Today’s NEXT BIG THING feature is the lovely day mini tray by Little Odd Forest’s Lynda Lye! I’ve been a longtime fan of this Singapore supertalent since she was a NEXT BIG THING finalist in 2006. We’re so happy she’s back here on FF and had a great time chatting with her recently. Did you know that she was a science major for much of her academic career?

Did you always know you were going to be a designer?
I was a Science major throughout most of my school years, because that was what my parents expected of me, but I felt totally lost when it was time for college, and was even a one-time Economics student drop-out. I always knew deep inside that a conventional career path was not for me.

You obviously had a different calling…
Yes. I’ve always been pretty much an artsy craftsy kid, doodling, cutting, gluing, and sewing away. I love all design in general, but the work i did as a designer in the design firms in Singapore, after graduating from art college in the United States, wasn’t really satisfying so I decided to break free to create something of my own, to bring my imagination and creations to life, and hopefully help change the way the world looks with my colorful imagery.

I love it! Let’s start a colorful revolution… Obviously, you’re especially inspired by nature as well, but almost of a cartoon variety.
Since I was a child, I have been inspired by the wonderful childhood fantasies of bizarre fairytale adventure stories set in magical forests full of talking monsters, animals and trees. I have always felt I belonged to another world and thus take inspiration from the world created in my head.

Seems your company has a few different names… Can you explain?
I had originally wanted to design a ton of stationery products and thus the registered company’s name as Forestprints Design. I thought it was serious sounding enough for any old farty-dart in the business world to take note of. I started getting carried away with all the sewing, and decided that some of my crazy stuff just did not fit right with the Forestprints design label and so I kept it as my business name and then registered Little Odd Forest as one of the many other labels I hope to have later on some day!

What are you all about?
Dreaming big dreams, actions speak louder than words, being true to oneself, and making people whom I love happy.