Campaign Brief Asia and ONE Asia “Young Guns Spotlight”: Darius Ou
Campaign Brief Asia continues its exclusive partnership with ONE Asia Creative Awards, part of The One Club for Creativity, to offer readers the “Young Guns Spotlight” series, featuring interviews with past winners from Asia in the club’s global Young Guns competition.
Young Guns is the industry’s only global, cross-disciplinary, portfolio-based awards competition that identifies and celebrates today’s vanguard of young creatives. The program (which is now accepting entries for YG23) is open to creatives ages 30 and under, and entrants can submit a combination of professional and personal work. The renowned competition regularly attracts entries from upwards of 45 countries, with more than half coming from outside the US.
The series this month features an interview with Darius Ou (YG21), an art director and graphic designer based in Singapore who has run his own independent studio since 2016. His experience includes collaboration with both local and international cultural institutions, including the Asian Film Archive, DesignSingapore Council, Haus der Kunst, Rhizome, and Tai Kwun Contemporary, among others.
How did you first become interested in a creative career?
I have always had a passion for arts and crafts since childhood, and when it came time to choose a course in a local polytechnic, I enrolled in the Visual Communication course, which was the only visual arts-related diploma available at the time in the school.
Although I did not fully understand what I was getting into, I was fortunate to meet mentors along the way who guided me towards shaping a viable career in graphic design.
What are some of the interesting opportunities that have come your way?
I think my practice has always been situated between design and art. Every opportunity where I am engaged in the capacity as an artist is always very interesting to me, as I get to explore pushing boundaries between creative disciplines. These opportunities are always fulfilling.
What are some of the key challenges you’ve faced?
One of the key challenges—particularly in running an independent studio—has been managing administrative and financial matters. These are essential skills for sustaining a practice in the market, yet they are rarely addressed in design education. I had to learn them the hard way, and am still learning.
Tell us about one or two projects or campaigns you’ve worked on that were the most interesting or rewarding.
The most interesting work I have done so far is 3D-printing books. A few years ago, I began exploring how 3D-printing could be reimagined as a tool for publishing and book production. It has since become one of the most rewarding aspects of my practice.
This project, called hyperpress, emerged from an inquiry into the roots of graphic design—publishing—and how it might intersect with the latest evolution of print technology, the 3D printer.
To date, I have produced two single-edition 3D-printed books, SLIC3D and CORPUS, both of which were recently acquired by the Singapore Art Museum’s Design Collection. I am currently preparing to launch my third.
How did winning Young Guns impact your professional development and career path?
Through the network and meeting like-minded creatives, it has brought some interesting overseas commissions and other opportunities like award jury appointments, etc, all of which has helped me grow as a creative.
Any advice for people out there who are considering entering Young Guns 23 this year?
The portfolio should be interesting to both practitioners within your own discipline and outside, given the diverse jury. Show only your best, but also be critical of your own metrics. Don’t forget to show some passion projects!
The call for entries is now open for Young Guns 23. Regular deadline for entry is August 28, 2025, and the final deadline is September 18, 2025.
More information about the ONE Asia Creative Awards can be found here.
