SMF Ignite: Raising a New Generation of Content Creators
The inaugural SMF Ignite took place at IMDA’s new PIXEL Studios, providing online content creators and infocomm media professionals with a line-up of panels and hands-on workshops. The one-day event provided practical insights on content creation and monetisation opportunities across fashion and beauty, VR, gaming and e-sports sectors. It was attended by close to 400 guests, as well as fans who came to meet YouTube personalities like Comicstorian, Unlisted Leaf, Strawburry17 and NOTGOODGAMERS.
Workshops & Panels

eSports Matters panel with ESL, Riot Games, Astro, and the Singapore Cybersports & Online Gaming Association.

Participants at the workshop by StyleHaul.

Fashion and Beauty panel with Jade Seah, Sharon Au of styleXstyle, and Philip Kitcher of StyleHaul.
Split into two tracks – Gaming Matters and Digital tracks – the workshops and panels were led by various industry partners such as Twitch, GameStart Asia, StyleHaul and Dailymotion. Participants gained practical knowledge and insight across genres from fashion and beauty to monetisation opportunities in digital media.
SMF Ignite Programme Rundown
Time | Sessions | Time | Sessions |
---|
9.00am | Registration |
GAMING MATTERS TRACK (Seminar Room, Level 2) | DIGITAL TRACK |
10.00am | Panel #1: Working with Brands
| 10.00am | Dailymotion Academy - Digital Distribution and Creative Process (Training Room, Level 1) | Workshop by Autodesk 10am - 11am: Tips and Tricks for High End Character Animation Workflows 11am - 12pm: Tips and Tricks to Awesome Motion Graphics (Meeting Room, Level 2) |
10.45am | Legal Insights: Know your Rights |
11.15am | Panel #2: Best FANS Forever
|
12.00pm | Networking Luncheon (Carpark - Tentage area) |
GAMING MATTERS TRACK (Collaboration Area, Level 1) | DIGITAL TRACK (Training Room, Level 1) |
2.00pm | Opening Comments | 2.00pm | Panel #1: The Evolving Media Business Landscape | Workshop by Autodesk 2pm - 3pm: Tips and Tricks for High End Character Animation Workflows 3pm - 4pm: Tips and Tricks to Awesome Motion Graphics (Meeting Room, Level 2) |
2.10pm | Panel #1: Gaming 101 |
2.55pm | Panel #2: eSports Matters | 3.00pm | Panel #2: Fashion and Beauty: Engaging Through Influencers
|
3.40pm | Keynote #1: Dar Nothaft, General Manager, POLARIS by MAKER |
4.00pm | Keynote #2: Meet the Gamers Gamers Matter | 4.00pm | Break | StyleHaul Style Up! - Private Curated Session (By Invite Only) - Level 1
|
4.30pm | Panel #3: Navigating the VR Landscape
|
5.30pm | SMF Ignite Networking Dinner (Carpark - Tentage Area) |
7.30pm | Meet the Gamers: Gamer/Fan Q&A Gamer Meet & Greet | Sundown Networking Party |
9.00pm | End of Programme |
Download the full programme here.
“It’s a good platform for all these different people from different industries to come together and look at possible collaboration opportunities.” – Elicia Lee, CEO, GameStart Asia
“We had a lot of talks about the media and the creation process, and it was very exciting to be able to liaise with different kinds of online creators.” – Antoine Nazaret, Head of Content (APAC), Dailymotion
“It’s a good opportunity for young filmmakers and content creators to have the support of this infrastructure to help them create their own stories.” – Eunice Tan, Attendee
Fans Meet & Greet with YouTubers

YouTubers Strawburry17, Comicstorian, UnlistedLeaf, and NOTGOODGAMERS at PIXEL Studios.

Fans Meet & Greet with Strawburry17, Comicstorian, UnlistedLeaf, and NOTGOODGAMERS.

Meet the Gamers panel with Dar Nothaft of Polaris by Maker, Strawburry17, Comicstorian, UnlistedLeaf, and NOTGOODGAMERS.
PIXEL Studios
The launch of the new PIXEL Studios also coincided with the inaugural SMF Ignite, sharing similar visions for raising a new generation of content creators. Officially opened by Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, PIXEL Studios is a creative space for online content creators and game developers to encourage the experimentation and creation of innovative content.

Launch of PIXEL Studios with Minister of Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, and Gabriel Lim, CEO of IMDA.

Minister of Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, doing the #MannequinChallenge at PIXEL Studios.

Local beauty blogger Xiaxue at the outdoor networking party during the PIXEL Studios launch.
Click here for a full photo album of SMF Ignite and the PIXEL Studios launch.