Interview with Amos Goh

I Co-founded studio Bulbul with my partner Shin Hyang Eim in 2021. Bulbul birds evoke a calming memory amongst many people living in Singapore and its neighbours in South-East Asia. A songbird prized for its beauty and chimes. There was once a simpler time when parks were filled with bird watchers and collectors.

Unfortunately, some species were driven close to extinction. The brand uses Bulbul's endearing relationship with people as a representation and a reflection of its ethos.
Bulbul was established amid the Covid pandemic and is driven by a passion for a sustainable and progressive way of life.

The 2 founding members are accomplished product designers with more than 10 years working on product and industrial designs. The like-minded pair took their post-graduate degree studies in subjects of design with an emphasis on sustainability research.

Design to me is to reshape, to nuance, to rethink, to solve, to better, to delight, to experience, to reconcile, to be human, to preserve and the list goes on... It is the intention put into creation.

I like to design objects that trigger a sense of need and desire to people.

Right now, it has to be "Jenny" by the Ocean Cleanup. These giant machines are cleaning up the pacific vortex garbage patch in the sea.

It was a Bedside Table that won an award in IFFF.

Stainless steel, metal deep drawing.

A professor of mine, Gareth Loudon, taught me that the most creative state is when relaxed and focused at the same time. And from my personal experience, I think he is right.

A balancing act between form, feasability, desirability, affordability and function.

Excitement.

Intense excitement.

It does not have to be iconic or well-known, but the intended audience has to have a positive reception to it. The customer knows best for product and industrial design! (Most of the time.)

the experience of using it.

Paramount! The environmental impact of the product starts with the designer and this is why I feel that we should use our actions and our influence to shape the products we design. At all levels of the designer's career, be it junior or C suite designers, be can make positive change. And it is getting easier to have this conversation now compared to even 5 years ago.

It is no different from what other fields are experiencing. It is ever-changing and we cannot drop the ball. We have to constantly adapt or we will be obsolete. But the future of design, in general, is moving in a positive trajectory. I see artificial intelligence that can iterate shape and form, that can generate art from reference. AI could be a tool that informs our design decisions or they could straight out replace designers. But I am sure that this will pave the way for positive change for a field as broad as design.

My last exhibition was with the company I worked for before the pandemic struck. My next exhibition will be when the dust settles and when people feel safe in large crowd environments.

I relax and keep an open mind to everything, let the mind wander. Read books, browse the net and take leisure walks.

I hate to be pigeonholed to a style but looking back at my favourite works, are the ones that are utilitarian and minimal in design. Being minimal is a pragmatic choice because by default it uses the right amount of materials, hence, having a lower carbon footprint while being utilitarian is an industrial design doctrine.

Being a Singaporean, I feel insecure when it comes to identity and culture. A "melting pot" of many races and cultures living together. There is no old culture or heritage that we can truly embrace. Much of our influences are quite modern, a charming few, but not rich or rooted like Scandanavia, Chinese or Italian. But I guess that being a "melting pot" in of itself can be an eclectic identity. My next design endeavours are some rattan products which is native to the tropics of south-east-asia.

I understand, accommodate and work to their strengths. From time to time, push boundaries. Always keep in communication.

Take a good look at their body of work and see if there is chemistry.

I always start out with pen and paper to gather thoughts. There is always some kind of an iteration process. Then there will be a pitch. And if all goes well, there will be a meticulous documentation process.

Pyrex measuring cup. Jotterdesk by Jerry Low. Corniche by Bouroullec brothers. Sony EOS RP. Hangar Table by Me.

Coffee, work and pickup games at the basketball court.

Embrace the grind if you want to keep doing this.

Cons: Your mistakes will stick out and they will go on record.
Pros: Work is not mundane.

Communicate

Mastering the craft.

CAD, Vernier Calipers, The internet, Calculator, "Making It!" by Chris Lefteri, "Manufacturing processes for design professionals" by Rob Thompson.

Manage expectations of yourself and others when it comes to delivery. Ghantt charts.

It is very subjective. It depends on the product. It could take from days to years.

Where can I get this?

JotterGoods

The ones that I feel

I would like to create a lifestyle brand.

I used to manage a team. But now I mostly work by myself.

You can call me at +6592391987
Or drop me an email at Findme@amosgoh.work