There once was a time when the worlds of technology and interior design were just about as far apart as it gets. Today, technology is integrated into interior design and household products to create a healthier and smarter interior environment.

Malaysiakini, KiniEvents and Taiwan Excellence have teamed up once again to bring you Episode 2 of Taiwan Excellence Webinar series: Shaping Healthy Design with Innovation. This episode features host Grace Lee as she and the guest speakers provide more insights on how interior design and home products have now advanced through technology.

Taiwan Excellence has become a popular trademark among Taiwanese products as it is recognised worldwide for its quality and innovative products. Each year local entrepreneurs have to go through a rigorous selection process covering all aspects of quality assurance to get the seal of excellence. The Taiwan Excellence Award-winning products will serve as a cornerstone to Taiwan's local industry and will be advanced by the government in the international market.

Antibacterial Prefinished Veneered Panels from KD Panel

Established in 2002, KD was the first enterprise in Taiwan to produce prefinished wood veneered panels. Elwin Ng, Sales Manager from Keding Enterprises Sdn Bhd introduced the KD Prefinished Wood Veneered Panels which are panels that are laminated by plywood backing whereas KD Prefinished Paper Backed Veneer are panels laminated by a paper backing. These KD Panels are not only durable and flame retardant but also do not cause contamination. The brand has 30 different types of wood species with over 300 colours and variations to choose from.

Source: KD Panels

Flow2one Fresh Air Exchanger from TUMÄ

"TUMÄ" is a brand that focuses on air exchange ventilation products, explained Sales Director, Tommy Lim. The TUMÄ Flow2one has been designed to purify the indoor air. It can balance the indoor temperature, reduce humidity and exhaust out dangerous pollutants such as dust, mold, bacteria, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.

Source: TUMÄ

Ooi Design & Associates

Malaysian interior designer IDr Ooi Boon Seong is the Chief Executive Officer of Ooi Design & Associates. They are a licensed interior design company and their expertise covers a wide range of projects, from high-end residential addresses to commercial, retail, and food and beverage spaces.

Source: Ooi Design & Associates

Modern homeowners today are constantly looking for healthier and smarter products, so how do we define products that provide healthy living and at the same time human-centred and innovative? Does it require to be user-friendly, eco-friendly, child friendly or even pet friendly?

“KD wood veneer products focus more on healthy living and also have a green label certificate. We have done projects on locations that focus more on a healthier environment such as hospitals and homes,” Elwin said.

“I believe with the trending hi-tech technology and innovations; products have to be eco-friendly alongside other values. Nowadays homeowners and consumers are more interested in the product’s value and advantages,” Tommy added.

According to Ooi, eco-friendly materials such as formaldehyde-free materials and low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) materials should not only revolve around veneers but should also be on the home panels, wallpaper, wall coverings, fabrics and also the upholstery foam in the couch. Aside from that, there are other smart home systems available, such as lighting moods for relaxation, touchless technology and so on.

“Providing an environment with natural ventilation and light is a vital component to a healthy home design. Since the space of living is getting smaller nowadays, people prefer to have a living space that is more flexible. To establish this type of atmosphere, their furniture selection should be lighter, this way they can transform their space easily to be multifunctional. Now with the pandemic, individuals living in condominiums have turned their balconies into small gardens, utilizing adaptable outdoor shelf systems to cultivate their plants,” Ooi explained.

In most people's minds, healthy and eco-friendly products are usually more expensive, is this a truth or a myth? Do you think such a product is considered to be more premium in terms of price point and how do you justify the consumer spending to help them see the value?

Focusing solely on the product, Tommy agreed that healthy technology is more premium. However, there are significant differences in terms of value and the benefits it may bring. He explained that people normally purchase products based on their outer appearances, but it is also vital to consider the value it will provide in the long run.

If a consumer is buying a product, how would you advise on the key area that should be focused, in terms of spending their money wisely?

“Wood veneer is made from natural resources and each of the wood species has its own characteristics, unique identity and their natural beauty. We would then look at our customer's preferences and budget since we offer numerous veneer products such as natural veneer, prefinished veneer, unfinished veneer, and matte finishing. After considering all of these factors, we would recommend the appropriate product from our listing,” Elwin explained.

What is the number one tip when it comes to saving cost in interior designing and improving home environment while still achieving the result of healthy living?

“As a designer I would question what makes a product provide a healthy lifestyle to an individual. This is due to the fact that a healthy lifestyle must encompass not just the product but also the individual's mindset on living healthily. For example, people who acquire gym equipment but never use it, or who have a good filtration system but are smokers. These are some aspects that have to be taken into consideration,” Ooi explained.

“We can start on the budget constraints on certain things. In the market any products that are labelled smart, organic or natural would be considered as a premium product, therefore we would always look into our client’s budget. Based on the Malaysian context, the awareness on these types of products are not high, therefore with less demand, these products are more expensive. But, if it becomes more widespread in households, I believe it will be marketed at a lower price in the future,” Ooi added.

What are the practical and effective design solutions that can cater the post pandemic lifestyle in our home and living spaces?

“Choosing natural veneer wood would make people feel more comfortable especially if they are confined in their indoor spaces,” Elwin said.

According to Tommy, people should consider having a natural ventilation interior design. He always advises customers that if their interior design does not have a ventilation system, they should get ventilation technologies. Many people living in premium condos around KL City always have trouble opening their windows because of the dust from outside and often even the devices are unable to help due to the building structure. He agreed that having ventilation technology is good but if you have a natural system, it's even better.

“It all comes down to your furniture flexibility, the display and layout. Nowadays the hall is used for people to work from home, so there will be a lot of time spent sitting, thus good lighting is necessary. Since it is not advised to go outdoors, people have to create space at home for them to exercise. Buying online is also the new norm, so when your package is delivered to your home, you have to be cautious of your sanitize station,” Ooi said

Want to know more about how technology can help you create a truly spectacular modern and healthier space, log on to their websites respectively, Ooi Design & Associates, KD Panels and TUMÄ Malaysia to find out more.

Watch the replay here: