Q&A with Wei Theng: The Designer Behind Shimlen’s ARCHIDEX Award-Winning Booth
November 6, 2026
Discover how its eucalyptus origins inspired a sensory exhibition experience, bringing the material’s qualities to life through design, scent and touch.
Designing an exhibition booth is an exercise in translating a brand’s identity into a physical experience. It requires more than an eye-catching layout; every material, detail and spatial decision plays a part in shaping how visitors perceive and connect with a brand.
For Shimlen’s showcase at ARCHIDEX 2026, this vision came together in a booth that earned the exhibition’s Best Booth Award. We spoke with Wei Theng, Interior Designer and Creative Director of Metrics Global Sdn Bhd, whose creative direction shaped the award-winning space.
Q: What was Shimlen's vision for Archidex 2026 that shaped the direction of the booth?
Shimlen wanted to go beyond showcasing products. The objective was to create an immersive environment that reflects our commitment to healthier living, sustainability and innovative surface solutions. Every design decision was guided by that vision.
The brand always believed that materials should do more than perform well: they should contribute to healthier spaces and better living. Rather than creating a conventional product showcase, the vision was to communicate this philosophy through an experience. The booth was therefore designed to express Shimlen’s long-standing commitment to safe materials, design innovation, and trusted material solutions in a way that visitors could genuinely experience, not just observe.
Q: When you first received the brief, what was the inspiration behind the overall design concept?
The inspiration came from a simple question: How do we make something as invisible as “safe materials” visible and memorable? That led to The Eucalyptus Experience, a concept inspired by the origin of Eucalli Ply and the calming qualities associated with eucalyptus.
Eucalli Ply composition: 60% Eucalyptus and 40% from Chinese Fir. Instead of focusing solely on product displays, we translated Shimlen’s values into a sensory journey where visitors could experience safety through space, materials and interaction
Q: Why was eucalyptus chosen, and what does it represent for Shimlen?
Eucalyptus is the origin of Eucalli Ply, but it also carries qualities that resonate with the Shimlen brand – freshness, calmness and well-being. It became a natural storytelling element that connects the material back to its source while reinforcing our commitment to healthier living environments.
Through scent, touch, conversation and even taste, visitors are invited to experience the values behind the material, rather than simply learning about them.
Q: How did you design the space to create an experience that visitors could feel, rather than simply showcasing products?
Instead of presenting products individually, we designed a journey. Every zone was designed with a purpose, from exploring the materials through touch, engaging in insightful sharing, discovering the scent of eucalyptus, to ending the journey with a memorable tasting experience.
Together, these moments transform technical product information into something emotional, immersive and easier to remember.
Q: Looking back, what was the most rewarding part of bringing The Eucalyptus Experience to life?
The most rewarding part is seeing visitors slow down and genuinely engage with the space. Instead of quickly walking past product displays, they pause to smell, touch, ask questions and have conversations.
When people become curious and begin to understand the story behind the materials, we know the design has successfully created a meaningful connection between the brand and its audience.
Q: Looking back, what was the most rewarding part of bringing The Eucalyptus Experience to life?
The most rewarding part is seeing visitors slow down and genuinely engage with the space. Instead of quickly walking past product displays, they pause to smell, touch, ask questions and have conversations.
When people become curious and begin to understand the story behind the materials, we know the design has successfully created a meaningful connection between the brand and its audience.