Interview with E Three Five from Singapore

As a team of designers, we have embraced our roles as problem solvers. We thrive on addressing intricate challenges and utilizing design thinking to craft innovative solutions that redefine how people engage with one another, services, and their surroundings.

E Three Five is a bespoke design firm that infuses narratives, spatial poetry and meticulous curation to each design project to foster a deeper sense of purpose and elevate the human experience that goes beyond aesthetics.

The firm specializes in residential and commercial projects, most notably Singapore’s Prime Minister’s office, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic.

In E Three Five, we believe that design goes beyond aesthetics. It is a data driven process that that propels our team to test variables and justify our findings and assumptions in our design proposals.

In our view, there is no one-size fits all design approach. Each design should be tailored towards the unique characteristic and individuality of its end users. Our unique design process, allows us to examine our clients in detail before diagnosing the challenges we would like to address through spatial transformation.

A good design is not only human-centric but also pushes the boundary to promote positive impacts on a societal and environmental level. It should engage the target audience emotionally and physically, tapping into the full range of human experience.

At E Three Five, we believe that spatial design is not just about aesthetics - it's about creating meaningful and transformative spaces that resonate with the essence of those who inhabit them.

With our unique design approach, we take our clients on a journey that goes beyond the ordinary, infusing narratives, spatial poetry, and meticulous curation to craft spaces that truly inspire and elevate the human experience.

E Three Five’s Design Approach

Narratives: Before the first stroke of a pen, we embark on a captivating journey of discovery, delving into the client’s lifestyle, preferences, and aspirations. By conducting lifestyle audits and fostering meaningful conversations, we understand the essence of the client’s vision. These narratives become the guiding light for the entire design process.

Spatial Transformation: We are poets of space, weaving emotions and functionality to create designs that evoke awe and wonder. Each space is meticulously planned to provide a sensory experience, a harmonious fusion of form and function. Whether it's the play of natural light or the strategic placement of elements, our designs are a celebration of spatial optimization.

Design Realization: With the narratives as our foundation and spatial transformation as our inspiration, we embark on the journey of design realization. Resource planning ensures that sustainability and eco-friendliness are at the core of our projects. Macro composition considers the overall harmony of the space, while micro curation focuses on the intricate details that add finesse and uniqueness to each creation.

As practitioners of design in Singapore, we are a melting pot of cultures where influences from various races intertwine, creating an interesting and eclectic viewpoint that is unique to our country. This influences our belief that design is a diverse practice which can bridge across sectors, encouraging collaboration and connection with people from all walks of life.

We are honored and humbled to have multiple winning entries in the 2023 MUSE Design Awards. These accolades serves a reminder that each design carries the potential to elevate the human spirit and foster deeper connections.

Our project selections aim to highlight the diversity and adaptability within our team's design skillset. Whether it's institutions, student accommodation, or flagship retail stores, we excel in assisting our clients in achieving distinctive designs that enhance their brand equity.

As large-scale projects involve multiple stakeholders, we, as creatives, serve not only as the canvas for ideas but also as key individuals responsible for managing client expectations, liaising with various suppliers, and ensuring successful project delivery with the builders.

Winning the 2023 MUSE Design Awards not only increases our firm’s recognition and credentials in the industry, it helps to boost our creative team’s morale and confidence!

Spatial Design is much more than the curation of interior spaces. Firstly, it aims to improve the well-being of space users.

Secondly, it harmonizes with and enhances its surroundings, and, lastly, it stands as our legacy and contribution to the betterment of Mother Earth.

In South East Asia, where the design industry has yet to fully mature; we see young artist and designers brave the new frontiers with their creativity with the simple goal of making the world a better place. With the influence of Asia’s rich history and culture, these young talents provides fresh perspectives and dimension to the world of design.

With the prevalent advancement of Artificial Intelligence, we envision design playing a critical role in defining how the industry will evolve and adapt by allowing AI to do the heavy lifting such as drafting and high fidelity rendering works while designers step up to direct these machines.

We implore young talents to put their critical design thinking into practice, as these analytical skills will play an important role to shape their individuality and propel them further in their design career.

We would recommend them to find a good mentor that could offer sound guidance while attending symposiums held by distinguished architects and designers to nourish their design knowledge.

We are a team of six individuals with unique characters and skillsets that brings out the best of each other.

We are inspired by industry thought leaders, notably Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid. Their philosophy and design approaches are closely studied and applied in our educational years, influencing our design foundation.

Our key to success is to persevere through tough times. We believe that tough times are life’s lesson to inspire us to transcend beyond our current state of mind.