Jack Lim

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Jack Lim ("JL") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

JL : I’m Jack graduated from Lim Kok Wing University in Bachelor of Interior Architecture, currently work in Interior Plus Group Sdn Bhd as Head of Division in Interior Design Department. Profession in Interior Design to handle client’s requirement with creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes and design is knowing which ones to keep.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

JL : Becoming an Interior designer are inspired from my past life experience as I’m person that always thought of crazy idea, draw things that doesn’t exists and building models trying to create something special, it’s fun and challenging while combining all into one.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

JL : I chose to become an Interior Designer.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

JL : I personally like to design on residential, more on the luxury and classic style.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

JL : The best practice and principles in being an Interior Designer are always a good listener, take away your selfishness and aggressiveness as it never help you to improve anything in your work or even life path.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

JL : Good design is making something intelligible and memorable. Great design is making something memorable and meaningful and Great design is a fundamental human activity, relevant and useful to everyone

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

JL : Good design always come with good emotions and overall ambience which makes your feel emotions something but that is what next level of design and idea. Never go into intends mode as it never helps you to get what’s best design or even achieve what others needed. The main criteria to judges good design are simple, well presentation, well concept explanation and story-line.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

JL : Good interior design improves a space by making it better suited to its purpose. Involving a professional in the process will eliminate unnecessary worries and confusion while staying within the budget! In addition to saving time by taking over all your fears and confusion, interior designers also help reduce expenditure by investing in the wrong items.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

JL : Would probably design a house for my self

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

JL : not at the moment

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

JL : Always listen and digest before you come out with an idea, it could help to workout the idea and thoughts to give the best solution for the desire design from different aspects.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

JL : A company in Taiwanese and company named Exclaim, the has s a purposeful creative act, which should be multi-faceted and unconstrained. From the perspective of residential planning, the “design” that the Exclaim design team believes is not about how much space is designed, but how much is about designing for the owner. All creative ideas are based on people, space and environment, and life so that the hearts are closer to each other, and the enjoyment of space without distance brings the joy and happiness of life. With that moto, they integrate the top interior designers for their unique capacity to understand it.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

JL : A company in Taiwanese and company named Exclaim, the has s a purposeful creative act, which should be multi-faceted and unconstrained. From the perspective of residential planning, the “design” that the Exclaim design team believes is not about how much space is designed, but how much is about designing for the owner. All creative ideas are based on people, space and environment, and life so that the hearts are closer to each other, and the enjoyment of space without distance brings the joy and happiness of life. With that moto, they integrate the top interior designers for their unique capacity to understand it.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

JL : Luxury classic design; it gave me lots of emotion and technical error that I have to think twice if I am able to fulfil the combination of luxury and classic elements. The most challenging and excited part of designing luxury classic is the way you input both idea into a space.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

JL : I would probably advice them apart from self learning, think out of the box and go as far as it could to come out with crazy idea that had never been done. Anyhow while into reality, it must be challenging while crazy idea are always attach with a lots of error and mistake even cost, but never give up learning and keep going into deep to achieve your ideas.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

JL : definitely an Architect or Graphic designer

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

JL : Design can mean whatever you want it to mean to you. Design is about communicating feelings through visual sensations and unique experiences. As human beings, we buy our favorite products in part because of how they make us feel. People don't just want products that work, they want to feel happy while using them

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

JL : My Comrade and Company's biggest support

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

JL : My Comrade and Company's biggest support

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

JL : The challenges interior designers face are managing time, selling big ideas, maintaining client expectations, introducing trends and timeless designs, and working on the go.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

JL : Always begin with the basic layout plan and come out with a storyline to show how it looks even in the layout, also to have free hand sketches to show how it easily can prove your capability and idea.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

JL : no comment at the moment as after all, we will go with the client's expectations and requirements.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

JL : To be top listed Interior Designer in Southeast Asia.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

JL : The empty home is the interior designer’s blank canvas – a field of unlimited possibilities. As such, they have a handy knack for seeing through all the décor and clutter to picture the house in its original state.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

JL : You can use your art and design to inspire people to think differently and change people for the better. You can also educate others in creative ways and raise important issues through activism. The bottom line is that you can use art can to have a real impact on the world and on society.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

JL : I found out exciting working in interior designer are you have lots of time to think of designer what client expected

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

JL : no at the moment, as further you go, the more challenges and satisfaction goes

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

JL : While many design trends analyses focus purely on visual trends, 2020 has brought some significant structural shifts to the way the internet is used. Designers who can adapt to these changes quickly and make the transitions easier for their clients will have an edge over their competitors.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

JL : The ease of operating an interior design business has been improved thanks to technology. Make use of 3D design software to create projects in a more accurate way – SketchUp, RoomSketcher, and Virtual Architect are all 3D design software available for you to use.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

JL : About one 1 month from scratch to completion.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

JL : I start everything from brainstorming and hand sketches.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

JL : We shape homes and then, home shape us

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

JL : I believe that design set the trend way more than the trend set the design as everything must come with marketing

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

JL : Paper, pencil, AutoCAD, Google SketchUp and 3DsMax Corona render farm.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

JL : With today's technology, designers can have access to limitless choices of colours and shades that they can mix and match for their designs. A tool called Coolors can help designers pick the best colours. Today, there are also new tools for communicating with clients.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

JL : the place that could be improved more with

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

JL : How the way that they tend to design and their inspiration of design spirits came from

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

JL : Never thought of it but definitely would give it a try in future to work closely with.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

JL : Colleagues and house designers, as we all work closely together

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

JL : Live beautifully

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

JL : Creativity and attention to detail, vision, communication skills and knowledge of design trends and styles

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

JL : and Interior design as well- is the art that you cannot avoid interacting with. Throughout the past year, we have all experienced that first-hand. All humans around the world had to spend much more time in their homes because of the pandemic. We began to notice our living spaces more, and somehow see them in a new way. Noticing what’s good and what’s not. I’m sure that this experience made you at least consider some changes in your place, or you have done some already.

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

JL : Yes it is hard to be famous as the design is very subjective to everyone

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

JL : My favourite colour of Monochrome, a Peaceful place that comes with a natural environment, Chinese cruise, Winter, and Bottega Veneta

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

JL : The interaction while communicating with the client

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

JL : You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

JL : No, but hand sketches made me feel like drawing something that came from my mind.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

JL : when brass, barn-wood panelling, and exposed-filament Edison bulbs were still seen as stylish—most designer products were sold exclusively to the trade, pricing was often a closely guarded secret, and Instagram and Pinterest didn’t even exist. In the decade that followed, technology loosened the industry’s laces as online services and apps increased transparency, made affordable online design services a reality, and inspired manufacturers to sell directly to consumers. These changes thrilled many homeowners but sent design’s gatekeepers into a panic.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

JL : Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space.