(New work) TAN NGIAP HENG
Roots collaborates with Ngiap Heng once again — designing a new visual identity and website for his multidisciplinary practice across art, photography, exhibitions, and installations—details coming soon.
News
Thoughts, work, recognition, and the occasional moment worth noting—from the studio.
(New work) EMERGE
Roots collaborated with Supermama to design the book documenting EMERGE, Contemporary Southeast Asian Design and Beyond — bringing the work of 76 artists and designers from Southeast Asia and Asia to the page, following the showcase at Singapore Design Week 2025—details coming soon.
(New work) This is NUS 2026
By letting typography do the heavy lifting — type as architecture — Roots designed the annual brochure for Singapore's top-ranked global university that feels anything but annual. Bold, alive, and built to last.
SG Mark 2026
Jonathan is honoured to be invited once again to serve on the esteemed jury panel for the Singapore Good Design (SG Mark) Awards 2026. Submit your work by Mar 31.
一馬當先，馬到功成
In the year of the Horse, Roots wishes our clients, partners, and friends a prosperous and auspicious New Year ahead.
Zeitgeist 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, Roots reflects with gratitude on a year of meaningful collaborations. Thank you to every client and partner who chose to work with us.
Season Greetings from Roots / 圣诞快乐
Roots wishing everyone a merry, blessed Christmas and happy holiday.
(New work) A Day To Wake Up To, Edition 2
Roots collaborates with Yvonne Tham once again. First released in 2021 and soon sold out, the book returns in a second edition with a reimagined cover and subtle refinements in format—details coming soon.
GONG Awards 2025 Jury
Jonathan is honored to join the GONG Awards 2025 jury panel for Design category. Submission deadline is Oct 22.
Crowbar Awards 2025 Jury
Jonathan is thrilled to be part of the Crowbar Awards jury for Design category once again this year. Submit your best work by Oct 19.
(New work) The Sausage of the Future: Singapore Edition
The exhibition is officially open from Sep 11 – Oct 19 at NAFA Campus 2, Level 1, 38 Bencoolen St.
Exhibition Opening Night
A full house at last Friday's tasting session for The Sausage of the Future: Singapore Edition. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the evening.
SDW 2025 Opening Night Tasting Booth
A tasting booth at the Singapore Design Week 2025 Opening Night gave invited guests a first bite of The Sausage of the Future: Singapore Edition. The full exhibition runs till 19 October at NAFA Campus 2, Fashion Gallery.
(New work) EDL 2025–26
Roots collaborated with EDL on their 2025–26 Collection catalogue, reimagining how materiality can be experienced through print—details coming soon.
The Sausage of the Future: Singapore Edition
Roots is appointed as design partner on the upcoming The Sausage of the Future: Singapore Edition, to be presented at Singapore Design Week 2025. Conceived by Carolien Niebling, the project reimagines the sausage as a symbol of sustainability and cultural connection through Singapore's food culture.
(New Work) Panaplast No.10 Collection (2025/26)
Roots designed the latest Panaplast No.10 Collection catalogue with a pared down design language drawn from the principles of nordic design—details coming soon.
Well-made: intention, process, and craft
Jonathan is invited to speak at the inaugural Wise community event in Singapore, co-hosted with Friends of Figma, on creating with intention in content and graphic design.
(New work) EDL EDGE
Roots designed the housing box for EDL EDGE, a range of colour-matched edgebands for laminate surfaces—details coming soon.
(New Work) EDL MODULE
Roots collaborates with EDL on the Edition 2 catalogue for their MODULE melamine boards series, crafting a graphic language and details that complement the material qualities of the collection—details coming soon.
Sharing session at LASALLE
Jonathan was invited by LASALLE College of the Arts to speak with Year 3 design students on Roots' work and creative process — how ideas are navigated, generated, and cultivated through real-world projects.
SG Mark 2025
Jonathan has been selected to serve on the jury for the Singapore Good Design (SG Mark) Awards 2025. Organised by Design Business Chamber Singapore, SG Mark is the nation's benchmark for design excellence,recognising innovation across industries. Submissions close 28 February 2025.
灵蛇献瑞, 好运连连
While we are incredibly grateful for the projects that keep us busy during this period, we would like to take a moment to wish everyone a joyful Lunar New Year from all of us at the studio! May the Year of the Wood Snake bring you abundance, prosperity, and endless good fortune.
(New work) FLOUR
Roots is excited to unveil the rebranding work for FLOUR. The refreshed brand identity encapsulates the concept of "union" within FLOUR, achieved through the thoughtful integration of two distinct typefaces—details coming soon.
The Zeitgeist 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, Roots would like to take this moment to reflect with gratitude on the opportunities to collaborate with incredible brands and clients. Thank you!
(New work) {tabel} Herbal Tea series
Roots collaborated with {tabel} from Tokyo to redesign the packaging for their herbal tea series—details coming soon.
(New work) T.H.E Dance Company
Roots is collaborating with T.H.E Dance Company on a brand extension initiative to modernise, unify, and elevate their existing visual identity to establish a consistent graphic language across all touchpoints and collateral—details coming soon.
(New work) INVISIBLE HABITUDES
Roots designed the key visual for INVISIBLE HABITUDES, a performance by T.H.E Dance Company, premiering in November 2024.
(New work) Grafunkt
Roots is deeply honored and excited to collaborate with Grafunkt on their 15-year anniversary brand refresh. This partnership involves the conceptualisation of a new logotype identity and graphic language—details coming soon.
(New work) Cocotre
Roots is responsible for the naming, brand identity, packaging label, and poster design for Cocotre, a ready-to-drink fresh coconut product from Vietnam featuring a biodegradable straw—details coming soon.
Coconut&co at SIGEP Asia 2024
Roots conceptualised and designed the trade show booth for Coconut&co (@cocolocosg) at SIGEP Asia 2024. Utilising food crates for both storage and partitioning, the booth was strategically structured to highlight each individual brand under Coconut&co while ensuring a cohesive and unified brand presentation.
Graphics on the Move: Dynamic Branding
ARCO project is featured in "Graphics on the Move: Dynamic Branding," published by Sandu Publishing. This book highlights cutting-edge motion graphics in new media, showcasing works from Asia, Europe, and America.
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The Maple Exhibition
Roots is elated to contribute a poster design for The Maple Exhibition, presented by RJ Paper, which runs from May 9th to 12th at 62A Arab Street. The posters are printed in Maple Bright 140gsm by The Gentlemen Press—details coming soon.
(New work) Astria Medical Aesthetics
Roots developed a new brand identity for Astria Medical Aesthetics—details coming soon.
DRAMA MAMA exhibition opening
Co-presented by Tan Nigap Heng and W!LD RICE, DRAMA MAMA opened this week to glowing responses. Catch the exhibition from 9 March to 7 April at Funan Underground Pedestrian Link.
SG Mark 2024 Jury
Jonathan is honored to join the esteemed jury panel for SG Mark 2024. Conceived by the Design Business Chamber Singapore (DBCS) in 2013, SG Mark is partnered with the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP), renowned for the Good Design Award, also known as G-Mark.
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Taipei Design Award (臺北設計獎) 2023
HUNGRY DESIGN has been selected for Distinction Award in the Taipei Design Award (臺北設計獎) 2023.
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Asia-Pacific Design NO.19 annual selection
WONDER has been selected to feature in the Asia-Pacific Design NO.19 annual.
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Golden Pin Design Award 2023 Best Design Finalist
COCOLOCO (Tetra Pak), as one of the awarded Design Mark entries, is further selected by the juries as one of the finalists for Best Design at the Golden Pin Design Award 2023. The result will be announced in December.
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Out of Office Design Conference
Jonathan is invited as one of the portfolio reviewers at Out of Office design conference in Jakarta this October.
The Crowbar Awards 2023 Jury
Jonathan is invited as a juror for Branding discipline in The Crowbar Awards 2023.
Golden Pin Design Award 2023 Design Mark
COCOLOCO (Tetra Pak) is awarded Design Mark at the Golden Pin Design Award 2023.
(New work) Caffè Affogato
Roots is collaborating with The Affogato Bar (formerly) to rebrand as Caffè Affogato. Stay tuned.
IdN magazine Feature
Roots is featured in the latest IdN magazine issue (IdN v28n4) centering on the theme of identity and business card design.
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(New work) DRAMA MAMA
Roots is collaborating again with artist/photographer Tan Ngiap Heng on his latest project—Drama Mama, which consists of a publication and an exhibition beginning next year. Stay tuned.
Zaobao Feature
Jonathan had an enjoyable conversation with journalist Fong Wei on designing with Chinese language influences and elements, and sharing some of the studio’s work reflecting these practices and exercises in Zhaobao.
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The Swap Show
As part of the exhibition exchange between design studios from Singapore and Macau, The Swap Show is now exhibiting in Singapore from Jan 7—15 at Figment. Free admission but requires slot booking.
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The Swap Show Showcase
Roots is exhibiting showcase at Macau Design Week 2022 as part of The Swap Show, organised and curated by Foreign Policy Design Group. Our thanks to FP for inviting us.
APD Live broadcast
Jonathan will be giving an online talk for the APD Live broadcast, titled《在一个风和日丽的早晨》on Nov 3, 8pm(SGT).
Asia-Pacific Design (APD) annual No.18
HUNGRY DESIGN, Malt, Grain & Cane and 'A Day To Wake Up To' are selected to be featured in this year's Asia-Pacific Design (APD) annual No.18《第十八届亚太设计年鉴》.
One Asia Creative Awards 2022 Jury
Jonathan is invited as a juror for the the inaugural Typography, Type Design & Lettering discipline category in One Asia Creative Awards 2022.
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Taiwan International Student Design Competition 2022 Jury
Jonathan is invited as a juror for Taiwan International Student Design Competition 2022 (TW), organised by the Ministry of Education Taiwan.
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Studio SML Interview
Jonathan is interviewed for Studio SML by The Press Room.
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Topawards Asia 2021 Winner
Malt, Grain & Cane is one of the 12 winners of the prestigious Topawards Asia 2021 (JP) for the last quarter of 2021.
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NAFA Lecture
Jonathan will be giving a lecture On Using Pause, Contradiction & Restrain for Practical Creativity at NAFA this month.
GONG Awards 2021 Design Jury
Jonathan is heading the Design Jury for the annual GONG Awards 2021 (SG).
Golden Pin Design Award 2021 Design Mark & Best Design Finalist
A Day To Wake Up To and HUNGRY DESIGN are awarded Design Mark at the Golden Pin Design Award 2021 (TW). HUNGRY DESIGN is additionally selected as the finalist for Best Design award.
D&AD Awards 2021
HUNGRY DESIGN is awarded a Wood Pencil in D&AD Awards 2021 (UK).
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ZaoBao Feature
HUNGRY DESIGN is featured in Zaobao.
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TheSmartLocal Feature
TheSmartLocal featured an article on HUNGRY DESIGN.
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HUNGRY DESIGN: Dialogue
HUNGRY DESIGN: Dialogue is an online live dialouge session with a panel of international designers from Japan, Vietnam, and Singapore. RSVP here.
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Singapore Art Book Fair 2021
A Day To Wake Up To / 我們一起醒来的那一天, by Yvonne Tham (ampulets) and published by Neighbourgoods, will be launching this Friday at Singapore Art Book Fair 2021.
HUNGRY DESIGN
Curated and organised by Topawards Asia, exhibition design by FARM and branding & design by Roots, HUNGRY DESIGN exhibition opens this Friday till 31 March at National Deaign Centre atrium.
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(New work) White Jacket
Roots is collaborating with White Jacket to realign and refresh their branding with a thoughtful, minimal and flexible identity system. Documentation coming soon.
Tokyo TDC 2021
O'TAH is awarded Selected Work in Tokyo TDC 2021 (JP).
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APD (Asia-Pacific Design) No.16
Portrait of Sok Sabay is featured in APD (Asia-Pacific Design) No.16.
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D&AD Branding Jury President on Nanyang Porcelain
Tosh Hall (Jones Knowles Ritchie), the D&AD Branding jury president this year, on Nanyang Porcelain.
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Design360° Magazine Feature
Jonathan speaks with Design360° Magazine (CN) in their latest issue No.87, on the topic of Place-making Design.
(New work) COCOLOCO
Roots helps COCOLOCO, an organic and raw coconut water brand, to rebrand and redesign their packaging.
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D&AD Awards 2020
Nanyang Porcelain is awarded a Wood Pencil in D&AD Awards 2020 (UK) under Branding - Logos.
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(New work) ARCO
A new brand identity design by Roots for ARCO, a new IT provision, maintenance, and disposition solution provider.
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Door Hanger Design for STUCK
A Braun-inspired door hanger design contribution for STUCK's Covid-19 initiative.
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Design Diplomacy
Jonathan will be sharing the studio processes, design ethos, and a crazy feisty cat next Tue, 6pm on #designdiplomacy IG Story Live.
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étapes Interview
Jonathan is intereviewed in étapes: Design graphique & culture visuelle (FR).
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Citra Pariwara 2019
Flavourful Ocean, a collaboration with Hakuhodo Indonesia, is awarded 1 Gold, 7 Silvers and 2 Bronze at the Citra Pariwara 2019 (ID).
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Unfettered Ink in OPEN PAGE Exhibition
Unfettered ink is selected to be exhibited in OPEN PAGE - The Art Of The Creative Process at the Hong Kong Design Centre’s Design Spectrum, from 11 Oct till 17 Nov.
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Novum Magazine Feature
Roots is featured in Novum, World of Graphic Design (DE), issue 11.19.
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Design 360° Magazine Essay Contribution
Jonathan contributed an essay on graphic design and the communities in Singapore for the 180° Feature in Design 360° Magazine, issue 82.
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AD STARS 2019
Flavourful Ocean, a collaboration with Hakuhodo Indonesia, is awarded a Silver and Bronze at AD STARS 2019 (KR).
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Topawards Asia Jury
Jonathan is invited as one of the 9 juries for TOP 3 Topawards Asia (JP).
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D&AD Awards 2019
Portraits of Sok Sabay is awarded a Wood Pencil in D&AD Awards 2019 (UK).
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D&AD Awards 2019 Judging
Jonathan is at Shoreditch, London where D&AD Awards 2019 (UK) judging is officially underway!
Design Camp Nara: Baaku
Design Camp Nara: Baaku is featured on the official instagram account of Sandu Publishing (CN).
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TDS Open Studio Series 2019
Roots opened up the studio for the TDS Open Studio Series 2019. We thank everyone for their time and the conversations.
DOOR to ASIA Experience Sharing
Roots will talk about the studio's collaboration with Ishiwata Shoten and experiences in the residency programme at DOOR to ASIA Experience Sharing(MY). RSVP today.
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TDS Open Studio Series 2019
Roots will be opening up the studio as part of TDS Open Studio Series 2019. The tickets have been sold out.
(New work) O'TAH
Roots conceptualised and designed the brand identity, collaterals, packaging and spatial graphics for O'TAH, a new concept brand by Lee Wee & Brothers at Jewel Changi Airport.
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Creative Sharing at SEARCH Book Launch
Roots will be sharing the journey as a small independent design studio and how the studio's creative process evolves at the SEARCH book launch (MY).
Adfest Awards 2019
Flavourful Ocean, a collaboration with Hakuhodo Indonesia, is awarded Silver at the Adfest Awards 2019 (TH).
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Creative Sharing at Go-Jek HQ Creative Labs
Roots hosted a studio visit for Japan Package Design Association (JPDA) delegates from Tokyo (JP). The delegates include designers and representatives from major Japanese brands - Suntory, Glico, Asahi, House Food, Kao and Toyo Seikan, among others.
Japan Package Design Association Visit
Roots hosted a studio visit for Japan Package Design Association (JPDA) delegates from Tokyo (JP). The delegates include designers and representatives from major Japanese brands - Suntory, Glico, Asahi, House Food, Kao and Toyo Seikan, among others.
D&AD Awards 2019 Jury
Jonathan has been invited as one of the Book Design Juries for D&AD Awards 2019 (UK).
Tokyo TDC Annual Awards 2019
Portraits of Sok Sabay has been selected as Excellent Work for Tokyo TDC Annual Awards 2019 (JP).
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SG Bicentennial Featured in The Straits Times
SG Bicentennial logo was featured in an article on The Straits Times, Top of the News segment.
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Interviewed in Channel News Asia
Singapore Bicentennial logo is officially unveiled today. Jonathan is interviewed by Channel News Asia (CNA) on Singapore Bicentennial.
(New work) Nanyang Porcelain
Nanyang Porcelain, a new collection by Supermama, is officially revealed.
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It's Nice That Feature
Design Camp Nara: Baaku is featured in It's Nice That (UK).
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Creative Sharing at Group TRON Creative Day
Jonathan shared a creative session titled 'Thinking Creatively Inside Very Small Boxes' at the annual Group TRON Creative Day in Taipei (TW).
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Gabriel Tan Studio in Duotone
Gabriel Tan Studio is featured in Duotone by Sandu Publishing (CN).
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Singapore Bicentennial Branding
Roots is the partnered branding agency under J. Walter Thompson (JWT) consortium for the upcoming national commemoration campaign—Singapore Bicentennial.
D&AD Awards 2018
Unfettered ink is awarded a Wood Pencil in D&AD Awards 2018 (UK).
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Masterclasses for Singapore Youth Festival 2018
Roots designed and conducted Masterclasses for Singapore Youth Festival 2018 Logo Design Contest finalists.
Tapping Culture for Design
Jonathan shared how the Chinese culture and heritage have influenced the contemporary aesthetics and sensibilities in communication design at Tapping Culture for Design, Shophouse & Co. and organised by DesignSingapore Council.
Anatomy of Performance in LAYOUT NOW
Anatomy of Performance is featured in LAYOUT NOW by SendPoints Publishing (CN).
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Creative Sharing at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Jonathan will be sharing a session titled 'Thinking creatively inside very small boxes' at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) on Nov 9.
Unfettered Ink Awarded in Golden Pin Design Awards & Design for Asia Awards
Unfettered ink is awarded a Design Mark at the Golden Pin Design Awards & Design for Asia Awards (TW), and Merit Award at the Design for Asia Awards 亞洲最具影響力設計獎 (HK).
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Asia-Pacific Design No.13
Anatomy of Performance and Unfetttered ink are featured in APD (Asia-Pacific Design) No.13.
(New work) Design Camp Nara: Baaku
Jonathan participated in the design residency programme in Nara, Japan, where a branding proposal was conceived at the end of the programme for Design Camp Nara: Baaku (JP).
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Asia-Pacific Design No.12
'NUS DID 15-year Anniversary' and 'Singapore, very old tree' are featured in APD (Asia-Pacific Design) No.12.