We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative MIL Design & Construction ("MD&C").
Founded in 2010, MIL Design and Construction is a Malaysia based, full-service interior architecture consultancy and design and build company that is conceived as a 'boutique design studio'. They continue to push boundaries by integrating design, technology and lifestyle. They work closely with their clients to create and rejuvenate lifestyle spaces that exude uniqueness and originality, be it residential, commercial or developers' show flats. MIL Design knows that their clients want to do something different – and they’re passionate about working with them to create spaces that truly reflect their personality and brand. Within the last four years, the company has experienced an onslaught of success and clinched a number of coveted international awards, including one for the design of a Malaysia apartment for Hollywood celebrity Mr Henry Golding of Crazy,Rich,Asian movie fame.
MIL Design & Construction Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by MIL Design & Construction.
MIL Design & Construction Design - Highpark Suites Interior Common Areas
Designer Interview of MIL Design & Construction:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
MD&C : Yes since young I've taken fine arts and science subjects, went on to major Arts and Technology in high school at Melbourne, Australia and eventually graduating in architecture university.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
MD&C : MIL Design is founded out of our passion to create lifestyle spaces for residential and commercial. We believe interior spaces should provide unique experiences to a person, be it in line with the brand behind it or personal home. Spaces are designed like choreographed music where a person experiences different moods as he/she walks from one space to another.
DI: What is "design" for you?
MD&C : Experience, good design should be able to provoke the inner feelings, and creating a sense of connection
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MD&C : Boutique hotels, interiors converted from a place which has a story to tell
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
MD&C : We were appointed to transform a 32,000sqf of creative learning academy from a 40-year-old abandoned building. There were surprises everyday as site was progressing, due to the restrictive conditions and unbeknownst elements of the site, and such elements gave us even more creative moments to the project.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MD&C : Logo color
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MD&C : material: too many to mention I love all kinds of material. Its how we payer and combine materials which give us eventually creative spaccestechnology: also...all. Technology changes our lifestyle, the way we work, live, think and this in turn changes the design. So technology changes design which I think is inspiring
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
MD&C : When it is most unexpected, ideas always come. Like waiting for your meals, sitting in the taxi.Hence I always have my sketch books and sketch apps with me, all the time
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MD&C : experience, touch, ambience. Creating a hotel room which reminds you of a cozy home makes you want to come back, a cold room will not. That's the difference I think
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
MD&C : Inspired, Learning even for each project. Every project is different
DI: What makes a design successful?
MD&C : When it has the ability to provoke
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
MD&C : No priority
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
MD&C : Definitely a designer has a big responsibility....our designs sould be able to respond to the bigger context.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
MD&C : I think there are many cross-boundaries now, crossing of trades, technology.I still believe the future of design should be designed more towards the human experience, the person. Boring, mundane stuffs are interesting in view of how technology is eventually taking over
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
MD&C : Some of our works were exhibited in A-Award exxhibition Shenzhe. We'll like to increase more awareness of our works
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
MD&C : From everyday lives, from the site, from the brand...so you can say it's almost everywhere.I think inspirations are everywhere..we need to listen more and look more intently with our hearts
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
MD&C : My design style is very inspired by textures, layering of materiality, and aspiring to create a unique experience in our interior spaces.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
MD&C : I live in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia now. I was in Melbourne for about 8 years, and spent my earlier childhood in a small colonial town called Ipoh in Malaysia. Yes the environment affects my designs, Malaysia is a tropical country and my outdoor/semi-outdoor spaces are crucial in my designs, as well as coolness, ventilation, play of lights. Resort living design is a key element in malaysia so my designs do have many references to resort lifestyle and beach living
DI: How do you work with companies?
MD&C : I have many projects where our company collaborate with architecture companies and engineer companies abroad. We are the key concept designers and the local company of the country is the project company overseeing all project management. This collaboration provides clients the most comprehensive approach.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
MD&C : Companies can look at portfolios and speak directly to the key design director. Grasping the clients' needs and wishlist is very important and it rrally depends on the design director to be able to do this.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
MD&C : We start by sketches, looking up references and putting together mood boards based on clients' briefs.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
MD&C : lounge chair, table lamp, rug, chopping board, ceramic plates, fountain pens. Sorry that's six...
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
MD&C : Wake up, coffee, check mails, site, office to go through designs, coffee, check on new products, designs from online and social media, work, speak with clients or meetings
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
MD&C : Always keep trying and listen to many different ideas no matter where or from who they come from
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
MD&C : Positive is definitely the satisfaction to create something. Negative is the endless and irregular hours and less family time
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
MD&C : proportions
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
MD&C : imagination, creativity
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MD&C : many, pencils, sketch apps, cad apps
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
MD&C : lots of planning
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
MD&C : for interior design it takes from 2 months up to years.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
MD&C : Where do you get your creativity?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
MD&C : As a fresh graduate and first time at the construction site
DI: Who are some of your clients?
MD&C : property developers who range from Cambodia, Maldive, Malaysia, individual home owners
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
MD&C : I enjoy all types, but furniture design is one of them. Intricate detailing is more interesting
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
MD&C : I hope MIL Design is able to expand to more boutique projects abroad especially in resort living designs
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
MD&C : Yes, we are designing an urban apartment hotel interiors in Maldive, a lobby and common facilities area for a mixed development in Kuala Lumpur, some individual houses and apartments
DI: How can people contact you?
MD&C : My email and phone contacts are in our website and social media platforms.info.mildesign@gmail.com,
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
MD&C : I also want to mention that budget and design always work hand in hand, and it is crucial to maximize creativity as an interior designer within the client's budget.