MFA Design featured lectures by esteemed Singaporean designers Hunn Wai and Olivia Lee, who shared their academic backgrounds, design philosophies, and professional experiences.

Hunn Wai

Hunn Wai is the co-founder of Lanzavecchia + Wai, a design studio operating between Italy and Singapore. He holds a BA (Hons) in Industrial Design from the National University of Singapore and a Master’s in Conceptual Design in Context from the Design Academy Eindhoven. His work has been showcased at the Triennale di Milano and the MAXXI Museum in Rome.

Olivia Lee

Olivia Lee is the founder of OLIVIA LEE, a multidisciplinary design studio in Singapore. A graduate of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, she has collaborated with international brands such as AkzoNobel, The Balvenie, and Samsung. Her work has been featured in publications like Wallpaper* and Dezeen. Olivia also lectures at the National University of Singapore, teaching courses on the history and theory of industrial design.

Both speakers provided perspectives on the integration of cultural narratives and technological innovation in design, offering inspiration to first-year MFA candidates in our program.

For me, an important lesson from their lecture was to collect, retain your what-if spirit, and quiet your ego. If done well, you don’t have to explain playfulness. —Youmin Choi (Class of 2026)

Lee’s ability to push boundaries with her art has given me a sense of confidence that one day, I too can do something similar in my own culture. Wai, on the other hand, inspired me to focus on projects that genuinely improve the lives of the people who matter most to me. He reminded me that good design, in any form, will always be recognized. —Samyuktha Narayanan (Class of 2026)