former student on Carousell.

Mr Zhuang feels that such an archive is necessary because "design in Singapore is largely invisible. We don't consciously realise the environment is created by people who have intentions or plans."

He hopes that the public realises that these archival items, while quirky to look at, "show us ways of thinking and living in Singapore that have since passed or persist in different forms today."

Singapore Design Archives is located at National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road, 05-04. The next open house is on Nov 10, from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.