In Singapore, design has long been associated with sleek skylines, thoughtful public housing, and the seamless efficiency of daily life. But a new vision is taking shape, one that moves design beyond objects and aesthetics, and into the way people think, live, and relate to one another.

Propelling this shift is the DesignSingapore Council’s upcoming Design Masterplan 2035, a roadmap that reimagines design not as a specialised discipline, but as a shared national language. It is an ambitious idea: that by 2035, every Singaporean, regardless of profession, will use design in some form, whether to solve problems at work, navigate daily routines, or contribute to their communities.

What makes this vision particularly compelling is how it was created. Over the past year, it has been shaped through an unusually expansive process of co-creation, drawing input from thousands of individuals across sectors and backgrounds. In place of a top-down directive, the Masterplan emerges as a collective expression of what Singapore could become: a place where systems are more intuitive, environments foster belonging, and creativity is not confined to any one industry.

This emphasis on participation reflects a broader cultural shift. Design, in this context, is no longer something delivered to people—it is something developed with them. It becomes a way of asking better questions, of reframing challenges, of imagining alternatives where none seemed possible. In that sense, the Masterplan is as much about mindset as it is about measurable outcomes.

That mindset will begin to surface more visibly in 2026, as design moves into public view through a series of events and initiatives. Chief among them is “New Everyday Life, by Design,” a nationwide activation that invites people to encounter design not in galleries, but in the flow of their daily lives. Spread across key districts such as Bras Basah.Bugis and the Punggol Digital District, the event promises a mix of showcases, participatory experiences, and community-led programmes. The idea is not simply to exhibit design, but to make it tangible—to allow people to experience how it shapes the rhythms of a city.

Beyond Singapore’s borders, this narrative of experimentation and adaptability will be carried to Milan Design Week through “Prototype Island,” an exhibition that frames the nation as a kind of living laboratory. Curated by Singaporean designer Hunn Wai, the showcase explores how ideas in Singapore are continuously tested, refined, and implemented at scale. It is a perspective that resonates with the country’s history of rapid development, but also points toward a future where iteration and adaptability are key cultural traits.

Back home, 2026 will also mark the 20th anniversary of the President’s Design Award, a milestone that invites reflection on how design has shaped Singapore over the past two decades. Since its inception, the award has recognised projects that extend beyond visual appeal, honouring work that transforms industries, enhances quality of life, and strengthens social connections. The anniversary showcase offers an opportunity to trace these impacts—not as isolated achievements, but as part of a broader narrative about how design has quietly influenced the nation’s evolution.

Yet perhaps the most significant changes are unfolding in less visible ways, particularly in education and social systems. Tools like Glitch, a web-based learning platform, are introducing students to design thinking through interactive, self-directed challenges rooted in real-world contexts. Meanwhile, initiatives such as Challenge X and Challenge Y encourage participants to engage directly with community issues, applying design methods to develop solutions that are both practical and empathetic.

In schools, this approach is already reshaping environments and experiences. Projects that involve students in redesigning their own spaces, such as reimagining a school canteen as a place grounded in shared values, demonstrate how design can influence not just physical settings, but the culture of learning itself. It encourages a sense of ownership, curiosity, and collaboration that extends beyond the classroom.

The application of design thinking is also expanding into healthcare and social services, where its impact can be deeply felt. Partnerships with regional health systems and community organisations are embedding design into the way care is delivered, from improving patient experiences to fostering more inclusive environments for vulnerable groups. Initiatives like the development of “Social Town,” an inclusive community space, illustrate how design can support dignity, participation, and connection—particularly for persons with disabilities.

Underlying all these efforts is a growing recognition that design is not merely a tool for innovation, but a means of shaping how people relate to one another and to their surroundings. It offers a way to bridge disciplines, to connect policy with lived experience, and to translate abstract ideas into tangible improvements in everyday life.

To support this expanding role, the ecosystem around design is also being strengthened. Scholarships continue to nurture future leaders in the field, while enhanced grants provide organisations with the resources to move from early-stage ideas to fully realised solutions. These investments signal a commitment not only to developing talent, but to sustaining a culture of experimentation and growth.

Taken together, these initiatives point toward a vision of Singapore as a city that is constantly in the process of becoming—one that embraces change not as disruption, but as an opportunity for reinvention. The Design Masterplan 2035 does not present a fixed endpoint, but rather a framework for ongoing evolution, grounded in the belief that better outcomes are possible when more people are empowered to shape them.

In this emerging landscape, design becomes less about what is seen, and more about what is felt: the ease of navigating a system, the warmth of a shared space, the sense of belonging within a community. It is subtle, often invisible, yet profoundly influential.

And perhaps that is the most radical idea at the heart of the Masterplan, that the future of design in Singapore will not be defined by a select few, but by the collective imagination of many.

The Design Masterplan 2035 will be launched in April. More updates available on their website