Hans Tan

Hans is an Associate Professor at the Division of Industrial Design, serving as the division’s Deputy Head (academic). As a designer, his work tiptoes on the boundaries between design, craft and art, making use of utility as a pretext for visual discourse, while maintaining a keen focus in disrupting common things, materials and fabrication processes. His work is exhibited widely, and is in the permanently collection of several museums. In 2018, Hans was honoured with the Designer of the Year at the President’s Design Award, Singapore’s highest recognition for a designer, for the impact of his body of work and his contributions to the design community through education.

I believe that education, particularly in the context of higher learning, is not a place just to gain content knowledge and acquire relevant domain skills, but a place to learn how to live purposefully. Education must connect to one’s potential and hone them for the greater good.

Teaching Awards / Accolades

In 2019, Hans received the NUS Outstanding Educator Award. He had been awarded with the Annual Teaching Excellence Award (ATEA) 3 times and was placed on the Honour Roll in 2018. In the same year, he was also placed on the School of Design and Environment’s School Teaching Excellence Award (STEA) Honour Roll for having been awarded the STEA 5 times.

Education

• Masters Design Academy Eindhoven (2005 — 2007)
• Bachelors (Hons) National University of Singapore (2001 — 2005)

Companies

• Advisory Board DesignSingapore Council (2021)
• School Advisory Committee Temasek Polytechnic (2020)
• Associate Professor National University of Singapore (2019)
• Co-Founder STUCK DESIGN (2010)
• Founder Hans Tan Studio (2007)
• Assistant Professor National University of Singapore (2013 — 2019)
• Instructor National University of Singapore (2010 — 2013)