We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative SURFACE R ("SR").
Established in year 2008, Surface R is a Malaysia based interior design firm that has grown strength to strength under the leadership of founder, Stanley Leong and principal designer, Sam Leong. Complete head to toe residential design for gorgeous clients is our ultimate joy. From exterior to interior, bathroom plans, down to the furniture and furnishings, every inspired detail is caringly resoled and realized to deliver a home that is true to our clients and one they love. “Timeless & Proportion” is the key to success, and in Surface R, we believe that having a true passion to make great designs is the only path to satisfy everyone we come across. Every single piece made by our brand is well designed, made in-house, under continues supervision to deliver a perfect form of our vision in developing a modern prestigious lifestyle. With that, every single piece made by Surface R is the absolute balance between true lifestyle, quality, luxury and modernity.
SURFACE R Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by SURFACE R.
SURFACE R Design - Laidback Glam Residential House
Designer Interview of SURFACE R:
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
SR : The two founders of Surface R are siblings with knitted by arts and designs. Two art enthusiasts aspire to make every home embrace its tenants in comfort and luxury. Our modern company bring in designers’ masterpieces to the office. Every piece is authentically designed by Surface R. We’re not solely focused on the space also on living standard, but we emphasize on introducing a whole concept of space. Surface R provides interior design consultancy to ensure that your space will be unique and exemplary. Surface R want its clients to feel the preciousness of beauty which brings the sense of wellbeing.
DI: What is "design" for you?
SR : Design can be whatever you want it to you. Design is about communicating feeling through visual sensations unique experience. As a designer, making things look pretty isn't enough, we need to know how to take these creations from being appealing to becoming meaningful to the end user is also an aspect that should never be neglected and this only can be done by crafting great experience.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
SR : Modern contemporary
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
SR : Each project by us are our favorite and every projects and clients are unique.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
SR : Natural marble as each marble is unique by the grain.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
SR : The moment when inspiration hits me.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
SR : We spend a lot of time focusing on the design practicality.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
SR : Designing satisfies me.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
SR : A sense of accomplishment and pride
DI: What makes a design successful?
SR : When the design become meaningful to the end user.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
SR : Practicality
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
SR : To create more eco friendly design
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
SR : Over the past century, design field has evolved and expanded. We know that design is converging with technology, but with rapidly changing of technologies that often merge to create unpredictable combination, the future of design is hard to be predict.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
SR : We never take part in exhibition.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
SR : My inspiration always explore from our nature and daily life
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?
SR : We design mainly on the modern contemporary concept as this concept can be further developed in difference ways. No matter which design style, we will always focus on it practicality first.
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?
SR : I'm based in Malaysia and yes, the cultural do affect on design. But there is no pros and cons on design stage.
DI: How do you work with companies?
SR : We share the ideas, do research and develop the concept together.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
SR : Go through discussion with client, get understanding user preferences and requirements.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
SR : Keep on observation and thinking solutions for each problem
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
SR : Attitude and work with passion
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
SR : As an interior designer, we can truly unleash our creativity, transforming a spaces into works of art. However, as an interior designer we always battling stress. We always have to put in long hours when we're starting coming up with new ideas.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
SR : Embrace the Architecture, as we know not every style fits in every home as rooms come in all shapes sizes and all different details. It’s not necessarily about matching your interiors to meet the architecture. But you shouldn’t be trying to fit someone else’s style into the mold. Instead, find something that suits both you and the space you are working with.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
SR : A creative eye and attention to detail
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
SR : In order to complete task within the deadline, we always do research and find reference before start designing.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
SR : Is depends on the project scale.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
SR : How much do you charge for designing?
DI: Who are some of your clients?
SR : Home owners
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
SR : We work as a team.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
SR : Yes, there a lot of on progress work. What we really can tell is there’s varies of need or design from each of the clients. As what we do best is to archive both design & client’s requirements.
DI: How can people contact you?
SR : Anyone who would like to contact me can send me an email to: art.surface@gmail.com