Design Creative Stephanie Er Reflects On The Landscape Of Singapore's Interior Design
For an edition centred around nostalgia, how could we not hear from the ones who’ve seen their respective industries change over time? Here, interior design queen and creative Steph Er shares what she has learned, what she misses, and what keeps her going.
Her cred: After starting and self‐designing various stylish ventures in F&B and fashion, this 39‐year‐old officially launched the digital marketing and interior design agency Cream Pie in 2021, which has become a go‐to among buzzy lifestyle players such as granola maker Dearborn and fitness chain Lab Studios.
How she started: “I started Cream Pie as a full-time gig in 2021 because of the closure of my cafe Sugarfin. I had to find something to do and that required zero start-up cost. Post-Covid-19, I thought I’d expand on the creative side of my work and with one staffer who believed in my mission, we set out to find work for Cream Pie as you know it today.”
READ MORE: A Day In The Life Of Content Creator Steph Er
What drew her to the field: “I only really realised this year why I enjoy interior design so much. As a child, I never had a safe space in my home. It was all communal spaces that were shared with a lot of people… I had a bedroom but even that was shared, and the adults would use my wardrobe for storage space. I think this is common for kids growing up in the ’90s. People then didn’t value privacy for kids. When I design a space now, I always believe the finished product should be a safe space. It needs to be cosy and represents its tenant’s lifestyle and vibe. Creating safe spaces for others is like rescuing my childhood self bit by bit. And the process never gets old because every client is different.”
The centrepiece of Stephanie Er's office is a Tawaraya boxing ring by Masanori Umeda for the Memphis Group, showcasing her love for playful shapes and bold colours.
Her creative approach: “I’m influenced by the space, floor plate and light. Not every design can fit into any space. It really depends on the aforementioned elements. I am most definitely not a minimalist. I love colour, but I also love monotone spaces. It all depends on the space and also the clients’ vibe. Now we have a team of three in the interior design department – I am the creative director, and we have an in-house interior design lead Victoria, and a junior designer Taegen. Because we have a team of three, our process is multi-faceted and not fixed. In order to come up with the right ideas, we first need to have a deep understanding of what the client needs and expects, and to me, a lot of that relies on EQ.”
On whether formal training is necessary: “We have a podcast on this in which Victoria (Tan – Cream Pie’s lead interior designer) and I tackled this question. She has formal training while I trained on the job. We each bring two very skill sets to the table. I don’t have the skills when it comes to more technical aspects such as 3D rendering and drawings – education is very important in this regard. When it comes to material sourcing and selection, and what needs to be seen to on sites though, my experience helps. So both formal and informal training are necessary, And if you aren’t formally trained, I think you should expose yourself to all sorts of design, be open to ideas, and have some EQ and empathy.”
The Cream Pie HQ houses digital marketing and interior design teams, the latter of which is led by three staff members, including Er, who serves as the creative director.
On the skills and qualities a designer needs in 2024: “We constantly need to find out and know what are the latest materials out there so that we have options. We’ve developed a close relationship with suppliers so that when new items and materials arrive, they notify us first. And if someone says something can’t be done, I take it upon myself to figure out alternative solutions before I admit defeat. It’s also important to know when to say no to work. I don’t believe in staying busy all the time. Everyone needs down time. For example, I don’t check my work phone after 8pm – that’s my personal cut-off unless I’ve an urgent project.”
On what’s changed most about the industry: “Thanks to younger designers and business owners, there is now a greater understanding of how ID can play a huge role in the overall atmosphere of a brick-and-mortar business… As for residential work, the pandemic had a big impact: It made people realise the importance of a well-designed domestic space. What I’ve noticed is that there are more people who want to make their homes nicer, but tend to not understand how the ID industry works – that has been the hardest part of the job for us."
READ MORE: Inside The Idiosyncratic Homes Of Nine Individuals In Singapore
On Singapore’s interior design scene today: “In general, contractors are not willing to try new things. And when they are willing, it's expensive to make samples or prototypes so we end up in a loop of similar finishes everywhere. I would like to see how the landscape changes when younger contractors come up.”
New-gen names to look out for: “Drawn., Silo and Parable Studio. Also, can I add that interior designers and architects have very different roles and are not to be confused?”
What’s exciting now: “I’m excited about sustainable design, but it’s tough to materialise effectively here. With Singapore’s weather, most people tend to turn on the air conditioning on a whim, which will not help sustainability goals in the long run. The furthest we can go so far is installing solar panels and using bio-composite materials so to me, sustainable design comes down to designing a space for greater cross ventilation. What also always excites me is an excited client who believes in our vision and what we are trying to create for them.”
How she stays relevant: “Everything we put out at Cream Pie should stand the test of time... I also believe in creating our own content. This helps us to get new business, in my opinion. We put up articles and stories on designers and spaces that inspire us weekly on our website (creampie.sg). In doing so, we are also researching and learning on the job.”
What keeps her going: “To be able to incorporate good design into someone’s life is a gift. Seeing people use the spaces we design makes me inherently happy.”
What people should know before entering the industry: “It requires a lot of time, patience, EQ and sweat. It is never glamorous and, unless you are super famous, you will never really get recognition. So you do the work because you love the work, period.”
What’s next for her: “Outlets for food joints such as Eat 3 Bowls and Har Har Chicken; a new Serangoon Gardens space for the yoga brand Lab Studios; and some residential projects including my own home, which I hope to complete by this month.”
COORDINATION KENG YANG SHUEN HAIR TAN ENG CHONG/KIZUKI + LIM MAKEUP ALISON TAY, USING MAKE UP FOR EVER
This article first appeared in the September 2024 Nostalgia Edition of FEMALE