Joanna Tang has just graduated from LASALLE with a degree in Sculpture.

Inspired by her observations of everyday life and environment, Joanna expands her observations into 3-dimensional forms. Her 3-D works range from all sorts of mediums, from natural to synthetic. “I have an eye for detail,” she explains. “So I  often incorporate intricate details, lining with repetitions and modularities in my forms, making them invoke curiosity and wonder in the viewers.”

An oft-overlooked tool, our hands allow us to explore the mind through the process of creation. Crafty 2010 -produced by Anonymous and curated by art director Felix Ng- emphasizes the importance of making, shaping, and becoming wholly involved with what we are creating.

Crafty draws inspiration from Richard Sennett’s ambitious look at craft, and his belief that “Making is thinking”. Today’s pragmatic culture often leads us to ignore the essential dialogue between hand and head—a vital part of problem solving, developing real skills, and the foundation of modern civilization.

A computer-free event, Crafty examines the fundamentals of the creative disciplines through hands-on activities and a cast of remarkable industry professionals. From design to art and advertising to specialized print techniques, Crafty explores the process of crafting a concept from beginning to end using basic techniques we often skip through the aid of technology.

The one-day conference which will be held at LASALLE on October 9, will gather some of the creative industry’s craftiest visionaries. Presenting 20-minute talks, they will share insights culled from extensive experience with hands-on production and turning visions into reality. Here is the line up of confirmed speakers: Official Manufacturing Co., The Glue Society, Adrian Chan (BBH), B.A.L.L.S, Grace Tan (kwodrent), Larry Peh (&Larry), Michael Lee, Sean Lam (Plate), + 01 Secret Speaker.

Supplementing the conference will be a 40-page Crafty Paper, featuring a foreword by Thinking For A Living founder Duane King, as well as speaker profiles and interviews with 15 extraordinarily talented individuals from around the world.

Click here to get your tickets now. Registration includes a copy of A Crafty Paper and access to the Conference after-party.

Graphic Designer and Art Director Benjamin Ong has spent the past seven years sharpening his professional practice as a graphic designer. With a portfolio that spans areas such as brand design and identity, new media experiences and online advertising, he is constantly searching to create new meaning in his work that would strike a chord in the hearts of it’s audience.

Night Swimming is a series of posters that pay tribute to a song by REM, depicting the mysterious moments one experiences while swimming in the open sea at night.

Wilmer Pan is a graphic designer by the day, and k.0627 by night. “I do like to keep a low profile, therefore the pen name k.0627, and let my work do the talking,” he adds.

To be released in four chapters with an interval of three to four months, “Cho Pop!” is Wilmer’s attempt to create something different from what’s out there.

Wilmer explains: “I am particularly fascinated by the concept of time, thus the creation of my resident characters, the Darjeekas. “Cho Pop!” is a pseudo-comic featuring the ‘Darjeekas’. The story makes use of QR barcodes as dialogue as I like the idea of the audience interacting with the illustrations. I don’t really fancy the idea of producing works just purely for the audience’s consumption. There should be a two-way process when it comes to art. The storyline of “Cho Pop” is an amalgam of various pop cultures, mainly obscure films and animations, plus some original bits from my life experiences.”

Caroline Kan Su-Wei just finished the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at the Anglo-Chinese School where she took higher level Visual Art. “Recently, I’ve tried to live my life in a bit of a creative bubble, exploring new fields and trying to embrace those I’ve shied away from (like drawing, which I loathe),” she continues. “On that note, this September, I’m off to Central Saint Martins, where I enrolled in their Foundation Studies, Art and Design course. Whether I’ll continue to pursue design or foray into fashion journalism is still unknown, but therein lies the beauty of life’s whimsicality.”

Caroline about her Paper Dress: “For my final year exam, I created a collection around the exploration of identity (mine), which was a rather epic personal journey. The piece explores emotional fragility, and how our pain is often masked with aesthetics and ridiculously attractive embellishments; how else is one supposed to survive life’s rough patches? I chose paper as a medium for fairly obvious reasons: it’s common, everyday, and often overlooked/taken for granted; it’s pretty fragile, especially in comparison to our urban concrete jungle of today and it’s widely available (for practical reasons). I wanted the dress to be irresistibly pretty, gentle, and feminine, but also be structured and exude a sense of strength. I like toying with contradictions and perspective, where pieces work in different ways and on different levels, because that way, it’s kept honest. No one has life figured out: things change, and can often be very confusing. The ambiguity keeps the observer wondering, ‘fragile, attractive, strong, sturdy, questionably perfect, layered, delicate,’ I like people to think (there’s no singular answer).”

I’ve been consumed with the intricate line drawings of Sunny Lee Siew Loo, a graphic designer/illustrator who graduated from James Watt College in HND Interactive Media Design last year, and is currently pursuing a part-time degree in Mass Communication (Media and Film).

“I started illustrating early 2009 using pen and ink drawing techniques, and decided to publish my work online, as my portfolio and illustrative style continued to evolve,” she adds.

Besides Sun’s winning shoe design for the RYZ footwear contest (April 2010), I also wanted to show you her visually delectable tees. And anyone who wants to gift me one of these will hear absolutely no complaints. At all.

Whether you knew of Sun’s work before or not, now’s your chance to go and explore her portfolio.

The Squeeze and Mushroom Collection designed by Industrial Designer, Cici Chen and Architect, Lui Honfay of Cilicon Faytory redefines the concept of outdoor concrete furniture.

“Using a unique light weight concrete system, this collection displays the moldability of the material,” Fay explains. “The new material application means light weight yet still incorporating the look and feel of a concrete product. With a special sealing agent, the concrete furniture would be virtually free of maintenance. Shaping of the sinuous curves and organic volume is easy with the shaping technique of this light weight concrete system.”

“With simple lines and morphed surface, Squeeze Collection gives a sleek look which compliments the landscape of any environment,” Cici continues. “In addition, the concrete material allows different colors to be applied, making the furniture to be extremely adaptable to different surroundings.”

Cherlin Chan, is a recent Design Communication Diploma Graduate from LASALLE, specializing in graphic. “I am a graphic designer who is not afraid to be bold with colors. I love the grid because it’s simple yet complex and I like to experiment with materials as a hobby,” Cherlin adds.

The featured process manual is Cherlin’s final year navigation system project for Singapore’s General Hospital. Cherlin explains: “The project seeks to provide a contemporary navigation system solution for literacy and disorientation issues faced by senior citizens. It also attempts to improve the atmosphere at Singapore General Hospital, and to create a better understanding of the location by applying a color code to each block, and labeling each location with a specially designed pictogram and alpha-numeric codes.The codes are also used on the signage and in a simplified leaflet. Large maps are placed at the entrance to engage interactivity, and colored walls will brighten up the environment to enhance the navigation experience.”