About
The Birthday Book, created by The Birthday Collective, is a collection of essays presented as a birthday gift to the nation and its people. These essays come together as a compact and essential digest of introspections and outward projections that draw from a shared past and project into a collective future.
Pagesetters project-managed and produced the publication, working closely with designers, illustrators and editors to make sure Singapore received this particular birthday gift every year since 2016.
Client:
Seeing Clearly, 20/20
What does it mean to see clearly?
A collection of 55 contributions which responded to this question, this anthology challenges what we think we know about Singapore. Between these covers lie tales of personal triumph and tragedy, visions of Singapore seen through fresh eyes, voices which tease out the complexities of our society.
Narratives, Undiscovered and Underway, 2019
In this volume, 54 contributors respond to the prompt, “Narratives, Undiscovered and Underway”, and reflect on the narratives of their lives: the stories that define them, their communities, the causes they champion, and Singapore’s collective future.
54 essays in various formats examining both established and hidden narratives about Singapore: those already under way as well as those under-explored and emerging.
Collaborators:
Editors:
Aaron Maniam,
Cheryl Chung,
Vieshaalan Naidu
Contributors:
Various
Designer:
Sarah and Schooling
The Roads We Take, 2018
In this edition, 53 contributors reflect on “The Roads We Take”—the paths they have chosen to take in their lives.
More than just personal stories, these essays highlight the importance of resilience and the evolution of the political and social landscape in Singapore. The book compels readers to think of the complexity of the future roads we must take, as individuals, as a nation—because in sunny Singapore, no one road stays forever.
Collaborators:
Editors:
Aaron Maniam,
Cheryl Chung
Contributors:
Various
Designer:
Jacintha Yap
What Should We Never Forget? 2017
An annual publication, The Birthday Book examines emerging challenges and opportunities for Singapore, based on a selected prompt. The number of writers each year matches Singapore’s age—52 for 2017, 53 for 2018, and so on.
This edition presents 52 responses to “What Should We Never Forget?” The contributors have drawn from personal encounters, academic and professional experiences, and cornerstone values in their lives. Read their stories for a glimpse of our nation’s spirit—mortal, vulnerable, restless, resilient, and aspirational. What’s your response?
Collaborators:
Editors:
Malminderjit Singh,
Sheila Pakir
Contributors:
Various
Designer:
Nurul Syafiqah
What is Singapore’s Next Big Thing? 2016
“What is Singapore’s Next Big Thing?”
An intellectual salvo from young and passionate Singaporeans inhabiting different slices of Singapore society, The Birthday Book is a collection of 51 essays presented as a birthday gift to the nation and its people. What are the milestones that Singapore is headed into – the next big things – in the view of this inaugural group of contributors?
These individuals, younger than 45, will inherit leadership roles in their respective domains of expertise. Their essays come together as a compact and essential digest of introspections and outward projections, drawing on a shared past and projecting forward into our collective future.
Collaborators:
Editor:
Malminderjit Singh
Contributors:
Various
Designer:
Make Design
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