ABOUT
Mark Wee (b.1975) is a Singaporean artist, architect, experience designer, and educator. Harbouring an imaginary universe of good vibes, strange creatures, and odd situations in his mind since young, Mark has drawn his imaginations on countless notebooks, which have led over the years to artwork commissions for The Singapore Dance Theatre, the Housing Development Board, Frank by OCBC, New Majestic Hotel, Tasty Plaza, as well as private commissions. After years of nudging from friends and family to 'share my artwork with more people', Mark is finally making steps to being more intentional about sharing his imaginary universe, hence, this website. So enjoy, and if my art makes you smile please follow my instagram at #markwee.
In his professional life, Mark believes in shaping places that deepen identity and community, as well as the potential of design and innovation for business and cultural transformation.
Since 2006, Mark has been an advocate and practitioner of design innovation methodologies driven by empathy and experiential prototyping. He pioneered their application in the creation of experiences centring on the builtenvironment.
He is founder and principal of ANNEX A / Architects, a design innovation and architecture studio, an adjunct Lecturer in Digital Service Design and Innovation at the National University of Singapore’s Institute of System Science, and a Design Strategist on the Innovation By Design program by Design Singapore& the Economic Development Board, an initiative to help businesses employdesign as a tool for business strategy and organizational transformation.
Mark started and led the award-winning ONG&ONG’s Experience DesignStudio from 2011-2016 to redefine user experiences for clients including theHousing Development Board, Singapore Airlines, Singapore Stock Exchange, OCBC’s FRANK, Sentosa, and the State Courts. He has also represented Singapore at the11th Venice Architectural Biennale.
As an educator, Mark has taughtnumerous private and public organizations on using design thinking to solvedifficult challenges, ranging from policy issues, to building innovationcultures, rethinking educational approaches, and even training futuregovernment leaders to be more empathetic.
Anaward-winning architect, Mark has been selected as part of URA’s 20 Under 45list of Singapore architects to represent the next generation. His projectshave most recently in 2014 & 2015 won the URA Heritage Award and SingaporeInstitute of Architects Design Award for the Neil Road House, and also thewinner at the A&D Awards and finalist for the World Architectural FestivalAwards for the Crane Houses.
Mark has served as a councilmember of the Singapore Institute of Architects between 2009-2015, during whichhe started the Architectural League, a new initiative to serve the needs of theyounger architectural community and identifying future leaders of theprofession.
Mark is currently the Executive Director of DesignSingapore, the national agency overseeing design for the country. He is passionate about the power of design for good, to make life better.
His book, Let’s Experience Design, is available online and in majorbookstores.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Mark’s drawings explore themes of hope and childlike wonder in the world. His artwork explores open narratives of life, and a childlike imagination of an alternative world nicknamed the Good Kingdom.
As an artist, Mark’s first exhibition “On Point!” was held at Element Art Space in Singapore in 2017.
EDUCATION
1996-2001 Bachelors of Architecture, Cornell University, NY, USA
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Mar 2018 - Present Executive Director, DesignSingapore
July2016 – Feb 2018 Principal/Founder,ANNEX A /
2011-Jul2016 Director,Experience Design, ONG&ONG
2008-2011 Founder, UNIONExperience
2006-2011 Founder, ANNEXA Architects
2006-2008 Founder,Kennel
2001-2006 ArchitecturalExecutive, DP Architects
TEACHINGEXPERIENCE
Aug2016-Feb 2018 AdjunctLecturer, National University of Singapore (NUS),
Institute of SystemScience, Digital Service Design & Innovation Practice
Jan- Apr 2016 AdjunctTutor, National University of Singapore (NUS), School ofArchitecture, Year 4 Embedded Design StudioProgram for Bachelor of Architecture
2008-2010 AdjunctTutor, Singapore Polytechnic, School of Interior Design
ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2017-2018 Adviser, InnovationByDesign Pgm, DesignSingapore/EDB
2016-2018 Land Transport Authority Architectural DesignReview Panel
2015-2018 Judge, Nippon PaintYoung Designers Award
2009-2015 Council Member,Singapore Institute of Architects
2012-2013 Chairman,Architectural League, Singapore Institute of Architects
2013 Jury,World Architectural Festival (Housing Category)
2013 Architect-In-Residence,Singapore University of Technology & Design
2012 Chairman,Archifest, Singapore Institute of Architects
2009-2010 Founder,Design Thinking Symposium
(in partnership with the NationalLibrary Board of Singapore)
EXHIBITIONS
OnPoint!, Element Art Space, Dec 2016 – Jan 2017
ARTWORKS
Kara Cafe, 2017 (Commissioned by Sogurt)
Singapore Room, 2005. (Commissioned by New Majestic Hotel, Singapore)
The Nutcracker, 2004. (Commissioned by The Singapore Dance Theatre)
The Frank Account, 2010. (Commissioned by OCBC)
Tasty Plaza!, 2013. (Commissioned by Lirea Properties)
Dream Storeys, 2016. (Commissioned by Clara Chow)
AWARDS (DESIGN)
11TH LA BIENNALE DE VENEZIA, 2008
Represented Singapore in the Singapore SUPERGARDEN Exhibition
/ HOUSE AT 145 NEIL ROAD
Urban Redevelopment Authority Heritage Award 2014 (Residential)
Singapore Institute of Architects Design Awards 2015 (Honorable Mention)
LEAF Awards 2015, UK (Finalist)
Architizer A+ Awards 2016: Architecture & Preservation Category (Special Mention)
/ THE CRANES
A+D Awards 2015 (Best Heritage Building), HK
World Architectural Festival Awards 2015 (Old & New) (Finalist), UK
SG Design Mark 2016
/ SINGAPORE AIRLINES SILVERKRIS LOUNGE
SG Mark 2014 Platinum,
Golden Pin Award 2015,
Sydney Good Design Awards 2015
/ STOCK EXCHANGE OF SINGAPORE
International Design Awards 2014
/ ONG&ONG EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Asia’s Top Designer 2014
/ SALADSTOP
Winner of SG Mark 2014
/ FRANK BANK BY OCBC
Banking & Payment Trailblazer Awards 2012,
Smart Card Awards Asia 2012,
Financial Insights Innovation Award 2013,
BAI-Finacle Global Banking Innovation Awards 2013,
SG Mark 2014
/ HOUSING DEVELOPMENT BOARD’S BRANCH OFFICE OF THE
FUTURE AT PUNGGOL, SINGAPORE
Futuregov Award 2014 (Service Innovation)
/ THE NEW MAJESTIC HOTEL (under DP Architects)
Urban Redevelopment Authority Heritage Award 2006 (Commercial)
Singapore Institute of Architects Design Awards 2006 (Honorable Mention)
President’s Design Award 2006 (In association with MOD)
/ BETHESDA HALL CHURCH AT DEPOT WALK (under DP Architects)
Interior Design Confederation/ Nippon Paint Color My World Award Merit Prize 2004
FEATURED PUBLICATIONS & MEDIA (SELECTED)
Selected THE CRANE HOUSES & 145 NEIL ROAD
Publications Featured in Sustainable Luxury by Paul McGillick, Tuttle Publishing, 2015
HOUSE AT COTSWALD CLOSE
Featured In Dwell Magazine’s The Great 88, July/Aug 2012
LET'S EXPERIENCE DESIGN, by Mark Wee & Ken Yuktasevi, ONG&ONG Experience Design Studio, ORO Editions, 2015
TALKS (SELECTED)
SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS DESIGN TALK SERIES, JUN 2015
URA SPEAKER SERIES: SEMINAR ON CONSERVATION:
CAN BUILDINGS TALK? NOV 2014
A House of Story & Soul. 145 Neil Road
WORLD ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL, OCT 2013
The Value of Art & Architecture