Get to know Malaysian-based design and architecture channel Design Seed and how it uplifts its audience through its contents!
By NABILA AZLAN
If you are nuts for architecture and design content and would likely watch them during your downtime, you must have stumbled across Design Seed on YouTube! I for one, am happy to discover the channel during one of my Architectural Digest or Never Too Small binges. It’s The Local Project but with Malaysian and Southeast Asian sensibilities, something to marvel upon whether or not you are an architect or a designer.
Design Seed is, according to its Co-Founder and Content Director, Alex Lee, “Similar to most international design channels, but we are about extraordinary homes but with the pride of our tropical climate.” The 36-year-old is also the channel’s dedicated host!
Pioneering the industry for over a decade, Lee is a practicing interior designer who also co-founded the international award-winning interior design firm Nu Infinity. With his collected knowledge and experiences, he is all for sharing the ins and outs of the industry in the form of educative, inspiring video contents. Design Seed is thus born in late 2020.
“Noticing a downturn in the interior design and construction industry, we started this channel during the pandemic. We saw how some companies were driving low prices in the market to survive during the pandemic, which led to a lack of appreciation for the efforts of designers from the general public,” he says. “We hope that our channel will elevate the perspective on design and foster an appreciation for the work of designers and architects.”
The channel, which started as a non-profit architecture and design platform to uplift and inspire the global design scene is passionate about showcasing extraordinary and amazing residential and commercial projects. On the regular, it shares stories and tips that would benefit the society of all ages – currently driven by a creative crew of seven’s work, including in-house videographers and editors.
Featuring homes with the incredible, tropical backdrop that we have, Lee tells BASKL, “We have the ability to connect to nature all year round, adapting to only sunshine and rain.”
“We normally take up to two full days to capture video footages to ensure that we capture the best beams of the natural sunlight and shadows, and if it rains, footages of the natural wet tropics. Often, we will stay put until the night comes, waiting for the ambient lightings to glow.”
Design Seed shares its design and architecture insights with the aim of educating the masses who may not have adequate understandings of the industry.
Says Lee when asked further about the channel’s viewers, “Our videos cater to a diverse audience with a common interest in design and architecture. From a broader perspective, our videos are those who would appreciate and seek inspiration and education in the field.”
Much like realizing an ideal home from start to finish, a lot goes into the process of showcasing unique and interesting builds. For Design Seed, its featured subjects go through a criteria checklist, making sure that the project in frame is not only represented well but beneficial for its viewers. In order to set the direction and best curate storylines, the production team led by Lee is tasked to recce various locations, and this step includes getting to know the philosophies and ideals of select homeowners, architects and designers.
By laying out the design narrative and intention paired with curated storytelling, those who tune in to the channel are invited to delve into the challenges that not only builders and designers but homeowners face while bringing their projects to life.
Peer into this channel’s house transformation videos and let them further expand your imagination of what can be done to older or existing homes, thus injecting new purpose and life. Take Lee’s words for it, “We wanted to encourage our viewers to consider renovating their existing old homes, rather than abandoning more old properties and moving on to newer development.”
Well, if you’re sowing your creative seeds, Lee has a thing or two to say to not only aspiring architects and designers but content creators in this niche field: “Let passion be your only source of motivation. When you love what you do, you’ll create the best there ever is,” also, “By being bold, brave and honest to yourself, your work’s character will show.”
Check out Design Seed to see a line-up of beautiful homes and their stories. If you are unsure where to start, Alex Lee recommends this most-watched episode, starring a house that was featured in the movie Crazy Rich Asians!
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