An eye for style

It's not easy being a good designer. In fact you have to live your life as a researcher with an insatiable need to learn, see and travel to stand out in the design industry.

"Design isn't something you turn to when you find out you have no skills for other areas, such as mathematics or science," says designer Cheryl Tsang.

"Design is a career that requires a great deal of work. You have to be prepared for it."

Tsang says the best designers strive to excel in their jobs. Bangkok's competitive market also means that designers must distinguish themselves by putting thought behind their designs.

"A good designer is someone with something to say about his or her designs," says Tsang, a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles and the Art Centre in Pasadena, California.

"You need to venture into the real world to find the right inspiration.

Tsang travels for stimulation. She says people with limited time or budgets can go to bookstores or libraries to flip through books for ideas.

"People are increasingly dependent on technology," she says. "I say, 'Go back to basics, sit at the drawing board, read as much as you can about all subjects to expand your horizons.' You need to know a lot to become a well-rounded, successful designer."

Tsang also has a website, www.chicasia.com, listing her latest finds of chic places to visit.

Sirin P. Wongpanit

Special to The Nation