Tropicana Magazine May-Jun 2018 #118: Winner Takes All

NICK FONG, ALEX LEE AND LESLIE CHENG
PHOTOGRAPHY BRIAN FANG, M8 STUDIO
TEXT SHARMINI M.RETHINASAMY
ART DIRECTION SHIRLEY CHIA
STYLIST BOSCO LIM
MAKE UP JOEY YAP
HAIR ANGELINE LOW
“We didn’t work by the book
– if wood cannot bend, we
would want to bend it; if
bricks can’t be flexible,
we would want it to be
flexible.”
“Alex was adamant about building portfolios, about selling
ideas, designs and charging for it,” adds Nick. “ Back then people
were still new to this concept and felt that interior design work
should be pro bono. We started off by charging for every job that
came and began to build our portfolio. We are quite a progressive
team.”
“ We didn’t want to be a fly-by-night kind of company,”
divulges Alex of the early days. “ We didn’t want to do one big
project and call it quits by the end of it. Because we didn’t grow
up with each other or went to college together, and we were mere
acquaintances who shared similar interests, we spent the first six
months sizing each other up to see if this business partnership was
a good one. Furthermore, I am about four years older than [Nick].”
“ When we saw an opportunity to do this, and after having
started it, I realised that the business part of it was really
something I wanted to get into,” adds Nick. “Architecture has
taught me how to multitask and touch base on various aspects as
its subject matter has a very wide scope.”
PROGRESS IN DIVERSITY
Today, Nu Infinity is inspiring others who are interested in the
field of interior design by accepting invitations from various
universities and colleges to give talks and present the reality
behind their work.
“ This is to ensure that the industry gets a good crop of
graduating designers and the interior design companies reap the
benefit of good talent,” explains Nick. “ Some of these students
later join us as interns, and the talks we have given actually preempts
them for what they can expect and it breaks down initial
barriers between the company and the staff.”
“ We are all on the same page, which is important. It’s the
vibe that they feel within these walls that translate into good
work. The same vibe is then translated into their presentations
to clients. That’s essential for us to portray ourselves as serious
players in the industry.”
“ We engage in a lot of teambuilding exercises to ensure our
staff are happy, and in turn happiness and unity translates into
good work.”
These days, eight years after its inception, Nu Infinity has in
their portfolio at least 50 projects to work on annually. Given
the amount of work at hand, the trio maintains a good and calm
chemistry to ensure work is undertaken and carried out in a
professional manner.
Yet, how do they keep this chemistry in check?
“ I am the careful one,” laughs Nick. “ He [Leslie] is the wise one.
Alex, well, he goes crazy so we have to rein him in from time to time.
If ever there’s a tense moment between us, Leslie is the mediator,
whose level headedness and calmness helps diffuse any situation!”
29 MAY/JUNE 2018 | TM