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Interview with Renaissance Planners & Designers |
Home > Designer Interviews > Renaissance Planners & Designers |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Renaissance Planners & Designers (RPD) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Renaissance Planners & Designers by clicking here.
FS: 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?
RPD: Since young, I have always loved art as it is a way to detach from myself and understanding your inner thoughts. It is the only subject that can be drawn on the canvas as you are the person who is controlling it. Through that process you can understand and educate yourself on what is art and what is beauty in art. I graduated in Architecture and Interior Design in 1994 in the UK.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
RPD: My company is a boutique design firm. Our philosophy is to design, manage and deliver modern and minimalistic projects. Our designs are about the nuances of the harmony and balance between several different visual elements working together. This results in the omission of the inessentials in order to emphasise the important. We strive to create a harmonious play between the interior and exterior, the interpenetrations and study of a site, the proportions, scale, light and the sheer physicality of creating ‘living’ spaces.
FS: What is "design" for you?
RPD: Design for me is spaces designed for clients who trust you process where you self-criticise after works are completed
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
RPD: I enjoy designing villas and offices.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
RPD: My project at 56 Sunset Way exuberates with timeless design language that my firm always pursues. After 20 years the project is still kept by the current owners despite the change of owners throughout the years.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
RPD: Public housing unit project
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
RPD: I like natural materials. I like my works to win awards and prefer hand sketches over technology.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
RPD: Every day is a creative process as every project entails different processes. Creativity to me means distilling our own thoughts and pursuing an objective that has no finishing line.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
RPD: For me during the initial design stage I focus more on layouts, 3D sketches, client’s lifestyle and the “wow” factor.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
RPD: I feel that it is thrilling.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
RPD: I feel Gratitude towards my clients, consultants and the entire contract team involved in the project.
FS: What makes a design successful?
RPD: When your client praises the visual, functionality and quality of your work.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
RPD: Good design to me must support human interactions. Bad designs are spaces that serve no purpose or function.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
RPD: A designer can design positive spaces for humanity to “lift”, interact and provide generations of love in areas that they desire
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
RPD: Politics and advancements of technology are subconsciously creating a universal design language that is happening. The West has dominated art scenes for the past centuries and I believe that now Asian values will start to influence the Western style of designing.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
RPD: I have written a book and plan to publish a couple more next year.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
RPD: My inspiration comes from reading and questioning where my designs need to be improved and that is the way I feed my creativity and the source of my inspiration.
FS: 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?
RPD: I am influenced by minimalism as I am an ikebana artist.
FS: 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?
RPD: Singapore. We are a cosmopolitan country where everybody lives in peace and harmony. I am thankful that I live in a stable country where designing is possible.
FS: How do you work with companies?
RPD: I believe in strong collaboration and pick partner who have the same ethos as me
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
RPD: I always encourage my clients to look at my works before their appointment.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
RPD: I create my designs through the process of distilling a spatial idea to its very essence by reduction and refinement that allows the subtle nuances of the material to speak for itself. I do not propose a particular design style instead; I use an abstract vocabulary of form that permits investigating the widest range of approach to create an appropriate and timeless design language.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
RPD: I like the overall space I design as it fits the 5 items I commission and build. Some of my favourites are of Sofa, coffee table, bed, side tables and stools.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
RPD: I have a light breakfast. Reply to emails and messages. Visit the project site in the morning to avoid Singapore’s afternoon heat. Head back to the office after lunch and then attend to any issues with contractors have or any improvements to be made. In the evening is when I sketch and create my designs.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
RPD: 3 things. Confidence not arrogance. Perseverance and a never say die attitude. When you get recognised always look for the next project.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
RPD: Positive aspects are that you self-taught yourself to overcome your mistakes to not make the same mistakes. Negative aspects is when you have too many projects you do not have time to take care of the projects that are ongoing
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
RPD: Be strict towards yourself
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
RPD: Learn to listen
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
RPD: Pen, paper and colour pencils
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
RPD: 3 months
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
RPD: Why do your projects win awards?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
RPD: As a young designer, I learnt by going to the project site to understand the actual work processes done by artisans
FS: Who are some of your clients?
RPD: Millionaires and Billionaires
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
RPD: I don’t select any particular project to design. I educate my clients to leave the project in my hands when their wish lists is fulfilled
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
RPD: Influence younger designers to have core values as a designer
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
RPD: I work solely by myself and I truncate my thoughts to my team and only when I see their eyes sparkle I know they are as passionate as me
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
RPD: The current project we are working on is for a client who has one of the most expensive villas in Singapore. How do we design spaces that are timeless in its essence where space is not a constraint?
FS: How can people contact you?
RPD: Visit my webpage
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
RPD: I believe your questions can be refined as some of them are repetitive.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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