Finding Joy In Exploration

Guided by her inquisitive nature, industrial designer Karyn Lim taps onto creative materials and resources to develop products relevant to contemporary living.

“I’m interested in too many things,” so begins Karyn Lim’s response to the question of where her interests and aspirations in her profession lie. The multi-faceted designer and founder of Studio Karyn Lim, indeed, has a roster of projects and engagements that speak to her array of talents that range from designing different product types, such as packaging, clothing and playgrounds to co-running furniture brand Industry+, managing communications for design brands, studios and events and teaching.

Designart Tokyo display.

Trained in Singapore, France and Switzerland, Karyn has been dubbed as the ‘young industrial designer to watch’ by various accolades and has already racked up prestigious awards, such as her selection as one of five designers awarded UNDER30 at Designart Tokyo. Having previously worked with the likes of La Prairie, Samsung and Zanotta, Karyn often adheres to the ‘less is more’ aesthetic, with her minimalist and sculptural works sweeping the fairs across major cities around the world, from Milan to Tokyo.

The Transformation bag was inspired by folded geometric shapes.

Defining Own Style

Having returned to Singapore after studying abroad and in the midst of the pandemic, Karyn reveals that she was facing uncertainty having to produce new work with limited resources and materials and without a proper workshop.

Nevertheless, the designer has always had the intention of setting up her own independent design studio.

Transformation bag (handheld).

“It was more a matter of timing,” says Karyn. “This year was when I really put more grit into it, and have had more opportunities to showcase my work post-pandemic.”