CTM Flagship Store named Five Star Awards, Best Retail Interior in Asia Pacific Property Awards 2015-2016

We took pride to announce our winning design project at Asia Pacific Property Awards for CTM Flagship Store in the Retail Interior category. It is the fourth consecutive years that we have been awarded in the prestigious Asia Pacific Property Awards. The award presentation took place at the Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on May 8, 2015, in celebration of the best developments, architecture and interior design from across the length and breadth of The Asia Pacific region. Leading property professionals behind these outstanding projects were invited to attend the presentation ceremony in association with Grohe, Luxury Portfolio International and ES Elite Stone to receive their accolades. Now entering their 21st year, the International Property Award is the world’s most prestigious property competition and cover residential as well as commercial categories.

Judging was carried out through a meticulous process involving a panel of over 60 experts covering every aspect of the property business. The CTM Flagship Store won the Five Star Awards in the category of Best Retail Interior. With the remarkable achievement, Clifton Leung Design Workshop has demonstrated itself at the forefront of the interior design industry in Asia Pacific, and ready to move forward to the global level.

Director and Chief Designer of Clifton Leung Design Workshop, says, “We feel really honored to receive the prestigious and renowned Asia Pacific Property Awards in the fourth year. It is a remarkable recognition as a leading interior design firm in Asia Pacific. We will continue to strive with great commitment and creativity to enhance the interior environment and contribute to the societies we work within.”

President of the International Property Awards, Stuart Shield, says, “Asia Pacific always puts up a very strong representation across the many different categories within the awards’ program. It also consistently proves to be the hardest region to beat when it comes to competing internationally for the highly coveted World’s Best awards.”

About CTM Flagship Store

Flagship CTM covers a total area of over 6,000 square feet. It provides a comprehensive range of telecom services which include: Product Display and Sale, Service Subscription, General Enquiry, Bill Payment and Phone Repair, etc.

Flagship CTM also features the no.1 Club Priority Counter and SME Center, where customers will be served with complimentary coffee, magazine and Wi-Fi service. Riding on the Nature’s Five Elements, the shop design creates a harmonious co-existence between technology and nature. Fire (red) and Water (blue) – the logo color builds the foundation of the five elements. Metal, Wood and Earth are artfully infused as core design elements in form of distinct materials to define the space for Customer Care, SME and Premium Services. 

one2free Flagship Store Design - Thinking Beyond the Apple Store

A thrilling day for me, as I just received the official announcement from UK’s International Property Awards that my design for one2free Flagship Store has won the top honor of the World’s Best Retail Interior Award 2013-2014.

My memories flashed back to the day when we received the pitch presentation invitation from CSL Limited.  I’ve never done design for any telecommunications brand, but that doesn’t mean I cannot create something unique for CSL.  I did a lot of research in what other telecom competitors are doing.  I looked at the success of Apple Store, the brand has inevitably raised the bar for customer experience benchmarking.

When I started to work on the new concept for one2free  design, I did not want a predictable solution.  I wanted a design that could breathe life into the brand, redefine the customer experience and ultimately bring new business opportunities to one2free.  I took the creative risk to challenge the comfort zone of the CSL management, and I also hoped that they would be brave enough to take my concept and bring the brand to a new level.

No wall of phones display.  No fixed sales counter.  No long queue-up to be served.  Yes, it doesn’t look like a retail mobile shop.   I believe a hip and chic loft design will reflect the aspiration of one2free’s target audiences.  I created a retail ambience with no boundaries, the customers are free to explore and learn all about the latest trends in the telecom arena.   The retail ambience has been transformed into a platform for social networking.

We won the pitch.  A memorable comment from one of the key managements that I would never forget : “Clifton, I voted for your design, because it makes me positively nervous”.  

Yes.  If a brand wants to excel, the management must be brave enough to get out of the comfort zone.  What’s more important, challenge the industry norm, think out of the box and create a design for the brand that will make its competitors nervous.  

I am fortunate to partner with such an amazing and visionary management of CSL Limited.  One small remark, when  we were officially appointed, I asked the CSL management about the proposed design of other pitching companies.  The answer : They all bear similar elements as the Apple store design.

If you have time, I would like to invite you to experience my retail store design of one2free and 1O1O.  From there, I wish you would be able to feel the soul of my creative design.