For nearly three decades, Designworx Interior Consultant has quietly shaped some of Singapore's most private homes, boutique hotels, corporate headquarters and luxury residences. While many designers chase trends, founder Terri Tan has built her practice around something less visible but perhaps more enduring: trust.

We sat down with Terri to discuss longevity, luxury, and why good design is about much more than aesthetics.

After 28 years in the industry, what keeps you excited about design?

People often assume design is about creating beautiful spaces. But what fascinates me is understanding how people live.

Every project starts with a conversation. A family welcoming grandchild. A couple entering a new stage of life. A business preparing for growth.

The spaces change, but what remains constant is the opportunity to improve how people experience their daily lives. That never gets old.

Your firm is known for working with high-net-worth homeowners. Has luxury changed over the years?

Completely.

Twenty years ago, luxury was often associated with size, materials and visible opulence.

Today, the most sophisticated clients are asking different questions.

How can this home support ageing in place?

How do we create more meaningful family interactions?

How do we reduce clutter and simplify life?

Luxury has become less about showing wealth and more about improving quality of life.

Many people can find design inspiration online today. What role does an interior designer still play?

Technology has made inspiration accessible to everyone.

But inspiration is not the same as implementation.

A beautiful image doesn't tell you whether the proportions work, whether the materials will age well, whether the circulation flows naturally, or whether the design will still feel relevant ten years from now.

Design is ultimately about making thousands of decisions that people don't see.

Experience matters.

What has been the biggest change in client expectations?

People are no longer looking for spaces that simply look good.

They want spaces that feel good.

We see growing interest in wellness, natural light, fitness, recovery, work-life balance and hospitality-inspired living. In many ways, the home has become a personal wellness retreat.

That's influencing everything from layouts to material selections.

Designworx has worked on homes, hotels and corporate projects. What connects these different sectors?

The best projects are always about experience.

Whether it's a hotel guest arriving after a long flight, a family gathering around a dining table, or an executive welcoming visitors into an office, people remember how a space makes them feel. The projects may be different, but the objective is often the same.

Creating environments where people feel comfortable, inspired and connected.

What do you think clients value most today?

Trust.

Many of our clients have returned to us over multiple homes and projects spanning decades. That relationship is something we never take for granted.

The reality is that good design takes time. Challenges arise. Budgets evolve. Priorities shift.

Clients need to know their designer will guide them honestly through the process.

Trust is ultimately more valuable than any design trend.

What does success look like for you now?

When a client calls us ten years later and says the home still works beautifully.

When their children return to engage us for their own homes.

When a hotel continues performing years after opening.

Those moments matter more than awards.

Design should improve over time, not expire.

That's the kind of success we aspire to create.

Looking ahead, what do you see as the future of design?

I think we're moving toward more thoughtful living.

People have more information than ever before, but they are also seeking more meaning.

The future isn't about creating louder spaces.

It's about creating spaces that support wellbeing, connection and longevity.

In a world that moves faster every year, good design should help people slow down and live better.

That's a future worth designing for.