Improving Life- The design of Swedish innovations
National Museum of Singapore
12 Jan – 11 Feb
10am – 9pm
Singapore

“Improving Life – The design of Swedish innovations” is an exhibition about ideas which through design have been developed into products and systems. In its expression, Swedish design has always been tied to elemental values of function and practicality. Examples in the exhibit illustrate the meeting between two traditionally strong movements in Sweden.

Intelligent ideas are developed from basic, with more beautiful utilitarian objects as expression. The roots of Swedish design have often sprung from precisely this combination of usability and beauty.

With a showcase of more than 65 products and applications, this exhibition uncovers the big ideas behind little inventions like the modest zipper and Tetra Pak, and reveals the secrets to complex engineering marvels like the ‘all-wheel drive’ and mobile telephony. Through these inventions, Improving Life aims to show the process of innovation from the birth of an idea to the design and creation of a commercially successful product.

“Many well-known innovations and discoveries have Swedish origins. The ideas of inventors have laid the foundations for industries, which in turn have played an important role in Sweden’s transformation into a highly developed country. Sweden is today considered one of the most innovative and competitive nations in the world according to internationally recognized global rankings”, comments The Ambassador of Sweden to Singapore, H.E. Par Ahlberger. “ Sweden has, considering our size, more partners in the exhibition, ABB, Electrolux, Ericsson, IKEA and Volvo are excellent examples of this”’ continues Ambassador Ahlberger. “Through this exhibition we will further strengthen our excellent relations with Singapore in the field of industrial design”.

Improving Life was produced by Svensk Form (the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design) in conjunction with the Swedish Institute, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affair, and the Swedish Trade Council. This exhibition first began its long tour in 2003 and has travelled to South Korea, Australia and Hong Kong. The exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore will mark the 11th stop of its tour circuit. The exhibition is partly based on the book entitled Swedish Innovations by Kjell Sedig.

Free guided tours:

Every Saturday and Sunday
11 am and 3 pm

Getting There:

Bus-stop (YMCA)
SBS: 7, 14, 14E, 16, 36, 64, 65, 111, 124, 139, 162, 174, 174E, 502, 521
TIBS: 77, 106, 167, 171, 190, 700, 700A, 1NR6, NR7

Bus-stop (Stamford)
SBS: 7, 14, 14E, 16, 36, 111, 124, 131, 147, 162, 166, 174, 174E, 502
TIBS: 77, 106, 167, 171, 190, 700, 700A, 857, NR7

MRT
Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station (North- East Line)

Car Park:

There is no public parking available on the Museum’s premise, Parking is available at the Singapore Management University (SMU) and Fort Canning.