Strong work ethic, consistency: How design firm lands clients like Sony, Ubisoft

Just days after Mr Brendan Khor left his executive director role at an interior design firm in 2019, his clients and suppliers urged him to strike out on his own.

“We’ve worked closely together for years and have built a strong rapport. My clients’ confidence in the work I deliver and their support gave me the push I needed to start my own company,” says Mr Khor.

So he took a leap of faith, co-founding office interior design company Conexus Studio that same year with design director Aviruth Trungtreechart. They carefully hand-picked a pool of designers, project and construction managers, to form a team of nine people in the first year of operations.

Mr Khor made it clear from the start that the firm’s emphasis would be on quality, extending to the calibre of his team as well.

That mission still serves him well today. Conexus Studio’s revenue has seen substantial growth, increasing by almost sixfold in 2023. It counts names such as BBC Studios, Gallup, Hitachi Asia, Ubisoft, BP and Sony among its clientele. The company has also earned a spot on the list of

Singapore’s Fastest Growing Companies 2025

, compiled by The Straits Times and global research firm Statista.

“Our commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable solutions and fostering long-term relationships with clients through our people has been central to our success,” notes Mr Khor.

The human connection

While attracting skilled talent is critical, Mr Khor also looks for individuals who can contribute to the company in other ways.

“True aptitude is about more than technical ability. It encompasses attitude, a strong work ethic and consistency,” he says.

Mindful that people are Conexus Studio’s “secret ingredient”, Mr Khor also develops the competencies of his team members.

For instance, every job is a learning opportunity. Before handing the space back to the client, the project team organises an on-site sharing session to tell colleagues about what went well and what could have been done better so team members can continuously improve.

Such sessions help the team to produce even better work for the next project. This was especially pertinent in the early years when Conexus Studio was a new face in the industry.

Recalls Mr Khor: “With each project, we gave it 100 per cent focus and effort. As a small team, we understood our capacity and worked tirelessly to deliver excellence. It was our way of proving that competence matters more than the size or tenure of a company.”

Employee motivation and recognition is also key to driving success. Mr Khor regularly submits the team’s work for awards such as the Singapore Good Design Award. The majority of Conexus Studio’s projects are also showcased on the company website to recognise employees’ efforts, as well as to serve as an online portfolio for potential clients.

Tapping a strong ecosystem

But no matter how successful the firm is, it cannot work in a silo. Mr Khor stresses the importance of a wide and strong network, which is necessary in the industry.

He notes: “When you hire a contractor, you really are hiring their ecosystem – their friends, their partners, their network, the supply chain. Hence, a really tight-knit group of subcontractors is very important for anybody who is working in my industry.”

This was how Conexus Studio managed to avoid major delays during the Covid-19 pandemic, and could continue its operations, even during the circuit breaker period – a factor that helped to keep the company afloat amid a challenging time.

With this network, Mr Khor and his business development team are also at the forefront of the latest industry developments.

Even before the shift to flexible work arrangements and people-centric workspaces, Conexus Studio was already putting these designs into practice, such as offices zoned with different seating layouts for informal collaboration or focused work.

This meant that they were well positioned for the post-pandemic influx of projects that contributed to the firm’s growth.

“People doubled down on hybrid work arrangements, all re-inventing their work environment,” says Mr Khor, adding that his company was able to use its expertise to address the evolving needs of clients.

The next phase of Conexus Studio’s growth is going to be powered by expansion and knowledge exchange.

Mr Khor says he plans to raise the bar for the commercial interior design industry in Singapore as a whole by inviting business leaders in the built environment industry to share their expertise and offer valuable insights.

He is also venturing to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, where some of his clients are based. These cities offer potential for growth and scale in his business.

“By growing our influence in neighbouring markets, we can provide expertise to not only clients who are based in Singapore, but also those with aspirations to expand regionally and globally,” he says.

For Mr Khor, whose passion for interior design was stoked when he participated in Lego competitions as a child, he has come full circle.

“Looking back, when I was building those Lego houses, I never imagined starting my own interior design firm – but reflecting on my journey, all the dots connected perfectly.”

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