5 Highlights from the SIDA 2020 Awards Presentation Ceremony

The Singapore Interior Design Awards (SIDA) 2020 Awards Presentation Ceremony was the evening event that commenced after the SIDS Design Convention 2020 on 3 December 2020. Like the Convention before, it was a hybrid event with a physical event at Marina Bay Sands and an online one via the Society of Interior Designers Singapore’s (SIDS) Facebook livestream.

It was a celebratory event of local interior design talent despite the meet-up challenges posed by COVID-19. That evening, awards were given out, interior designers were recognised, and project submissions were viewed with awe. Dinner catered by Joshua Brown was also served to physical attendees at the Roselle-Simpor Ballroom at Marina Bay Sands.

Professor Keat Ong gives his speech. Screenshot from the event's Facebook Live Stream

The event opened with a short speech from Professor Keat Ong, President of SIDS. He urged his fellow interior designers to grow, adapt, and re-strategise to push ahead, even with government aid.

He also mentioned the initiatives that SIDS came up with to help those affected by COVID-19, such as the #1SGID Forum for SIDS members, Operation De-COVID19 to raise funds for migrant workers financially hindered by the pandemic, and cross-border collaborations with international interior designers via digital platforms.

Professor Ong then ended his address by thanking the SIDS for their relentless efforts to bring both the Design Convention and Awards Ceremony to fruition.

Here are 5 highlights of the SIDA 2020 Awards Presentation Ceremony.

1. Opening Speech by Ms Indranee Rajah

Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development, was the Guest-of-Honour for that evening.

She shared her optimism that, as seen by the Convention and Ceremony being held, the interior design industry will be able to pull through even with restrictions. This is counted though, that safety guidelines continue to be adhered to as they have been for that evening.

Ms Rajah assures attendees that they are not alone in this trying time and that the government will continue to support the industry through grants and programmes for interior designers who want to improve their skills. She encourages all to upskill to adapt, think creatively, and embrace technological disruption - to see challenges as opportunities to reinvent.

With that, she announced that SIDS will launch an Interior Design Accreditation Programme by 2021, to maintain the professional expertise within the industry and thus help homeowners decide more carefully before enlisting interior designers.

She then pointed out three key trends for the interior design industry to follow, especially in the post-pandemic age: Designing for the new normal in a digital age (particularly for remote working), building an inclusive society, and developing a more vibrant design industry.

After Ms Rajah’s speech, tokens of appreciation were presented to award sponsors AkzoNobel (Gold sponsor), Admira Pte Ltd (Silver sponsor), T1 Glass Systems Pte Ltd (Bronze sponsor), and Luxx Newhouse Pte Ltd (trophy sponsor).

2. SIDA 2020 Awards Presentation - Concept

For this year’s SIDA, there were 622 entries across three categories - Youth, Concept, and Completed. The Youth Category winners were awarded earlier on during the SIDS Design Convention, so the awards given out during the evening were for the remaining two categories: Concept and Completed.

All submissions for SIDA 2020 were assessed by an extensive list of judges with professional design experience, several of whom were in attendance physically and online.

Winners for the Concept category were awarded first; for this category, submissions were either in their concept stages or in the process of being constructed. This category spanned across 13 subcategories pertaining to different interior types. Each subcategory had a few honourary mentions, then Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

Screenshots from the event's Facebook Live Stream

The Concept subcategories were awarded in the following order:

Concept - Best in Hospitality Design + Communal Spaces

Concept - Best In Workspace Design less than 500 square metres

Concept - Best In Workspace Design equal to or more than 500 square metres

Concept - Best in F&B Design, Food Centres

Concept - Best in F&B Design, Restaurants

Concept - Best in Public Space Design, Civic and Cultural

Concept - Best in Public Space Design, Institutional and Public Education

Concept - Best in Public Space Design, Leisure and Entertainment

Concept - Best in Exhibition Design, Developers Sales Gallery

Concept - Best in Exhibition Design, Permanent Exhibits of 6 Months and Above

Concept - Best in Exhibition Design, Temporary Exhibits of 6 Months and Below

Concept - Best in Residential Design, 51 to 100 square metres

Concept - Best in Residential Design, 100 square metres and above

3. SIDA 2020 Awards Presentation - Completed

Winners for the Completed category were awarded next. This category spanned 20 subcategories and comprised submissions that are completed projects. The Completed subcategories were awarded in the following order:

Completed - Best in Retail Design, Mall Communal Spaces

Completed - Best in Retail Design, Retail Shops

Completed - Best In Hospitality Design, Hotel Communal Spaces

Completed - Best In Hospitality Design, Hotel Rooms

Completed - Best In Workspace Design, 100 square metres and below

Completed - Best In Workspace Design, 101 to 500 square metres

Completed - Best In Workspace Design, 500 square metres and above

Completed - Best In F&B Design, Cafe Spaces

Completed - Best In F&B Design, Food Kiosks / Pop Up

Completed - Best In F&B Design, Restaurant Spaces

Completed - Best in Public Space Design, Institutional and Education

Completed - Best In Public Space Design, Leisure and Entertainment

Completed - Best In Public Space Design, Civic and Cultural

Completed - Best In Exhibition Design, Developer Sales Gallery

Completed - Best In Permanent Exhibits, 6 months and above

Completed - Best In Temporary Exhibits, 6 months and below

Completed - Best In Residential Design, 50 square metres and below

Completed - Best In Residential Design, 51 to 100 square metres

Completed - Best In Residential Design, 100 square metres and above

Completed - Best In Residential Design, Showflats

Screenshot from the event's Facebook Live Stream

For both the Concept and Completed categories, winners joined in via either the physical even or the online livestream.

There were several local ID firms taking home more than one award, such as Studio iF, Idee Etcetera, UPSTAIRS_, 2nd Edition Pte Ltd, Sky Creation, DP Design Pte Ltd, and Image Creative Design Pte Ltd.

4. SIDA 2020 Awards Presentation - Luminary Awards

The Luminary Awards were SIDA’s prestigious awards for local interior designers whose SIDA project submissions have displayed exceptional professionalism, skill, and aesthetic. Ms Indranee Rajah presented these special awards to interior design firms who have earned the recognition for their perseverance and hard work.

The awards and respective winners were:

Luminary Awards, Concept Projects - Best in Exhibition Design - Studio iF

Luminary Awards, Concept Projects - Best in F&B Design - Image Creative Design Pte Ltd

Screenshot from the event's Facebook Live Stream

Luminary Awards, Concept Projects - Best in Public Space Design - ORB Associates Pte Ltd

Luminary Awards, Concept Projects - Best in Workspace Design - d’apres nous D&B Pte Ltd

Screenshot from the event's Facebook Live Stream

Luminary Awards, Concept Projects - Best in Residential Design - Thom Signature Design

Luminary Awards, Completed Projects - Best in Exhibition Design - 2nd Edition Pte Ltd

Screenshots from the event's Facebook Live Stream

Luminary Awards, Completed Projects - Best in Hospitality Design - HYLA Architects

Screenshot from the event's Facebook Live Stream

Luminary Awards, Completed Projects - Best in Public Space Design - DP Design Ptd Ltd

Screenshots from the event's Facebook Live Stream

Luminary Awards, Completed Projects - Best in Residential Design - Studio iF

Screenshots from the event's Facebook Live Stream

Luminary Awards, Completed Projects - Best in Retail Design - LAANK Pte Ltd

Screenshots from the event's Facebook Live Stream

Luminary Awards, Completed Projects - Best in Workspace Design - DP Design Ptd Ltd

5. SIDA 2020 Awards Presentation - Special Awards

A few other special awards, dubbed ‘the best of the best’ of this year’s SIDA, were also presented. These awards and their respective winners were:

SIDA-AkzoNobel ColourFutures Award - Free Space Intent Pte Ltd

Screenshots from the event's Facebook Live Stream

SIDA 2020 Best of the Best Award - Kris Lin International Design

Screenshot from the event's Facebook Live Stream

SIDA 2020 Best Design Firm of the Year Award - UPSTAIRS_

Screenshots from the event's Facebook Live Stream

SIDA 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award - Mr Phillips M. Connor, Independent Consultants

Screenshot from the event's Facebook Live Stream

Mr Connor, who has 40 years of design experience spanning different interior types behind him, gave a short speech after accepting his award; he shared a little about his life experience since coming to Singapore in 1984 and thanked the SIDS for their support and mentorship.

Screenshot from the event's Facebook Live Stream

The SIDA 2020 Awards Presentation Ceremony ended officially at 9pm, with physical attendees choosing to stay to network over dinner. The RenoTalk team extends their congratulations to all SIDA 2020 winners.

Check out our highlights for the SIDS Design Convention 2020, which happened during the day right before the SIDA 2020 Awards Presentation Ceremony.

The Facebook video stream of both events is available on the SIDS’s Facebook page.