Designer Spotlight: X Two Concept

March 13, 2017

Bagging 'Designer of the Year' award in 2015 among thousands of interior firms in Malaysia is a testament to the firm's commitment to delivering inventive designs fit for work and play. We speak to the creative minds, one of the co-founding team, Patrick Goh about the firm's success.

Qanvast: How did X-TWO come about?

Patrick (P): Kenny and I were co-workers in our last interior designing firm. I have always dreamed of starting my own interior firm and began to hunt for a business partner. It was then I realised Kenny shared the same aspirations and our journey together begun.

Qanvast: What is the culture in your company?

P: We are a small team of six and we cultivate the habit of learning from each other. I often share with my team on how best to interact with customers, and what experiences we can pick up from one another. It's about open communication.

Qanvast: What is your firm's signature style, one that home owners remember and share with their friends?

P: We like to follow the latest trends, mix and match different styles based on the clients’ wishes and add on some of our own creativity. We believe that every client is a creative partner of ours. We listen to their needs, pay close attention to their approach to life and translate that into our designs.

Qanvast: Which is/are your most accomplished project(s)?

P: The project at Symphony Hills really pushed us beyond our creative boundaries. The homeowner was open-minded and that is really important to us as it gives us the room to experiment with new designs. The design brief was industrial-theme and we had to interpret the space with elements and materials that convey the look - from brick walls to exposed bulbs and masculine furnishing and lightings.

Another project we are very proud of is the Ahoy Café - an industrial-meets-nautical theme. We worked with an artist to incorporate interesting wall art murals which gave the cafe (and our work) a little personality.

Qanvast: What design tips you will give to first-time home owners

P: Homeowners should really meet up with designers and talk about the ideas they have in mind rather than communicating via screens. This allows the designer to first introduce what he or she can offer, and the homeowner would also have a better understanding on what ideas are more feasible, whether the designer can meet the timeline or budget so on and so forth. This will help to manage the expectations of both the client and the designer.