I'm currently working as an interior designer in both UK and KL with more then 10 years experience.
I was flabbergasted and shocked after meeting with someone from a design firm yesterday. Company not to be named. I would just like to express my feeling and thoughts towards the work actic and the practice of Interior Designer in Malaysia. I'm not intending to make any enemy or conflict.

I had just finished designing a 3 storey house in cyber jaya and a single storey old house in Klang.
I had done up 64 pieces of drawings excluding mood boards, furniture planing for the 3 storey house which consist of layout plans, ceilings, lightings, M&E, details specification drawings and 3D. This one whole set of drawings cost my client RM18,000.00 but he has the freedom of hiring anyone to construct the renovation.

Yesterday I was told by a design firm that they will only provide 3D and furniture layout plan with the same fee RM18K. Which, I totally disagree with him and that is not a proper interior designer .

The reason why they don't provide detail drawings is because they want to construct the renovation. Without detail drawings / material specification, it will be hassle for a client to engage other contractor.

3D drawings is important but detail specification drawings is much more important when it comes to interior/carpentry renovation.

So I ask myself why so I need to provide 30+ pcs of detail drawings??? I shouldn't have bothered because clients in Malaysia is so easily hooked up with fantastic 3D drawings and without any knowledge of what an interior designer supposed to provide.

A good 3D but where is the real built? Style with no substance.

agreeee.. alot of the ID outside know nuts when come to production.. that's why they will just try to impress people with the 3D drawing.. haha..

glad to hear that there's still someone like you providing everything in...

thumbs up for you bro..

You are too caught up in the technicalities of the profession. Your job as an interior designer is to "design" the interior. Doing construction drawings is the technical process of your consultancy. What is the difference if one do a sketch on a toilet paper and still get it built the way it was intended or you drawing your 64pcs of drawing to achieve the same end product? Perhaps you are doing so many drawing because you are not effective in your communication to both the clients and the contractors.
Why are you saying style has no substance? How do you define substance?

If I know you 3 years back, I probably would have give my house design job to you.

Went through 3 ID designers, all just give 3D drawings.. no details nothing one..

I think Adrien is saying it's unprofessional and unethical based on the fact that clients are forced to use these particular "interior designers" for doing the actual construction work because they don't detail any specs. Therefore, you can't hire a third party to do the build job.

If your firm is a design and build but provides specs and detailed drawings, and doesn't trap you into using its "build" department, then good for you.

The "technical" aspect of the job is missing, if you think about it. What you are saying is that the end justifies the means. And that regardless of the quality of the drawings and specifications, so long as you get an end product that is satisfactory, why should there be an issue? But this leaves the door wide open to poor quality standards and practices in the industry. It's unregulated enough as it is. And since there are so many conmen on the home reno market, detailed work or "substance" as one might call it, would give someone peace of mind.

Furthermore, that value comparison of 3D & furniture layout only vs detailed lighting, m&e, mood boards, furniture, floorplan, etc just shows it all. Why spend an equal amount of money for less, when you can get more? If you can have such attention to detail, to providing a quality service that allows your customer the freedom to make his or her own decisions without adversely affecting your own credibility as a professional, then that is substance.

Really, they are mislabeling themselves as interior designers if they're only doing 3D work and furniture layout. 3D visualiser and interior decorator is more apt. If you design and build this way, then you have to say "build w/ interior decor consultation & 3D rendering available".

That is never a bad thing,its call professionalism. Pity more so called "professionals" in Malaysia arnt as professional.



If you really dont know the difference then you're not really qualified to give meaningful comment on te topic. The rest of us know the difference and appreciate a professional approach.


The drawings are the communication; clear, simple, unambigious, irrefutable, effective and efficient. As opposed to some chicken scratchings on some toilet paper which is your style of unclear, complicated, ambigious, dissputable, ineffective and unefficient communication.

Thats not what he said, he said "style with no substance" which means that many local ID give lots of pretty renderings, but these are useless without proper technical drawings and technical details etc


I have the same impression of the majority of Malaysian IDs, at a recent fair i spoke to several ID companies and IDs. All exept one firm left me wondering how these companies dare to call themselves ID Consultants as only one of those firms could answer basic technical questions about their services the rest kept trying to dodge those technicl questions and kept trying to divert me with "but look we can draw pretty renderings, ohhhhhh ahhhhhh"

You need to understand the purpose of drawings. It is to communicate an idea. No one said that it must be so complex or formal.
I know a very "famous" timber specialist architect in Malaysia who cant draw details. What he does is he takes photographs of timber details and give it to his carpenter/craftsmen to do it. He has won many awards. Is that wrong? Is that not professional? He didnt even use toilet paper to draw... but what he did get is what he wanted.
And as end users that is what we want. I dont care if you cant draw or you need 10,000 drawings for my project. I want it done properly and beautifully. That is all.

This I agree. The so called designers dont understand detailing or even have a basic grasp of technical details. All they are is 3D artist, not designers. All they can do is make pretty drawings.

A sad representation of the profession.

This post has been edited by Bishop: Oct 12 2013, 06:23 PM

I applaud your professional integrity. Not all of us are so easily hooked by pretty renderings though. Although, there is some confusion as to what an interior designer actually does. 3D Visualisation is one thing, actual design co-ordination is another. Even an interior decorator is a different profession.

You clearly don't have a clue. Budget given 100k end result based on just the 3D drawings RM200K,
Is that the same to you? As most people understand that my drawings is my communication. Without a full sets of drawings, they shouldn't address themselves as Interior Designer.

An interior designer need to have these drawings for any MNC, Berhad, Retail Chain and etc. Without these, they don't have a chance. Why cut corners for private homes? Or they are just simply not qualified to do the work.

As for the famous architect who won numerous award, he has a team of people to do his drawings.
He may not know how to use AutoCad but i'm pretty sure he sketches or doodling his idea based on the picture taken, before handing over to his team. A director or a famous architect doesn't need to do any drawings. Same goes with any other profession. Does a banking director count pennies everyday? The answer is NO.

This post has been edited by ID adrien: Oct 12 2013, 08:16 PM

I do agree on detailing. Being in the construction industry, besides the layout and elevation plans, details are what we look at.

What TS is saying is, by paying X amount of $ but only getting minimal drawing in 3D & Floor plans, it is insufficient to engage your desired contractor and end up choosing the contractor belonging or associated to the ID who produces the drawings.

i also agree with TS.
It's 1 thing to draw beautifully, but entirely another when it comes to detailing. In this field without detail drawings, you will encounter many problems on site if just based on 3D drawings to construct. And RM18k for 3D and furniture layout is quite high end, good for him but i did a project in Parkcity b4, owner paid designer RM25k for 3D drawings without any detail drawings. End up the whole idea can't be use because on site measurement differs with 3D drawings and most of the initial conceptual design differs completely. It's easier to design shoplots because there aren't many build in furniture, but for residential mainly bungalow units where there are many build in furniture, without detailing, you wont end up with a nice interior.

without the detailing,how can an ID and everyoone else know what is done to meet the client's budget?gotta say tho,alot of ppl who engage IDs dont give a toot for the details.more preoccupied with the end results and less time to spend coordinating the reno works.and alot of contractors don't know how ot read details,they rather the client or someone appointed juz tell them what to do...geez!
alot of so called interior designers just know how to knock down your house walls then rebuild from and empty canvas,not many know how to modify an already existing structure =(

Salute to Adrien and thanks for your enlightenment, Now I know what to look for when engaging a ID firm, most likely will use your service when my new unit is ready in 2 years time.

Saw your designs from another thread, nice work.

It seems to be quite normal to hear of "interior designers" telling potential clients that the cost of the design will be RMXXk but if you hire us to do the build then we'll waive the design fee. Most times, all you get is a 3D rendering of a design without specs.

Most do it because the opportunity for revenue is so much greater on the build side rather than design. A few good ID fellas I know will never waive the design fee and for a simple reason, you've requested for a professional service and that is what they provide their clients as professionals.

I applaud these fellas as it is not easy to explain over and over again why you charge a design fee when another company does not.

A lot of IDs just give 3D drawings to impress buyers. And in this current times, buyers are not educated with the knowledge that an ID should also provide with more detailed drawings, until you explained here. Furthermore, a layman like us would not know how to decipher a technical drawing, which then makes the detailed drawings irrelevant. It's good that Adrian educates us here on this professional ethics. Nowadays, a lot of businesses lacks ethics...

Actually, beside that, do you provide BQ as well?

IMHO, those who don't provide details . Is for those for looking for short run in this industry. For those who already in this industry. They will started to realize , when it time to come. Some job or project even is good margin also is not happen in great timing for them. Don't over too insist on "fabrication" process that see money.


For details drawing, beside avoid any dispute on renovation . It also is a tools for owner to make bargaining . Request for final 3-5% discount. It also a schedule for owner to measure when their is the right time for owner to move in.

As An ID, we also a person who actually side for owner to make the best savings, deal ,outcome . This mentality can help for long run person. Your credit will be appreciated.

I'm pay my respect to you. Please keep your professional on this industry. Your works and input will bring this industry to better future.


*I'm not pointing anyone in this comment, if feels disturbed. I'm apologize for it.
*I'm not a person who can draw, but I'm leading the team who can draw. I know how the process on drawing.
** I'm was being in the same situation like TS before, I was like

" WTF! Like this also can charge Rm 8k for 6 sheet of 3D views,no details how to do o ?, if you want see 3D only . Come find me next time, 1 view I charge rm 500 only. "

Appreciate your professionalism, this thread should be pinned as it provide valuable insight on what a owner can expect for his/her money and not over paying for purely 3D rendering. Keep up the good work

This post has been edited by Xccess: Oct 13 2013, 05:11 PM

As long consumer are educated for what they pay, those that are looking for quick profit will either lose the edge or buck up to blend in the competition.

Mod, is it possible to pin this thread?

This post has been edited by Xccess: Oct 13 2013, 05:15 PM

Agree with u.... quite like ur design.... really wish that my house complete now and let u design for me.... too bad have to wait 3 years for my condo to complete...

agree with your point.... that is what an ID should be doing... not just earn easy money without any professionalism. Hope i wont forget to hire u for my ID house in 3 years.... How i wish my house is now done for reno.