Interview with:Max T [maxt]
DESIGN
 | What is your specialty? Themed interior designs with strong emphasis on each client's needs & preferences. I see my role more as the client's creative director leading him/her towards their individual styles and fine-tuning their ideas. It's really encouraging to see each project stamped with the client's personal style! |
| Where can we view your portfolio online? |
| What made you interested in design? I think I was born interested in design! I produced sketches from a very young age, largely influenced by a late uncle who always amazed me with his talent! |
| What has been your professional career path? I have always shown a keen interest in art and design. I worked on sketches of Spider-man, Batman and Superman even before I started schooling! In fact, I remember when I was only about 11, I did perspective sketches of my room with several proposals! All were turned down by my Dad, of course!
When it came time for me to choose a career path, there was this irrational fear of not being good enough and not being able to earn a decent living through my art. I eventually chicken out and went into the construction industry!
I spent 10 years in the construction industry working my way up from a site foreman to a Project Manager. I even earned a Degree in Construction Management along the way! However, all this time, the need to be creative and artistic gnawed at me inside!
The day eventually came when I decided to follow my heart and venture back to my true passion.....ART! Combining my need and ability to be creative and artistic with my years of training and experience in construction, I was lucky to find someone who would give me a chance to work in the interior design industry. I was finally HAPPY! After a few years working for someone else and gaining my confidence, I started my interior design business and have been blissful ever since!
The moral of the story? Always be true to your heart because it WILL NOT be denied! |
| Have you received any awards for your work in the field of design? Not really, no. Wish I had, though!!! |
| What is your motivation? What makes you get up in the mornings? The need to put food on the table? LOL!!!!
Actually, it's great having your hobby as your work because I never get tired of looking at floor plans and trying new ways to layout a room! |
| How would you define your design style? Never really thought about it but I seem to be rather obsessed with straight lines! |
| How do you promote and move your work? To be honest, I have not done anything to promote it. Most of my clients come to me through recommendations by past clients. So I guess it's through word-of-mouth really! I always believe that a good product combined with a top-notch service equals the best advertisement ever! |
| In which new areas would you like to experiment? I hope to eventually design and put into production my own range of furniture |
| Shapes, color, concept: where do you usually begin when conceiving a design? I usually start with a concept although it's not always set in stone. I am not too disciplined in that sense, I guess. |
| What are your sources for documentation and to generate ideas? I read, like, A LOT!! The library is a treasure trove of ideas although, the internet is fast catching up as my primary source! |
| Which festivals or awards in your field do you find most interesting? Hmmm........can't think of any, actually. |
| What is your favourite type of customer? Customers who have an idea what they want but are still able to keep an open mind to other ways or ideas. |
| To a certain point, is copying justifiable? Definitely NO!! Although referencing is acceptable. |
| List some things you dislike seeing in design. Hmmm.... I'm actually rather open-minded when it comes to design.....although I do seem to have a tendency to steer away from designs that are too formulaic, for want of better word....you know, like a sofa has to be put against a wall, a door must be a certain height, a living room must have a coffee table, etc. I believe good designs adapt to the needs of the space and the users. |
| Do you believe the newer generations are better at designing? No, I don't, actually. |
| With which type of client would you decline in working for? I only decline work if I have too much on the table otherwise, I try not to pick my clients. Every new client is a new challenge and you always face your challenges! Not avoid them! |
| How do you calculate budgets for a design project? Errrr.....with a spreadsheet? |
| Which professionals in your field -contemporary or past- do you most admire? I am in love with Vicente Wolf, Kelly Hoppens, Karim Rashid, Charles & Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen and this Japanese designer, Masamichi Katayama (Wonderwall) |
| Which software applications do you most utilize in your work? Autocad, 3D Max, MS Excel |
| If you weren't a designer, what would you be doing? Probably a teacher. I've been told I tend to preach quite a bit!! |
| At this moment, what would be your dream job or project? Designing my own range of furniture! |
| Can you see yourself in this field twenty years from now? YESSSS!!!! |
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[maxt]
Max T
Singapore
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