DIS-TABLING
Acts of Emerging
Design Research

Distabling Nation Branding

Design Historiography and Nation Branding: A Singaporean Perspective

This exhibit explores Singapore’s national branding efforts and design history over the six decades since the city-state gained independence in 1965. It aims to understand the influence of globalisation in shaping the direction of Singapore’s national brand, specifically examining how economic, political, cultural, and technological forces from dominant national economies have determined how Singapore has been presented to the world.

This exhibit forms part of my research into “Branding Singapore,” which takes a critical view of nation branding practices. A practice often driven by market forces and aimed at creating a more appealing image of a country rather than authentically representing its realities and challenges. This exhibit is presented by Alan Fong—an advertising practitioner, communication designer, and PhD candidate.

Ongoing exhibition with activations twice a day