Up-Front with Front and Off-Centre

Justin Zhuang, In Plain Words| S3E5

Today’s guest is Justin Zhuang. He is a writer and researcher, and co-founder of Singapore-based writing studio In Plain Words. In 2013, Justin was awarded the DesignSingapore Scholarship to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Design Criticism at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Since returning home, Justin has continued researching local design through his writings, teaching work, and the Singapore Graphic Archives, a digital repository he started. Important titles he has worked on include: Everyday Modernism: Architecture and Society in Singapore; Mok Wei Wei: Works by W Architects; and Fifty Years of Singapore Design, among others. In this episode, hosted by Ian Tee, Justin talks about his background in journalism, what criticism means to him, as well as In Plain Words’ latest book titled Critical of/for What? Notes on Criticality in Singapore Design Education and Practice (2026). Up-Front is brought to you by Front & Off-Centre, a cultural agency offering communications, curatorial and programming services. It is co-hosted by Director Nadya Wang and Curatorial Lead Ian Tee, with production by Isaiah Cheng and visual design by Sharrona Valezka. To learn more about us, follow us on Instagram ⁠@frontandoffcentre⁠ [https://instagram.com/frontandoffcentre] and visit ⁠ [https://frontandoffcentre.com/]frontandoffcentre.com [http://frontandoffcentre.com]⁠ [https://frontandoffcentre.com/]

Aqilah Zailan, Studio Gypsied | S3E4

Today’s guest is Aqilah Zailan. As a Malay Singaporean of Javanese descent, She unpacks identity and memory through batik, a cloth synonymous with the peoples and cultures of the Malay Archipelago (Nusantara). With a focus on Javanese batik, Studio Gypsied designs womenswear that intuitively connects the wearer to an identity—an act of coming home. In this episode, hosted by Nadya Wang, Aqilah talks about when she first discovered her love–and knack–for retail, engaging with customers for more than a decade, and honouring her roots and she continues to innovate. Up-Front is brought to you by Front & Off-Centre, a cultural agency offering communications, curatorial and programming services. It is co-hosted by Director Nadya Wang and Curatorial Lead Ian Tee, with production by Isaiah Cheng and visual design by Sharrona Valezka. To learn more about us, follow us on Instagram ⁠@frontandoffcentre⁠ [https://instagram.com/frontandoffcentre] and visit ⁠ [https://frontandoffcentre.com/]frontandoffcentre.com [http://frontandoffcentre.com]⁠ [https://frontandoffcentre.com/]

Bea Camacho | S3E3

Today’s guest is Bea Camacho. She is a visual artist and Regional Director for Southeast Asia at IDEO. Her artistic practice spans performance, installation, and video, exploring memory, the body, and material gestures. Alongside her art practice, she works at IDEO as a design consultant applying human-centered design to help organizations develop new products, services and user experiences. In this episode, hosted by Nadya Wang, Bea talks about the foundations of her practice, working between art and design, and what creativity means to her. Up-Front is brought to you by Front & Off-Centre, a cultural agency offering communications, curatorial and programming services. It is co-hosted by Director Nadya Wang and Curatorial Lead Ian Tee, with production by Isaiah Cheng and visual design by Sharrona Valezka. To learn more about us, follow us on Instagram ⁠@frontandoffcentre⁠ [https://instagram.com/frontandoffcentre] and visit ⁠ [https://frontandoffcentre.com/]frontandoffcentre.com [http://frontandoffcentre.com]⁠ [https://frontandoffcentre.com/]

Berny Tan, Artist and Curator | S3E2

Today’s guest is Berny Tan, who is a Singapore-based artist and curator. Her curatorial projects reflect an interest in illuminating the processes and materialities of art-making, and how artists' sensibilities transcend the mediums they work. Berny holds a Masters in Contemporary Art Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual & Critical Studies from the School of Visual Arts. Between 2021 and 2024, she organised 8 curatorial projects in Singapore, while continuing to present her artwork in solo and group exhibitions. Most recently, Berny joined the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) as Curator of the Design Collection initiative, which explores expanded creative practices at the intersection of design and contemporary art. In this episode, hosted by Ian Tee, Berny talks about the tensions explored in her artworks, research directions taken by SAM’s Design Collection initiative, and what it means to be an artist-curator. Up-Front is brought to you by Front & Off-Centre, a cultural agency offering communications, curatorial and programming services. It is co-hosted by Director Nadya Wang and Curatorial Lead Ian Tee, with production by Isaiah Cheng and visual design by Sharrona Valezka. To learn more about us, follow us on Instagram ⁠@frontandoffcentre⁠ [https://instagram.com/frontandoffcentre] and visit ⁠ [https://frontandoffcentre.com/]frontandoffcentre.com [http://frontandoffcentre.com]⁠ [https://frontandoffcentre.com/]

Larry Peh, &Larry | S3E1

Today’s guest is Larry Peh, the founder and Creative Director of &Larry, an independent branding studio in Singapore. A two-time President’s Design Award recipient, he champions soul-driven design, focusing on the essence that powers purpose to create meaningful brand experiences rooted in clarity, authenticity, and lasting impact.  In this episode, hosted by Nadya Wang, Larry talks about the twists and turns of his practice, his recent exhibition XX&L: 20 Years of Tom, Dick &Larry and Normat, his newest venture making sake. Up-Front is brought to you by Front & Off-Centre, a cultural agency offering communications, curatorial and programming services. It is co-hosted by Director Nadya Wang and Curatorial Lead Ian Tee, with production by Isaiah Cheng and visual design by Sharrona Valezka. To learn more about us, follow us on Instagram ⁠@frontandoffcentre⁠ [https://instagram.com/frontandoffcentre] and visit ⁠ [https://frontandoffcentre.com/]frontandoffcentre.com [http://frontandoffcentre.com]⁠ [https://frontandoffcentre.com/]