Jackie Lai

Specialized in Interior Design.

Jackie Lai

About Jackie Lai

I have been a design entrepreneur for the last decade and for every single day, I am thinking how design can help me change the way I do business and to create an impact for my personal development – which is to be open to learning and trying new things out. I have been working in teams where most of the time I am the only designer. It is not easy but I learned to deal with others’ perspectives. I have to communicate my ideas more simply and to see much more clearly what I can uniquely contribute as a designer. I am glad I have evolved to become a mentor to many designers whom I groomed and started their own practice.

  • Winner of 2 A' Design Awards.
  • Specialized in Interior Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs
  • Interior
  • Social
White Home Residential House

White Home Residential House

Interior Design

Doonya Shop and Home for Homeless

Doonya Shop and Home for Homeless

Social Design

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Interview with Jackie Lai

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
I have a diverse background with engineering and design education. The 'need to create' inspired me to be a designer.I am constantly intrigue by the ability to model or create stuff from nothing.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
My company focus on building meaningful spaces that inspire and enhance user experience. Recently I have a breakthrough in using VR (Virtual Realty) for our projects.
What is "design" for you?
Design for me is about adding value to life. Good design makes you think: why did I not think of that?
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
Beside designing spaces, I like to design graphic and merchandise that can allow free-flow of style. Designing Tees are one of the expressive works I love to do.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
Simple, streamline spaces or product with clean detailing with prominent materials. One example is to have a simple white with high quality stainless steel trimming or black with gold streamline trimming.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
My first project is an exhibition space for a booth, a group of us conceptualize an idea of their own and the creative director picked mine. It was built and drew positive feedback and re-affirmed my career as a designer.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Technology is constantly evolving as I am intrigued by the software Unreal Engine that gives a great ambient to the models we made. The material Copper is one of my favourite elements.
When do you feel the most creative?
I feel the most creative during my coffee time with a design magazine at hand.
What makes a design successful?
A design is successful if someone can feel your passion, skills, and creativity converted into a finished product.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Great designers care hugely about the real people who will use the product, service, building or experience they are developing. The designer ensures that solutions meet real needs, whether the users are fully aware of them or not.When it meet real needs, it is part of sustainability.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Design is becoming an increasingly fluid and fast-moving sector, where lead times to market are getting shorter. Technology would be the future and would have an important effect from the supply chain, simplifying production processes, increasing speed and volume as well as reducing unit cost.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
My last exhibition is about “The Evolution & Alliance: the beginning of diversity", LINC Gallery, South Korea.The next one would be with A Design Award.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
Design inspirations come from day to day life. I feel my creativity by observing, through fashion, architecture and products. Influence is energy and inspiration is drawn from all corners.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
I like simplicity with details, details that gives an exclusive outline of the object. It would be perfect if the outline is the metallic element like copper or brass.I approach design as a combination of passion, skills, and ideas converted into a finished product
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
I live in a metropolitan city called Singapore. The culture in Singapore is defined by the different ethnic groups in the city-state, hence our design created have a diverse cultural identity that defines Singapore. The pros are culture-driven projects were generally well received, appreciated, and preserved by our citizen, cons would be such that it may not be suitable to other countries outside Singapore.
How do you work with companies?
Design is now an equal partner with many enterprises including technology, business, urban planning, science, medicine and education. Design is collaborative.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
We need to allow and encourage the flow of creativity for designers, allow them to be updated with the progress of the design projects and make them feel proud of the outcome.The company should select the designers based on their passion and character.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
Site analysis forms the groundwork, research, iterations, prototype , trial and launch.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
Grammophone, Nakamichi Speaker, My lego house, Nespresso machine and my sport shoes.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
I would like to tell the younger generation of design students this pragmatic process of making ideas tangible and design should result in a particular ability to make things simple.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
Besides having several designer parties, being a designer is to allow passion infuse into his or her works. However in some countries, designer are underappreciated and need to be recognized as a professional.
What is your "golden rule" in design?
Be conscious of your spaces, design is all around you, everything man-made has been designed, whether consciously or not.
What skills are most important for a designer?
Design evolves quickly. Stay Hungry for knowledge. Influence is energy and inspiration shall drawn from all corners.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
Any books and surroundings can be an inspiration. I hate to say but Internet has plenty.
What was your most important job experience?
The most important part of the experience is the opportunity to travel and meet oversea like-minded designers.
Who are some of your clients?
I did a range of projects from residential and commercial. More recently is the Corporate Suites for Formula One Singapore,a cluster of spa projects Natureland in Singapore and a futuristic project in Marina One Residences.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
I like to do commercial hospitality projects as it really allow creativity to be performed to the max.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
I would like to acquire more hospitality projects and to engage more in technology and online platform.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
I am on this pro-bono project in exploring cultural & heritage conservation had also brought to life the projectnamed “The Cha Project” to revive the only Chinatown in Kolkata, India.
How can people contact you?
Interest parties can contact me via email, jackie@copperda.com or jackie@jiastudios.com

Extended Interview with Jackie Lai

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I graduated from Temasek Polytechnic, School of Design, Singapore with a diploma in Interior, Architecture and Design. My interest in design was sparked when I began to get to create and build my own products and toys in Design & Technology class in secondary school.
How did you become a designer?
Being able to solve spatial limitations and issues ,as well as, being able to make a difference in someone's life on a daily basis is what motivated me to become an interior designer.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I design both commercial and residential spaces. I would wish to venture into furniture design as well.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
As a fellow young designer, the best advice that I can offer is to be passionate about what you do. Love what you do and do what you love. Always be eager to absorb new knowledge and keep up with new trends.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
To me, a good designer merely comes out with aesthetically pleasing designs. However, a great designer goes far and beyond that. A great designer would be skilled and well versed enough to seamlessly incorporate the functional and personal interests and preferences of the client into the design, making it personalized. The end result would be a design that is able to strike a fine balance between aesthetics and functionality, bringing about maximum satisfaction.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
A good design should be one that is innovative, functional, not obstructive and timeless all at once.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
A good design helps to bring about a better quality of life both materialistically and non-materialistically. Materialistically, a good design can help to improve one's brand and business, creating economical savings and gains in the long run. On the other hand, non-materialistically, a good design can help bring visual and mental relaxation to one through functional, thoughtful and aesthetically pleasing designs.
What is your day to day look like?
I would design DIY accessories for my loved ones as I love making personalized items as they are more unique and special.
What is your biggest design work?
One of my favorite designs is a particular design that had just won a Golden A' Design Award. The concept they used was one that was similar to mine but the way they had chosen to portray it was different. It was a refreshing perspective that I had not thought of before, intriguing me.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I think it is important to always be adventurous and to always be open to fresh ideas and concept; break away from the stagnant, dull daily routines. This way self development and self improvement will come to you much more easily and it will definitely aid in the creative process. How you live your life definitely affects the way you think and the ideas you come out with.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I would have probably pursue nautical studies and work on ships.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
To design is to make a change. It is also about finding innovative solutions to everyday problems.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
My fellow colleagues in my company as well as my family definitely played the most integral role in supporting me throughout my journey.

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