Nora Voon

Specialized in Furniture Design.

Nora Voon

About Nora Voon

Nora Voon is the Founder and Principal of Noda Designs. A graduate of Inchbald School of Design in London, UK, she was the recipient of the prestigious Fox Linton award for her innovative commercial design for Preen Fashion House. Working with artisans and designers, her projects span across the globe in Europe, Asia, Middle East and N. America. Deeply inspired by her travels, her love of traditional craftsmanship, bold colours and graphic organic motifs, you can feel her passion and sneaky sense of humour in the beautiful materials she chooses, the objects she crafts, the spaces she manifests. An artist, a connector and a dreamer, she understands that it takes a village to make things happen and counts on the best people to do it right. That’s what Noda is, a collective of incredible talent, a concept store, a design firm. She has worn many hats but always goes back to her first love which is Art and Design. She didn't start out in the design field, after many twists and turns, she came back full circle to do what she loves most. She can’t imagine doing anything else. Part of why she loves her job is that she gets to see the world through an interior designer’s eyes. People often ask her what makes a good interior designer and her answer has always been travel. Travel as far as you can, as often as you can, because the world is our oyster! It changes you as a designer and opens your horizon to trying new things. Understanding different cultures and history make the designs even more intricate and detailed. In most of her interior project, there is always some element of influence from a place she had travelled before or seen and it is most prominent in the products that she makes, hence her tagline, Made from the world. After working many years internationally she decided it is time to launch her own home collection inspired by her travels whilst working with amazing artisans she has met over the years. Her constant research worldwide has honed her eyes and skills in forecasting young and upcoming designers. As designers, it is imperative that we constantly update ourselves with what is new in our industry in order to stay relevant and informed. In addition to launching her own collection, her interactive concept studio showcases new talents with pop up events that will inform and educate the community with trends, art news, new innovations and engaging a dialogue between the industry and the public. This concept space is a design studio that will showcase a collective of talented artists and designers alike that promote individuality while creating a multi-layered stimulating and sensory experience.

  • Winner of 2 A' Design Awards.
  • Specialized in Furniture Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs
  • Furniture
Dango Multifunctional Folding Chair

Dango Multifunctional Folding Chair

Furniture Design

Memphis Folding Chair

Memphis Folding Chair

Furniture Design

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Interview with Nora Voon

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 graduated with post graduate degree in Interior architecture from Inchbald school of design in London, UK.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Noda Designs was founded in London UK in 2007 however we moved our studio to Toronto, Canada in 2013 and we do commercial and residential projects internationally. In addition to interior design, we also have our own product range that includes outdoor furniture, home accessories and lighting.
What is "design" for you?
Design is non-linear, it is a process to understand the brief to create something imaginative but challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions to a project.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I love designing products especially lighting and furniture, but I also adore a good challenging interior space.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
The Fornasetti flagship store in Milan on Corso Venezia is pretty spectacular. I love everything about it. So much history, story telling and good design means timelessness which is what I love about this space. Although the interior is constantly changing it never ceases to disappoint.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
Countryside Mansion - I was part of a team working on a countryside property for a client in Hertfordshire, UK
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Jesmonite - an ecofriendly product that is known as the Chameleon material because it can replicate a diverse range of textures and fine details. The potential with Jesmonite materials are endless, from terrazzo and marble designs to mixing pigments to create unique colours are just a few ways to create amazing bespoke products. As designers, we all love archiproducts because it's a platform that has everything one needs for anything relating to design. Technology - Corona renderer is pretty awesome, the render image is very realistic and the quality is super refined.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
The process is important. Getting the brief right is crucial to kicking off a successful project.
What makes a design successful?
It's functional and beautiful to look at but also seamless - Good design should feel like it's always been there, that one can't think of any other way it would work but exactly the way it was meant to be.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
I look for functionality, if it's user friendly, and of course the beauty of it.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
As designers it is our duty to make sure that we design with a conscious mind using sustainable resources where possible, and making sure that we leave something for the future generation to look forward to and continue to make and design products and environments that are functional, serves a purpose, create positive energies and moods. Design has the power to enrich lives and evoke powerful emotions.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
I think the future of design is focusing more on artisanal craftsmanship, less waste and more sustainability. It's definitely asking designers to design more consciously, with an effort to make sure that we choose quality over quantity. Technology also plays a big part in our design industry these days with new innovations on many products that we work with, things have come a long way. I remember I had to learn manual hand drafting but today when I interview new hire, they have no clue how to do manual hand drafting anymore. :-(
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
We were the finalist in Toronto for 2020 on our HQ table competition hosted by UMBRA for DesignTO and our table was part of that exhibition. We also won the Bronze award from A' Design award (2021) for our HQ table and it was featured in the Museum of Design at Lake Como. At the moment we don't know when our next exhibition will take place but we are actually talking to a few artists that may do a solo exhibition in our flagship showroom in Toronto.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
I travel extensively in search of inspiration. I find different cultures and cities fascinating and often feed my creativity by using the knowledge and experiences I collected over the years. As I produce my collection of furniture and home accessories in many different countries, I work with local artisans and sometimes I find inspiration in the history and culture of the place I'm producing from and also incorporate that into my interior design as well.
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?
Eclectic bold? lol I don't even know how to describe my style. I don't follow design trends and I love a mix of vintage and very contemporary design styles with an injection of colours and textures. I guess you would call it Maximalism. I approach each design differently depending on the brief, place, atmosphere and surroundings because I believe that good design not only looks good and works well but it also has to suit the environment it's in and the current surroundings.
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 currently live between Toronto, Canada and London, UK and spend my summers in the Middle East. I was born in Malaysia and grew up my first half of life in Asia. Of course where you live influences your style immensely, as a self proclaimed nomad that can't sit still, I move around a lot and as a result of that i think that is why I have an eclectic style. I don't think it is necessarily good or bad as a result of living in the country you live in in the design process, I think that one is greatly influenced by their surroundings, so in a way, it will effect the way you design for sure and whether or not your community accepts your style and design views.
How do you work with companies?
We usually work on a commission base structure. If it is a bespoke item we work together to make sure the elements and details are correct for execution.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
In today's environment, companies can have a pretty good idea by going to the designer's website or social media page to see their work. I would also suggest getting to know the designer and also ask a lot of questions.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
It varies, sometimes you get a project and it's already inspiring from the start then that's an easy execution because it's fun and exciting and you want to get your hands on it as much as possible. For interior design, usually I start by accumulating a lot of inspirational images to get the creative juices going and develop a unifying theme/style for the overall project. From there, I look at the brief and what are the necessities and making sure that those are incorporated in the design, and after that I make sure to add a lot of textures, or patterns and colours to add that personal touch. I love to add humour to my designs and it's very prominent in my product design. For product design - that also varies, sometimes all it takes is a 10 min brainstorming and I know what I want to design and execute it pretty quickly like the Memphis chair or the HQ table, both of which I've won awards for but took me no more 30 mins to design them. Then there are products that took me years to research and develop like my lighting collection from finding the right materials to use or simply finding a factory or artisan who can actually realize my vision.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
My pair of 70s vintage armchairs from Italy upholstered in a fluffy Loro Piana fabric, my collection of vintage Murano ashtrays and vases, my very own Noda Charlie tray, Mario Bellini Camaleonda sectional and my bookcase Henge07.
Can you describe a day in your life?
Not really, let's just say it's full of colours and possibilities. lol
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Travel as far as you can, as often as you are able to. This will change you as a designer and hone your eyes to see the details and unique things. You will learn so much from understanding different surroundings including how people design due to different weather conditions, culture and the use of different materials and textures, I can go on forever but ultimately travel is key.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
Pros - you get to design things that you like and make it come to life is a pretty awesome feeling, or the satisfaction that one day you may change the look of a city or place. Cons - long hours, if you are a product designer, there is no guarantee that your work will be successful or well received,
What is your "golden rule" in design?
Can I say 'you buy shit you pay twice' ? just kidding, Golden rule, make sure it works!
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
I use vectorworks for designing, corona, 3ds max, photoshop, Rhino.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Any creative person will tell you we are the worse at managing our time... I work late hours, sometimes into the weekends especially when I'm in the zone, I sometimes work through the night to get a presentation finished. I find that the key is to manage your team with delegating responsibilities. That way you get to have a few brains working together on ideas and of course efficiency.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
It depends, sometimes I can design something in less than 20 minutes and sometimes it takes years to develop a good product.
What was your most important job experience?
working on site with trades and going through the details and technical components, because that's where you learn the most.
Who are some of your clients?
Our clients come from all over the world, we have projects locally and internationally.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
I enjoy commercial designs actually because it is less personal and creatively one gets more freedom with that.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
My future plans are to expand our products range, do more commercial projects especially in hospitality.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
Interior projects we have a few running concurrently and they are all quite big so it will take us some time to finish. We are currently working on a collection of giant snow globes. I like to incorporate humour in my products and this time it's no different. The snow globes are reinterpreted

Designer of the Day Interview with Nora Voon

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I've been in design for the last 16 years, working for various designers in the UK. I studied Interior architecture at the Inchbald School of Design in London UK. I've in both commercial and residential design, in addition I also make products such as furniture, lighting and home accessories. Although I've been in this industry now for over 16 years, I still find that you learn new things on every project whether it is discovering a new material to work with or a new innovation on doing things, you're always learning.
How did you become a designer?
I didn't start out as a designer, I was in Finance before but have always wanted to be more creative and loved design since I was very young and working at a bank did not give me the fulfilment and satisfaction I was looking for. I went back to do my postgraduate degree for interior architecture in London, UK. Since then, I've never look back.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I tackle every project differently and sometimes I do revisit things I've done in the past before. As for the design process I generally look at the brief first and always ask about the budget beforehand because what we recommend in the design concept should reflect the feasibility of costs associated to the project. Then I look at all the elements and also the surrounding space including the country it is in, the climate and the specific requirements of the project as requested by the client. So each interior project is different and subject to budget constraints. As for designing products for our collection, I usually think of a theme first, for example, I have a Take a pill collection where I reference our society in a world where we are all on some form of pharmaceuticals, it is an homage to our current society and the role pharmaceutical companies play. The collection include lighting, ashtrays, trays and cabinets. Each of these items from the collection share the same colour schemes and shapes. We do a lot of research before launching a new product including prototyping, testing (furniture) and we use mock ups like 3D printing and renderings.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I do get excited with each project whether I'm designing a product or an interior space. I take each project with a clean slate and new eyes and try to bring a certain uniqueness or character into the design concept. I get excited at the beginning of the project because the possibilities are endless, however I also do love the end of a project cycle when all the installations are in place and we have a final product to reveal. As for product design, I can't wait to see the final product in reality. It always put a smile to my face and a satisfied feeling.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Due to the fact that I'm a self proclaimed art junkie and a travel addict, these two factors alone had honed my skills as a designer in a significant way. Art plays an important role in our industry which really helps when you are doing an interior project for a client. Travelling opens your eyes and will train you to look at things differently. Every country I have travelled to gave me a new perspective on design, whether it was the culture or architecture of the place, or any other influences such as history or climate it taught me something new and approach my designs differently. In addition, travelling will teach you a lot about the details of certain designs. Details are important to consider as that is what makes good design, the little details that adds personality, differentiate your design from others. My biggest influence on my design work is art, colour, and textures. I've always used these elements in my design work with references to the clients' personalities and needs.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
At the moment, Noda Designs is still growing and making our mark in our community. Our goal eventually is to have a lifestyle department within the company that hosts events, create lifestyle products (expanding on our collections within the design spectrum) and expanding our commercial design area. My dream project would be to do work on a film set, something I have never done before and would seem like a good challenge for me. Another dream is to design interiors of aircrafts (private & commercial)
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
Go to trade shows, it's like getting an upgrade to your hard drive mentally. Learn your brands, study them like a bible and then do your own research. Trade shows bring new innovations, new designs and new products into the industry and as designers to stay current we need to know what's new in our industry. In addition to trade shows, travelling as mentioned before changes you as a designer. The more you travel, the more you develop your eyes as a designer. Travelling to different countries hone your eyes to see the different cultures, climates and details of places, objects and details. I go to about 3-4 trade shows a year globally and my knowledge of art, brands and products in the design industry is quite extent.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
I think that defining your own aesthetics and design style is important to establish yourself. Having an identity in your style is important because eventually you will gain enough experience to elevate your profile and as an industry leader in your field of a particular aesthetics. For example, if you look at Jaime Hayon or Kelly Wearstler, they both have very specific and individual style to their designs, this eventually sets them apart from the rest and gained recognition in the work that they do.
What is your day to day look like?
My day to day includes studio work - drawings, designing, sometimes liaising with trades, clients and customers. Some days I have to go to site to check the progress on the construction, client meetings, and meet new potential clients. Usually I go through emails first thing, getting back to people or sending emails, then I usually have a team meeting to go over the day's work and each of our responsibilities.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
keeping up with trends is important as a designer if you want to know what's current and what seems to get people excited over, however, my designs usually don't follow any trends. Trends come and go and usually date eventually so although it's cool and fun to go along with design trends, I think that finding the right balance is more important than staying trend. Going to trade shows will enhance your brands and product vocabulary.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
Good design doesn't have to be complicated, in fact, it's harder to design something well when the design is simple. The execution and the craftsmanship is key to a well designed product or project. For me, good design means attention to details, user friendly, beautiful and good quality are key.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
Gosh how do I answer that, when you know, you know. lol Usually you'll know if your design is well executed based on the reception/feedbacks you get from the public and your peers.
What is your biggest design work?
There are a few that I'm quite proud, one in particular is the project we did in Israel, a residential home that we designed and built for our client. The project finished in 2013 however, to this day, almost 10 years now, the project is still relevant and remained timeless which is why we don't follow trends. :-) In terms of product designs, we won a few awards for our HQ table ( designed during Covid 2020 and reflected/addressed the need for a change in our design industry during/after the pandemic. We actually won the Bronze award from A' Design in 2021, in addition, we also won the SIT furniture award in USA as well.
Who is your favourite designer?
I don't have a favourite designer as there are too many good ones so I can't decide but I do love the work of some companies that are outstanding in execution and quality. Such companies include Based Upon ( UK), Rosanna Orlandi (Gallery that represents designers), Nilufar Gallery and also Vincent Decotis.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
My favourite city is London where I live half the time. I live between London, UK and also Toronto, Canada. However, I do love Milan and find a lot of inspiration when I'm there, I almost moved to Milan before the pandemic! Culture definitely effects design, how can it not? Your natural environment and background definitely shape you as a person and the work that you do. I'm lucky to have lived in many countries and experienced many different cultures which shaped me in the way I see design. Good design is necessary for the advancement of society because that means we progress as a society by eliminating bad form and function. Good design means efficiency, works well, and is user friendly. For example, look how far mobile phones have come along? They used to be so big like a water bottle and overtime phones became smaller, more convenient to carry around and now that we all have built in cameras in our phones, I feel that life has become more visual!
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I give a lot of freedom to my designers at the studio, I always believe that to grow we need to think like a team, but it's also giving your fellow colleagues the opportunity to shine and showcase their creativity. When I'm teaching my interns, I throw them in the deep end because I believe that there is no better way to teach than to just do.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
During 2020 when the pandemic hit the world, I was approached by a friend from Australia and her partner in Peru who asked me to help them create an eco business that will help artisans ( particularly in Peru at the time) find work and gain experience because tourism had stopped suddenly and there were a lot of people that had no way of earning income due to roadblocks and supply chain issues. I helped designed a collection of cushions, tapestries, rugs and also outdoor furniture all made sustainably using natural dyes, hand loomed and weaved. In addition to hiring and training these artisans, we pay them with fair trade wages - the collection has done very well since. In general, I think as designers especially now, we need to design consciously and try to reduce waste including using ecofriendly materials as much as possible and also supporting artisans where their crafts are preserved from traditions and history. In our studio, we often hire students as interns to teach and help them gain experience in our industry. We are affiliated with some local universities in this case.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
Winning an award is definitely a high point in any designer's career, it is a validation of your hard work and appreciation of your creativity. In order to stand out as a designer, it's important you participate in competitions because a) it's good to know your peers and what's out there (what designers are thinking) b) elevate your profile as a designer c) exposure to industry affiliates and partners d) gaining trust from clients and customers.

Extended Interview with Nora Voon

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
University of Toronto - Fine arts Post Graduate degree at Inchbald school of design in London Uk
How did you become a designer?
I've always loved architecture and design since I was young and after working in an entirely different field after University I went back to do my post graduate in Design. Being able to make or design something and see it come to life is very satisfactory.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I chose to become a designer after being in the banking industry for many years.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I design interiors both commercial and residential, but I also design products and lighting.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Go to trade shows! You must educate and update your skills and knowledge within the design community and learn about what's new, innovative and materials available in the current market and industry.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
a good designer does a job well, a great designer resonates with you.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
A good design means it flows, user friendly, good quality and craftsmanship, lasts longer, and is timeless.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
when you invest in good design means you get to have a product that is well made, and sometimes it can increase in value over time.
What is your day to day look like?
I would love to design a residence for an eccentric artist whom I can collaborate with, it will be super fun and creative with a lot of bold and unique details.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
I think the secret to success in design is really your individual style that you develop over time and experience, and going to trade shows! I can't stress that enough, it's important to go to these trade shows to expand your knowledge on the industry and also travelling, travel will hone your eyes to see the details and learning a new culture or place will also help you as a designer to better your understanding of your surroundings.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
There are so many, Carlo Scarpa, Mario Bellini, Frank Gehry, Vincent Decotis, Jaime Hayon, Kelly Weartsler, Axel Vervoodt, Marcel Wanders, Peter Marino, Joseph Dirand, Pierre Yannovavich.
What is your biggest design work?
oh dear too many to count - I love vintage so my dream is to own a vintage piece from Kagan or Bellini would make my day!
Who is your favourite designer?
I'm loving my collection Take a Pill as that is a passion project. I love working with artisans that know the craft so well and also preserving a dying art such as hand blown glass. I also love this collection because of the story behind it, referencing our society and the role pharmaceutical companies play in our lives. It's definitely sending a message.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Don't try to be anyone else, develop your own sense of aesthetics and style which eventually will help you elevate your profile by being specific in your field. That way you have a clear identity to your brand.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
Design can change lives and evoke powerful emotive feelings so for me design needs to move me.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
Other than my team of designers I work with, I guess I owe it to them for helping me with a lot of my success. :-)

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