We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Mohamad Ibrahim Husin ("MIH").
With an eye for beautiful textures and an admiration for bespoke pieces that make an impact, I had transformed spaces into livable works of art. My architecture and design skills have led me to complete both residential and commercial projects in the U.S. and internationally. Clients appreciate my attention to detail and unique solutions to spaces. I'm always introducing interesting textures and color pallet and pattern into my project and this really triggers my creative side to develop cohesive look in each project. You could say that my personal style is eclectic and contemporary.
Mohamad Ibrahim Husin Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Mohamad Ibrahim Husin.
Designer Interview of Mohamad Ibrahim Husin:
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?
MIH : During my childhood years, I loved to draws and exploring my creativity with my surrounding. I know I wanted to be a designer right after college. I explore different disciplines throughout my freelance works.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
MIH : I'm still working on building up my design studio, at the moment I work independently on a project basis
DI: What is "design" for you?
MIH : creating something unique in a formed of an object, space, even user or client experience. Furthermore, it has to be functional while stay true to your own identity.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MIH : I love designing commercial space cause you can experiment a lot on the concept itself.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
MIH : Chinoiserie, it's relevant throughout the years
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MIH : Residential House
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MIH : I love 3d illustration and visualizing them through rendering
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
MIH : At night, with my cup of coffee
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MIH : Space planning and it is crucial.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
MIH : passion and enthusiasm
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
MIH : a sense of accomplishment and making your client happy
DI: What makes a design successful?
MIH : forms meet function while maintaining your aesthetic
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
MIH : understanding the briefing either you hit or missed it!
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
MIH : sustainable living and using sustainable material to help improve the environment and society and the way people live.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
MIH : It's a promising scene, it had been evolving with the help of technology and design is more accessible to the people.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
MIH : I never had one before and this is my first
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
MIH : Inspiration comes in many ways; like my surrounding, books, and the magazine does help in sort of ways. Design blog, people on the street, and nature itself really inspired me!
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?
MIH : A curated eclectic look and contemporary. I love mixing the style and not sticking to one look. I always introduce layers of texture to give such depth to space, layering lighting and adding some unique item such as artwork or a chair even a vase for a conversational piece.
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?
MIH : I live in Malaysia. It's a multi-cultural country and blessed with divers of ethnicity. I would say the labor cost here is pretty decent and the downside would be limited, skillful craftsmen.
DI: How do you work with companies?
MIH : I used to work with companies, I more hands-on for the creative side, like developing a concept, pitching for a proposal for the client or even determine the look of window display under my principal designer supervision.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
MIH : Noticed a passionate people that really want to grow and wanted to explore more.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
MIH : firstly understanding the briefing, secondly develop an idea or initial concept, the finetuning the proposal, finally execute them.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
MIH : Bespoke lighting, Artwork, Throw Pillows, Coffee table books, Sculpture or Centrepiece
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
MIH : wake up get my coffee fixed, going through emails, check my projects schedule and designing and creating things!
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
MIH : from Kelly Wearstler "love color, take a risk, be curious" Be passionate about what you're doing, continue to grow and learn new things from other people, stay true to your essence, and know your own strength and worth.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
MIH : positives traits of being a designer are to develop and explore your creative side. negative traits I would say that designing is very subjective and time-consuming, but keep learning and do better!
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
MIH : Visually appealing, a good balance and know when to edit your work.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
MIH : Good eye on details, understanding project briefing and executing them, good styling & great taste!
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MIH : Autodesk Cad for planning, Sketchup for modeling & rendering and Adobe Creative Suite
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
MIH : keep track on the dateline and don't over promise to the client!
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
MIH : depending on the scale of the object could take a few months mostly
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
MIH : How much do we charge?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
MIH : once I worked in a kitchen specialist where I learn to master the perfect way in lifestyle kitchen concept and what makes a stylish and functional kitchen works.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
MIH : Black Ink Engineering and Decorilla
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
MIH : concept designing, exploring my creative side from a different angle.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
MIH : Continuing to grow and explore more. Love learning new things definitely!
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
MIH : both. I tend to develop the preliminary design first.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
MIH : I'm working on a new building in Brooklyn with a friend, we're working on finalizing FFE and materials soon!
DI: How can people contact you?
MIH : you can reach me via email: hello8atelier@gmail.com
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
MIH : nothing at the moment