Moms and Dads

Cyndi Fernandez: Designing a Life Well-Lived

by Gretchen Gatan Fragada
December 28, 2022

Cyndi Fernandez, an interior designer, event designer, entrepreneur, and mom, manages to balance a hectic lifestyle by having an innate fire that continues to fuel her passion.

This story first came out in Modern Parenting’s 2022 print edition.

Styling events, designing beautiful spaces, and parenting three little girls are just some of the things that keep Cyndi Fernandez’s plate full. On top of being an interior designer and entrepreneur, she regularly creates videos for her YouTube channel where she and her husband share helpful tips on the world of design and construction.

As the design director of Moss Design House, a design firm that has been established for 13 years, she focuses on transforming a variety of areas both for temporary and permanent use. These include events, exhibits, and pop-ups as well as commercial, retail, and residential spaces. “I have been in the business for 21 years and have worked with a lot of global brands here and abroad in creating the most memorable events and experiences,” she shares.

“Growing up in a family of doctors, I’ve always felt that I’d be pursuing the arts even as a kid. Even before, I had a knack for transforming spaces by being active in decorating activities in school. It was only fueled more by being exposed to the beauty of design and architecture that I got to see when I started traveling at a young age,” she recalls as her eyes would light up at the sight of different cities all over the world.

Formerly known as Moss Manila, Moss Design House is built on a vision of being the first multi-disciplinary design firm with turnkey construction capabilities. “That means anything that the firm designs, it builds and executes as well, all in-house,” she proudly states.

A Passion for Transforming Spaces

“From interiors to events, I realize that my passion is the drastic transformation of spaces. I love the technical side and the science behind creating something beautiful out of nothing. I also enjoy fast-paced projects and seeing concepts become three-dimensional in a matter of days. The rush, the adrenaline, and the energy it gives when I see the reaction of people or clients the moment they enter a space I have designed — I like it,” she marvels. “But I think above all, it’s the fact that through our designs, we are able to genuinely change the way people live through interiors and genuinely build the brands that we work with through the events we design.”

Cyndi Fernandez’s creative process and design aesthetic involve getting inspiration from her travels and exposure to different cultures. “It gave me a sense of universality from my design point of view. My aesthetic has always been creating interest in things that usually don’t go together. I like juxtaposition in interior design, putting things that seem to create contrast but are cohesive at the same time,” she points out.

“I see myself as a designer whose style evolves through the years. It’s a part of growth versus inconsistency. But even if I am versatile in terms of aesthetics, one thing remains no matter what theme is given to me and that reflects a design that is well-edited, nothing over-the-top, and understated with subtle luxury. I like design adaptation of different period styles but modernizing them with cleaner, more streamlined silhouettes. I love mixing themes in a way that they juxtapose one another but still look put together.”

A Collaboration That Works

While Cyndi Fernandez has her own style and preferences, she enjoys collaborating with others. “I get inspiration from the people I work with. I like conducting briefs and dissecting the client’s personality, whether that’s a brand or a person. Then translating that into my own design POV while making sure that they remain the hero. I believe my creative talent is only a tool to bring out the best in a person’s home or with a brand. Whenever I’m planning and curating a space, it’s both calculated and intuitive. I like taking cues from surroundings, from the potential of a space, and from the shapes and colors of brands.”

With such a busy lifestyle, no work day is ever the same for Cyndi. “There is no such thing as a typical day for me. There would be a lot of surprises in a day, which sometimes can be quite overwhelming. I would usually be in client meetings, team briefings, creative sessions, and on-site and offsite inspections. The hours are very long and unpredictable, and nights turn into days.”

And with a schedule that can be erratic at times, family time can be admittedly very challenging.

“My husband and I would always discuss how we can work on our schedule to make sure we spend time with the kids — even if that means bringing them with us to work! We like to do errands together — like grocery shopping among other things. We also really enjoy the sun and the sand and whenever we can, we like to spend time at our beach house.”

Finding the Right Balance in Parenting

For Cyndi Fernandez, the hardest part about being a parent is creating certain guidelines or standards and finding out if they really are what’s best for her children. “Oftentimes, we think it’s what’s best — but is it really? The second guessing ourselves as parents can come quite a lot, especially in these times when all the information travel at lightning speed. I also find positive parenting very challenging — that balance of disciplining and encouraging. Especially now that there is so much awareness around mental health, parents need to be very careful in the things they say and do to make sure it doesn’t have a negative impact on their kids.”

However, the most fulfilling part that Cyndi reveals are the everyday things — like her daughters showing affection and whispering, “I love you,” or “Thank you.”

“It’s such a joy to see them grow up and watch their personalities unfold right before our very eyes.”

Developing a Signature Style

When it comes to pursuing a career in design, Cyndi advises being honest about yourself and what your style is. “Find it and develop it. Nothing beats a signature style you can call your own — not copied based on what you feel is trendy or popular. Continue to reinvent yourself and learn to evolve as a creative.”

“I say this often to my new hires as well as my kids: Talent gets your foot in the door but it’s your grit and your hard work that will determine whether you will be successful or not.”

For the multi-hyphenate career mom, everything she does now is directed to a succession plan in place. “In five years, I see myself slowly doing other things I am passionate about — like having my own boutique resort, creating another brand for kids, consulting abroad, and who knows, maybe writing! I think by then, I would be detaching from the hectic life I lived for the past 21 years to spend more time with the people who matter and the reason for my being — my kids.”