More colours, more passion

While Funpacksin the National Day Parade (NDP) have mostly been in the colours of our flag, youths have chosen brighter colours for this year's packs.

Designed by group of 15 product design students from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central's School of Design and Media, the Funpacks now come in six vibrant colour combinations - green-orange, blue-red, and yellow-pink.

Made from water-resistant polyester and able to carry more than 6kg,the Funpacks contain 30 items, including button badges featuring artwork from the public, visor hats and light sticks.

Close to 300 student volunteers from NorthLight School and ITE joined Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel in packing the 220,000 Funpacks.

The planning process for the packs took almost a month as the students bounced ideas off one other.

One of the student leaders, Miss Audrey Lim, 19, said that it was a lesson on design processes since the packs had to be unique.

The ITE graduate, who is pursuing a Diploma in Industrial Design at Nanyang Polytechnic, said: "It is an experience that will be very useful for my portfolio in the future."

MONTH-LONG PROCESS

Mr Mohamed Shaik Mohideen Samsuddeen, 18, one of the ITE students in the design team, said: "We had to go back to school daily for a month and spent six hours a day just sketching possible designs for the Funpacks."

With more than 100 ideas for the design of the Funpack and its items, the team spent 2½ monthsto come up with the final product.

Chairman of the NDP logistics and finance committee, Military Expert 6 Tan Boon Hong, said: "The bold design of the Funpack and the engaging items show the passion of Singaporeans, and celebrates our vibrancy."

So what are the more unusual items in the pack this year?

A light-emitting diode (LED) bracelet that lights up to the tempo of music, a clap banner that shows this year's NDP theme, "Our People, Our Home", and the Singapore Scarf, which makes its comeback from the 2012 NDP.

The bold design of the Funpack and the engaging items show the passion of Singaporeans, and celebrates our vibrancy.

- Chairman of the NDP logistics and finance committee Tan Boon Hong