Founded in the year 2000, tDA Asia is currently represented in 13 Asian countries/regions by individuals who rank among the best in and have contributed significantly to the design industries in their respective countries. These include China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Lebanon/Middle East, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
The Design Alliance Asia promotes the original creativity of Asian designers by sharing ideas and knowledge of our common yet diverse cultures. We are also committed to working with organisations that specialise in design, research, education, art and cultural exchange with a focus on Asia and the changing lifestyles of its people.
In addition, tDA Asia associates actively participate in international design and cultural exhibitions, conferences and forums, and consult on design, identity, brand and export strategy with governments and other organisations reaching out across the region.
In 2006, The Design Alliance Asia introduced tDA Asia AsiaMeets, an annual gathering of associates and affiliates that includes presentations on recent design and lifestyle trends and key projects from member countries. In 2010, tDA Asia AsiaMeets celebrated the Alliance’s 10th Anniversary with an internal affair aimed at nurturing the next generation of tDA Asia designers to eventually lead the organisation.
The Design Alliance Asia established its Secretariat Office in Singapore in 2011 to implement and co-ordinate its various programmes, events and services. In addition, a Satellite Project Office was setup in Hong Kong to assist with programme and project development in north Asia.
Our latest collaborative effort is the Colours of Asia project with Hong Kong Design Institute & Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Lee Wai Lee) and sponsored by CreateHK, a research effort culminating in an exhibition, student workshops, forum, seminar, research papers and this publication. We hope that our discoveries will help designers understand the significance of colours and the important role they play in rituals, traditions and customs, products and daily life in Asia.
Finally, it is the ongoing quest of The Design Alliance Asia to continue seeking and engaging designers in developing Asian countries that are not on the radar screen of the established design world. We hope that by sharing our experiences and working with them to celebrate their culture and traditions, we can pave the path towards a new and united future for design throughout Asia.