Another collaborative highlight are two installations by Uniqlo. The Japanese fashion giant works with local design studios Roots and Machineast to demonstrate the qualities of its AIRism technology, used to make cooling undershirts.
Those hoping to take home an item made by a Singapore designer can head to Pop-Up, a series of stalls spread out across the festival space. There are new products created by Singapore brands and designers, specially for launch at SingaPlural - the first time this has happened.
Tie-ups include homeware label Onlewo which partners bag designer Ling Wu to create clutches featuring chic Asian prints; and Ette Tea, which created Seri Kaya, a blend of Japanese sencha, black tea, pandan leaves and coconut pieces, with the packaging label designed by artist- illustrator MessyMsxi.
Mr Jackson Tan, 42, creative director at multi-disciplinary creative agency Black, SingaPlural's curator, says that as the event is a major one on the local design calendar, it is important to get the community involved.
Mr Tan, who is also the designer behind the SG50 logo and SingaPlural's current logo, says: "SingaPlural is about the Singapore design community, so we should put it at the centre (of the show) and celebrate its work."
The event is organised by the Singapore Furniture Industries Council and supported by DesignS, DesignSingapore Council, International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board and Spring Singapore.
A new curator was chosen this year to put a new spin on the festival, says Mr Mark Yong, 38, chairman of SingaPlural.
The design extravaganza also finds a new home this year: the third floor of the F1 Pit Building in Republic Boulevard.
It was held for two years at 99 Beach Road, a 1930s colonial-style bungalow that used to house the Beach Road Police Station and the Raffles Design Institute. Before that, installations for SingaPlural were placed at different venues around the town area.
Mr Yong says that the change was needed as the old building posed logistical issues because it was not used often.
"We decided to find a location that is ready for events. Being at the F1 Pit Building also adds a fresh breath of life to the festival."
He is expecting about 27,000 people this year, about the same turnout as last year.
The festival has also offered a lifeline to the Kyo Project, which pairs three Singapore designers with traditional Japanese craftmakers from the Kanto region to make products.
The three designers are Chris Lee from Asylum, Colin Seah from Ministry of Design and architecture firm Woha's Wong Mun Summ and Richard Hassell.
Their creations, such as whisky glasses and wooden children's playsets, were to show at Maison&Objet Asia, a high-end trade fair that usually takes place during Singapore Design Week.
However, the show pulled out of this year's edition, citing poor take- up rates for booths due to economic conditions. The items will be on show at SingaPlural instead.
Mr Tan says it would be a waste if the works did not go on show. "They show the legacy of many generations of craftsmen and how the new ways of Singapore designers can create something new. Singapore and Japan designers make a good combination.
Works at Venice biennale return home
The Living Shelter, a flat-packed, easy-to-assemble construct, sits in the sun at the courtyard of the National Design Centre in Middle Road.
Designed for victims of natural disasters, the boxy shelter is built without any tools and has portable and foldable furniture inside. It is also equipped with a bag for rainwater collection and a solar panel on its roof. Its facade is made of insulated aluminium panels.
The prototype is the brainchild of architectural design practice Wy-To, which has offices in Singapore and Paris; and Pod Structures, a multi-disciplinary practice that specialises in engineering.