When Design Speaks: Cosentino’s “Voices of Design” Gets Emotional

Cosentino isn’t just about surfaces; it’s about stirring feelings. Teaming up with Matthew Lim, Founder and Principal of Matthew Lim Associates, the design powerhouse kicked off a session in its Voices of Design series centered on “Designing with Emotion.” Held at the Cosentino showroom to celebrate International Women’s Month, the talk brought together three phenomenal women shaping Malaysia’s creative landscape: Pamela Tan of Poh Sin Studios, artist Red Hong Yi, and IDr. Ei Ling Tay of Youngblood. Moderated by Matthew Lim himself, the panel explored how emotion, imagination, and daring material choices make spaces that stick.

Starting the Design Journey

For Matthew Lim, design always begins with a feeling. “I consider the moods I want to evoke, such as calm, intimacy, curiosity, or wonder, and let those feelings guide the selection of materials, lighting, and layout.” Pamela Tan takes it as a journey: “Curiosity and experimentation shape the outcome.” Every trial, tweak, and reflection gradually reveals the final form.

Red Hong Yi has flipped her approach from material-first to emotion-first. “From starting with material first, I now begin with feelings, whether about protecting the environment or life-changing experiences such as motherhood, and explore new techniques to express them.” Ei Ling Tay’s process? Always narrative-driven: “I believe that the story sets a purpose for the design, an apparatus that shapes the content of the work.”

Creativity Through Challenges

Challenges? These creatives eat them for breakfast. Matthew Lim shared, “Some of the most meaningful design moments come from constraints. In one project, structural limitations inspired a layered spatial journey, turning restrictions into a curated, emotionally engaging experience.” Ei Ling Tay added, “Creativity overcomes challenges, transforming limitations into opportunities and elevating design beyond problem-solving.”

Pamela Tan recalled tackling Eden, an architectural pavilion fraught with environmental and technical obstacles, collaborating with engineers to turn vision into reality. Red Hong Yi shared her personal growth story: “I went through a creative rut early in my career and started making small artworks every day for 30 days. It taught me that consistency matters, and small steps can complete a marathon.”

Designing for Emotion

So what makes a space unforgettable? Matthew Lim says it’s not the loudest or flashiest details. “A memorable space is not necessarily the most visually dramatic one; it is the one that makes people feel something.” Subtle touches—light, texture, proportion, rhythm—take visitors on a journey from curiosity to calm.

Ei Ling Tay stresses empathy in design: “A space is memorable when it touches emotion and triggers all five senses. I always consider what the users want, as my ultimate philosophy is design for people.” Pamela Tan adds, “If the work is sincere, people can find their own connection to it.” Red Hong Yi draws inspiration from personal milestones like motherhood, letting textures and cozy materials she encountered in cafés inform her 30 stitching artworks. For all of them, Cosentino surfaces are more than pretty panels—they’re a tool for tactile, emotional storytelling.

Turning Bold Ideas into Reality

Dreaming big is one thing; executing without losing soul is another. Matthew Lim emphasizes collaboration: “Bold ideas often begin as intuitive sketches or conceptual visions, but turning them into reality requires a close dialogue between designers, engineers, fabricators, and contractors. The key is to protect the core intention of the idea.”

Pamela Tan echoes the sentiment: “It’s about finding a balance between imagination and reality” with a team that truly gets the design’s meaning. Ei Ling Tay insists on guarding every creative step: “Protect it, do not let others ruin it, do our best, in every single way, including even at the last stage of photographing it.” And Red Hong Yi? “It has to have a voice that other people can recognize is uniquely mine.”

Materials, of course, play a starring role. Ei Ling Tay points out, “The material itself is already an art. It simply needs an artist — the designer — to frame it with emotion and carry it with the gravity and spirit of the space.” Red Hong Yi praises Cosentino surfaces as “beautiful, high-quality, and low maintenance,” letting her focus on pure creativity rather than stress.

Cosentino’s Design Legacy

The Voices of Design series is Cosentino’s ongoing love letter to the interior and architectural community—sparking dialogue, fresh ideas, and collaboration. To experience these surfaces firsthand, visit Cosentino Malaysia or book a personalized appointment at the Cosentino showroom in Petaling Jaya. Call 03 9212 1895 and see how emotion can elevate your next project.