When I was asked to design the VIP lounge for the second year, I’ll admit, I felt a little stressed at first. Last year’s design turned out great, so my immediate thought was, How can I possibly outdo last year? But once you start adding meaning to the design, the ideas come together much faster. This year’s concept was inspired by the word “Blossom.” Since it was a New Year’s party, it felt perfect—starting the new year with new beginnings, like a flower blooming.

Additionally, because 2025 marks the Year of the Snake, I decided to incorporate snake-inspired forms into the design, like the tables and couches, which added an interesting touch. As for the layout, I kept most of it similar to last year. However, we extended the corridor by 35 meters, which created an opportunity for two distinct worlds within the space. Without this division, it would have just been a monotonous walkthrough.

The overall space was divided into sections, each reflecting the theme of “Blossom.” We had a soft, cozy area with velvet, light-colored couches and armchairs. Adjacent to that was a section with a little more dazzle and sparkle—glass podiums with plants and flowers beneath them, illuminated by colorful tube lights. Addition to that we had a section with a sense of freshness and lightness. At the beginning of the corridor, we introduced flowing curtains and chandeliers to bring a feeling of coziness and being gently held. Then, in the second lounge area, we presented a bolder, stronger color palette—reds and greens mixed with neutrals like white and gray.

Blossoming is about many things. First, we can’t blossom without strong roots. And 2025 is about having a solid backbone. I think, like many of us, I’ve been working on that over the past few years. Only once we’ve built our foundation can we begin to grow and blossom, like fresh flowers. The red in the design represents passion, while the gentleness and freshness of pink and white symbolize new beginnings. Cherry trees, which are so symbolic of blossoming, also made an appearance in the design, alongside some artistic presentations I put together.

So, did everything go as planned? A manager there asked me, Isn’t it stressful to put so many things in place, not knowing where? But, honestly, no. Everything was already in place in my vision and the plan. I knew exactly where everything should go—nothing was missing, and nothing was excessive. The only thing I left open to be adjusted on-site was the exact placement of the flowing curtains. The concept was set, but the final positioning needed to be tweaked based on the available space.

Another small thing was the hanging ball. Initially, I envisioned it being fluffier and lighten up, but the first ball we tried, which had a light inside, didn’t hold up in the air, so we had to replace it early on. I also wanted to project some visuals onto it, but the technicians and I couldn’t make that work in time—it was a bit too complicated. As for the lights, I usually stay on-site longer to adjust things, but this time I had to rely on the technical guy to set up the decorative lights as I wanted. They were battery-operated, and we had to turn them on just before the party to make sure they lasted. The main lighting was already agreed upon and set in advance.

There are always small things that could be better, but this is how we grow—little by little, with every experience. Overall, though, I think it turned out pretty well, and I hope everyone found their favorite section of the lounge where they felt the most comfortable.