Olivia Lee

OLIVIA LEE is a multidisciplinary studio grounded by an industrial design approach. The practice pivots from product to spatial design, research insights to ideation with the goal of creating unique experiences. The studio focuses on uncovering new rituals and behaviours, navigating the tension between tradition and the future, and bringing brands into unexplored territories through design and narrative.

As principal designer for the studio, Olivia Lee has produced work for a variety of international partners such as Hermès, Petit h, Wallpaper* Handmade, William Grant & Son, Samsung, Bank of Singapore, Economic Development Board of Singapore and the British Council. Her studio tackles briefs as complex as intergenerational smart homes for public housing; as whimsical as an ice-cream parlour installation for a natural stone company; and as functional as a compact indoor air purifier for the Asian market. Her most recent project was a space-exploration themed multi-sensorial store takeover of the Singapore Hermès flagship store for Petit h; involving retail store design, an interactive building facade, animated dioramas, window scenography and a 3-storey window artwork.

A graduate of Central Saint Martins BA (Hons) Product Design, Olivia Lee combines her experiences in London with her Singaporean roots to establish a culturally nuanced design practice in the heart of South East Asia. In parallel with her professional practice, Olivia resides as Adjunct Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore teaching design history and co-leads their retail design platforms for prestige brands such as Shiseido and Guerlain.

In 2017 and 2018, Dezeen hailed Olivia as one of the top 10 emerging designers from the international SaloneSatellite fair. Olivia is also recognised by IndesignMedia as INDE Awards Prodigy for 2018. OLIVIA LEE’s work has been presented at the Triennale di Milano, Museum fur Kommunikation Berlin, Maison et Object Observatoire de la Maison, Daikanyama T-Site, Mint Shop and featured in Wallpaper*, Icon, Dezeen, Axis, Intramuros, Form, Sight Unseen and Disegno.