In September 2015, an architect from Surbana Jurong approached the CCD to discuss ideas on how to involve the community in the design for a Home to be set up for Autistic adults, by the Ministry of Social and Family Development. CCD Singapore then opened an invite to the visual art department of the School of the Arts and took on 6 students to guide them through an interior design module that will propose ideas for the design of this home.

On the 2nd & 3rd November 2015, Sota students Diyana Aqilah Salam, Beverly Chew, Gillian Chen, Thaddeus Zan, Fikri Hauzan and Jacob Meyers spent 2 days at St. Andrew’s Autism Centre to understand the needs of adults with Autism better. From the 2 day visit, the students created theme boards made up of various images. These boards were shown to the clients of SAAC’s Day Activity Centre and staff of the DAC helped to collect responses to the theme boards from their clients. The 8 themes were presented to the clients were: Transport, City, Sky, Sea, Mountains, Forest, Space and Gardens. The clients of SAAC DAC were also given a series of colour charts to select their favourite colours from.

The following themes were selected for specific rooms after consultation with Surbana Jurong and the SAAC

Activity Room: City & Transport

Living and Dining: Sea, Sky, Mountains, Forest (One theme each for each cluster of 4 clients to create a sense of identity and belonging)

Based on client opinion, the following colours were selected for the set of 4 bedrooms per cluster: Yellow, Pink, Green & Orange

The students and Dr Felicia Low spent the next 9 months drafting out furniture and room designs which were presented to Surbana Jurong and St Andrew’s Autism Centre. Final presentations were made in March 2016, while interior design models were completed in October 2016. The project was mentioned in the A-List in October, as part of a feature on the School of the Arts