Wendy Chua
- MA Open Design and Interdisciplinary Practices (magna cum laude), Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
- BA (Hons) Industrial Design, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Wendy Chua is an interdisciplinary design researcher, curator and educator. As a design anthropologist, her research centres on mediating across disciplines and sectors to negotiate new forms of design and art-science practices in response to social issues and climate-related precarities.
Through her practice Forest & Whale, Wendy has lived and worked in Singapore, Buenos Aires, London and Berlin where she envisages design as an agent of change to create an impact in social and planetary care. She has designed products, services and museum experiences that redefine the way we live, from homeware objects and furniture systems to new models of care in ageing societies.
With accolades like the prestigious P*DA award (Singapore) and the Good Design Award (Japan), her work has been exhibited in the Milan Triennale Museum and the Museum of Craft and Design of San Francisco, among others. Selected as one of Prestige Singapore’s 40 Under 40 in 2024, Wendy is recognised for her work in driving game-changing transformation within the arts and social care sector.
Swimming between the fields of the marine sciences, environmental humanities and design, Wendy has been selected for the 2024 EU STARTS artist residency (ReSilence) to envision the future sounds of coastal cities. Her current work with marine microbiologists on marine heatwaves and harmful algal blooms will be exhibited in Berlin and other cities in 2025.
Research and Practice
Publications
- Chua, W., Xin, X. C. & Mitsuyasu, Y, The Machinist: The Last Industrial Artisan of Jalan Besar (eds.) (2017).
Talks and presentations (select)
- Plenary speaker, Design in the Time of Climate Precarity, Design for Better Futures, Design Futures Forum, Singapore Design Week (2023).
- Chua, W. with Palacios, B., Sensing Precarity: Interdisciplinary Constellations at the Equator, Brown Bag Brunch lectures, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-University of Berlin (2023).
- Panellist speaker, Better by Design: The Power of Design in Driving Sustainable Businesses, ChangeNow conference, Paris (2023).
- Roundtable panellist, MUJI IS, DESIGN IS, MUJI Singapore, virtual (2023).
Exhibitions (select)
- Maggio, G., Chua, W. Wallflower: seeding urban gardens through wall art. Installation for Future Impact, Milan Design Week (2023).
- Chua, W., Gatto, A., Palacios, B., Mieles, J. Cloud Traces: Radioactive Particles and Toxic Traces in the City. Participatory art-science installation for Growing Sensescapes, Humboldt Labor, Humboldt Forum, Berlin (2022).
- Maggio, G., Chua, W. Reuse Lab: Rethinking Shared Reuse Systems in the City, Good Design Research Showcase, National Design Centre, Singapore (2021).
Curatorial work (select)
- Visions of the Future: Emerging Designers Showcase, curator for DesignSingapore Council, National Design Centre, Singapore (2020).
- Human–Nature, exhibition on design for robots, big data and A.I., curator for Red Dot Design Museum, Singapore (2019).
Design judging
- Jury panel member, Good Design Research grant, DesignSingapore Council (2023).
Research Interests
- Interdisciplinary and cross-sector design practices
- Design anthropology and community development
- Art-science research (coastal climate issues)