Given the wake of the pandemic’s impact to the building industry, INTI International University & Colleges organised its first interior designing (ID) webinar for high school leavers, INTI’s students and staff to ‘network’ with industry professionals and understand the current needs and expectations of the industry.
IDr. Lai, the co-founder and Chief Executive Designer of Malaysia’s Interior Designing firm, Blu Water Studio, shared that he is now increasingly encouraging current designers to factor in the need for safety and well-being apart from considering its aesthetics and functionality
The webinar, which saw over 120 people signed in, had notable industry professionals such as IDr. (Interior Designer) Lai Siew Hong and Ar. (Architect) Adrianta Aziz who discussed the impact of COVID 19 on interior designing and architecture, the current industry trends and expectations, along with what they anticipate the future of the industries to be as a result of COVID-19.
IDr. Lai, the co-founder and Chief Executive Designer of Malaysia’s Interior Designing firm, Blu Water Studio, shared during the session that apart from considering the aesthetics and functionality of a space, he is now increasingly encouraging current and future designers to factor in the need for safety and well-being when it comes to the designing and selection of materials and furniture processes.
He explained, “We (designers) need to consider how to minimise the spread of viruses and increase sterilisation within the environment through incorporating new technologies such as the selection of materials that have great antibacterial properties, design solutions that have voice activation technologies, and sterilisation technologies such as Active Oxygen Technology that can eliminate harmful elements such as bacteria or viruses.”
Ar. Adrianta, Managing Director of AR RAD Architects and partner of ARN Consulting and Training – Malaysia’s first architectural training company, added that on top of the technologies IDr. Lai mentioned, he is also observing the disruption of technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and 3D modelling being used amongst his ID peers in the industry, as a result of COVID-19.
IDr. Lai Siew Hong (top left), Ryan Cheah (top right), Ar. Adrianta Aziz (bottom left) and Mohd Sufi bin Ismail (bottom right) sharing their thoughts during INTI’s Interior Designing Webinar
In addressing how INTI is preparing future designers for the future of ID post COVID-19, Mohd Sufi bin Ismail, Head of Programme for INTI’s Center of Art and Design, shared that INTI’s ID academicians are fully utilising Blackboard, INTI’s learning management system, on top of utilising technologies such as 3D software.
“Before COVID-19, we had a blended teaching method where we would incorporate practical lessons through regular site visits to industry and we would have online classes through Blackboard. Through these site visits, we would teach our students how to conduct a site analysis based on what they observe,” shared the former interior designer of Kuala Lumpur’s Ferrari and Maserati Showroom.
He added, “Since we have now moved fully online due to the lockdown, we have incorporated 3D software to produce 3D site visuals for our students to continue carrying out their site analysis from the comforts of their own homes, on top of spending more time on developing live and pre-recorded lectures through engaging, yet informative videos for our students. We also incorporate real-world case studies of actual scenarios happening within the industry today and encourage our budding designers to think of sustainable and safe design solutions for these issues.”
Sufi shares that with this webinar added with the current curriculum at INTI, he is positive that INTI’s budding designers will be fully equipped to work in the industry, no matter what the challenge comes.