Meet The Founders Of IDW Design & Build, One Of Malaysia’ Fastest Growing Interior Design Firms

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What is it about the profession that appeals to you?

Interior design is a profession that solves problems with regards to living spaces. Any type of space used by humans must be designed according to their needs. Humans have different needs according to age, gender, social status, marital and family status, race, climate and preferences.

As long as human beings need space, there goes the interior designer’s task to serve their needs. To us, interior design is an important profession because what we do contributes most to space optimisation.

Tell us about your design process.

We try to make things simple and understandable for our customers with a simple 5-step process to achieve our customer’s dream space. First, we start with a design consultation with a detailed client requirement, pre proposal, mood board and concept and a one-hour virtual consultation with our sales designer, culminating in an estimation cost. We then present the client with 3D visualisation to help the client envision the space.

Next, after our designers visit the site for final measurements, a quotation is prepared. Once that is approved, construction goes ahead. Our team at IDW handles every aspect so the process is hassle-free for our clients. Finally, the step that everyone wait for, the handover. We also provide a liabilities period so clients can rest easy even after handover.

Does IDW have a distinctive design aesthetic?

What distinguishes IDW in terms of design is our flexible approach in producing design outcomes based on individual client characteristics and preferences. Our principle is that designers must design for the clients and not for themselves. We don’t stick to one style or design trademark to make it ours; instead we love to explore our client’s requirements to produce outstanding and unpredictable design outcomes. Our expertise is to read the client’s expectations and translate that into a design language but at the same time, reflect the client’s personality and elevate their social status.

What and who inspires you in the design industry?

In terms of business models, we really look up to Foster + Partners and the way they expanded and scaled up their company in the international market. In terms of design style and direction, we are always inspired by Bill Bensley, Kelly Wearstler and Baptise Bohu for the courageous and astonishing outcome of their design ideas. The designs are crazy, wild and mind blowing - and always original. In terms of target market and project industry, we love looking at Candy London. They inspired us to become a luxury property developer from the interior designer profession. In addition, they are experts in the luxury interior niche, including super yachts and others.

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How would you define good design?

Good design has to speak the owner’s language while not missing the point of practicality. Good design should also consider the future.

It should consider, if it's a home, how long the owner will stay in that property if it’s a home. If it's an office, what will be the end user’s projected team expansion. If it's a restaurant or a cafe, what is the price point of the food. The same goes with hotel design. It is all related and influenced by good interior design planning and outcome.

What are your thoughts about the design industry in Malaysia?

There are abundant opportunities for interior designers to grow in Malaysia. Malaysians are now more aware of the importance of interior design. This awareness grew mostly during the pandemic because now all activities have shifted drastically from public spaces to their homes. Additionally we all know that people are connecting mostly online now, making the online presentation vital. Often, well designed homes can become an asset and be leveraged to generate more views and income nowadays.

As our society becomes ever more house-proud and design-conscious, it seems the domestic interior is becoming fertile ground for interior designer and decorators. Social media has also impacted business places and the need to be more Instagramable is a must to serve as a marketing tool.

We don’t know how the world will change again in the future but we know that as long as an interior designer stays true to solving the problems people face with regards to their living space, there will be the need for interior designers.

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What are you working on at the moment?

In line with our belief that good design should be for everyone, we launched our IDW Design Collection, a compendium of 200 designs which is accessible to everyone. It comes complete with plans, drawings, step-by-step construction guidelines to help those who want to do something to their house yet may not have the budget to do so.

We are also in talks with developers to fulfil our ultimate goal of becoming the first interior design developer. This effort means that interior design costs are included in the price of the house, so that when home buyers make their purchase, they also choose a design based on their tastes. When the house is completed, they just move in with their bags. This innovation will also bundle the interior design costs in the loan and make buying a dream home more manageable.