10TOUCHPOINTS COMPETITION

10TOUCHPOINTS COMPETITION: * * *

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(Use of design solutions in public and private sectors): **

25.

Miss Penny Low asked the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts in light of the '10TouchPoints' competition held in 2007 which promotes innovation and creativity in the redesigning of objects for daily use (a) whether the winning entries have

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been adopted or adapted by public agencies and corporations; (b) if so, what is the success rate; and (c) if not, does the Ministry plan to promote its design solutions to both the public and private sectors.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: 10TouchPoints was an exercise to improve the design of public amenities. The top 10 items for design improvement were identified from public nominations and voting. 400 nominations were received and over 17,000 votes cast. These 10 everyday items, namely bicycle dismounting system, bus stops, drains and canals, hospital signage system, mailboxes, multi-purpose ID card, playgrounds, public toilets, recycling bins and takeaway meal boxes, were then put to the designers for their redesign.

A Jury Panel led by distinguished designers from Singapore and overseas was appointed to evaluate the design proposals. Out of the 10 redesign categories, the Jury Panel recommended five winning design proposals. From the five winners, two designs are being implemented, and the other three are being kept in view by the sponsoring agencies for implementation in the future.

For instance, the winning design for recycling bins, which cleverly uses the items to be recycled as its appearance, were put on trial along Orchard Road in December 2007 by the National Environment Agency (NEA) in collaboration with other agencies. The design team for the bins is also concurrently working with Waterways Watch Society 2 and NEA for potential adaptation nationwide.

In addition, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has awarded a design contract to adapt the recycling bins for implementation in the three terminals of Changi Airport, and this is scheduled for rollout in September 2008.

We are also happy to note that the National Parks Board had taken an interest in Roy Pang's bicycle dismounting design to encourage cyclists to dismount at specific points along a cycling path. The Board is studying the idea with the designer.

Aside from the tangible outcomes highlighted above, 10TouchPoints has helped to raise the awareness of how good design can enhance the functionality and aesthetic quality of such common items for all users. DesignSingapore takes a long-term view in promoting design awareness. It plans to run the 10TouchPoints campaign once every two years. The second 10TouchPoints will be launched in early 2009.

2 The 'Waterways Watch' is a special volunteer group with the mission of formulating and implementing an on-going action plan to assist in keeping the waterways of Singapore clean and free of pollution, as well as initiating and organizing on-going activities aimed at educating the public on the importance of keeping the waterways clean. The WaterWays Watch Society has been registered with effect from 27th May 2000 as a charity under the Charities Act, 1994.

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