Eugene Ngugi recently marked an extraordinary milestone—33 years of transforming spaces and shaping Kenya’s interior design landscape. As the Managing Director and owner of Planning Interiors Limited (PIL), Eugene has guided the firm to its current status as East Africa’s leading professional interior design consultancy, earning international recognition along the way.

“Great design is not just about aesthetics — it’s about creating meaningful experiences,” reflects Eugene, whose philosophy has underpinned three decades of innovation and excellence in interior design.

The Early Years — Foundations of a Visionary

Eugene’s creative journey began long before his professional career took shape. “I remember designing and building toy cars with boxes and using bottle tops for the wheels,” Eugene reminisces about his childhood, which saw him moving between Arusha in Tanzania, Mombasa, and finally Nairobi. These varied experiences would later prove formative for his design sensibilities.

“Travel opens up your mind and exposes you to new experiences and opportunities,” he explains. “I feel that my horizons widened because I had the opportunity to live in different places and interact with all kinds of people. It helped shape my future.”

Though he initially set his sights on architecture, fate had other plans. Excelling in Art, Wood Work, Technical Drawing, and English Literature during his high school years, Eugene demonstrated clear artistic talent. When his marks proved insufficient for architecture studies, he “plunged into the field of Design” — a seeming setback that he now recognizes as divine direction. “At the time, this seemed a setback, but God had a plan for me,” he reflects.

Entering a field traditionally associated with women presented its own challenges. “When I chose this line of work, a few people viewed me with skepticism,” he shares, “but I am convinced that this is what I was born to do.”

Milestones & Industry Impact

Eugene’s career reached a significant turning point in 1992 with his first major assignment at Planning Systems Services. Tasked with developing an interiors scheme for Pepsi-Cola, he created a unique modern design with a strong African theme. The project received high praise from the client and was featured in an international design magazine — a tremendous confidence boost for the then-emerging designer.

Recognition continued to follow his work. In both 1997 and 2000, Eugene was named “designer who has made outstanding contributions to his profession” by the international publication “Baron’s Who’s Who in Interior Design Worldwide Almanac of Interior Designers,” cementing his status among the global design elite.

As one of the few Africans in the industry when he began his career, Eugene faced bias and discrimination. He recalls an incident when a white client requested to be assigned a different designer, doubting Eugene’s qualifications. The steadfast support of his bosses at Planning System Services, who refused to reassign the project, reinforced his confidence and determination.

In 2003, Eugene took the bold step of establishing Planning Interiors Limited (PIL) as a separate company through a management buyout. Under his leadership, PIL operates on the principles of integrity, innovation, passion, and empowerment — values that are extensions of Eugene’s ethos. “Excellence for us is not an act but a habit,” he emphasizes, a motto that continues to guide PIL’s service approach.

Eugene’s influence extends beyond Kenya’s borders. He has represented the country at international design conferences and forums, exchanging views with renowned designers worldwide and enlightening global audiences on Kenya’s interior design profession. Additionally, his founding membership in the Network of African Designers has helped elevate the profile of African design perspectives on the world stage.

Mentorship & Leadership

Eugene’s commitment to nurturing young talent is perhaps best exemplified by his appointment as founding Chairman of the annual University of Kentucky Kenyan Artists in Residence Programme in 2003. This US-based initiative, sponsored by the Ruth Hunt Wood Foundation, sends talented young artists abroad to develop their skills and gain exposure to different artistic expressions. Under Eugene’s three-year chairmanship, the foundation laid strong groundwork and continues to thrive today.

Eugene’s leadership style is influenced by mentors he deeply respects. His “strong, visionary, confident style of leadership and emphasis on excellence” has been a consistent inspiration.

At PIL, Eugene emphasizes succession planning as a crucial aspect of effective leadership. “One is not an effective leader without a succession plan,” he plans to build up leadership capacity within the company and diversify into other related areas.

Lessons & Future Vision

Looking to the future, Eugene envisions PIL as a tree with deep roots in foundational values “underscored by biblical principles.” The main trunk represents PIL itself, while the branches symbolize various business offshoots: an Interior Design school, a CSR Foundation promoting good interior design principles, an Interior Design product outlet employing local craftspeople to empower the underprivileged, and a Project Management firm to diversify service offerings.

From his 33 years in the industry, Eugene shares valuable wisdom: “The magical ‘big break’ we all expect when we are young often never comes. More often than not, our ‘big break’ is the sum of small but systematic actions that we carry out to make the most of every opportunity.”

He encourages aspiring designers to understand their passion and motivation before committing to a career path. “There are easier ways of getting rich, but Interior Design is where my heart and life’s work is, and I believe that career satisfaction is much more fulfilling than heaps of money.”

For today’s Generation, Eugene sees advantages despite challenges in Kenya’s job market: “There are many entrepreneurship opportunities and exposure to new business ideas that revolve around working smart, technology, investing, and saving for the future.”

A Legacy of Purpose

Planning Interiors Limited in its early days

In early 1997, a rededication of Eugene’s life to his Christian faith profoundly changed his outlook. Inspired by Ephesians 2:10, he crafted a personal mission statement: “To live a life of integrity and excel in every good work that God has purposed for me beforehand.”

This mission guides his priorities, with his commitment to God and family coming first — a recognition of “the futility of simultaneously taking on life’s challenges without prioritization.” In service to his faith, Eugene has contributed to various church committees, including chairing the Nairobi Chapel Counselling Board.

As Eugene Ngugi reflects on 33 years of design excellence, his greatest wish is to be remembered not just for transformative spaces or industry accolades, but for how he “loved and served those in his field of influence.”

For aspiring designers looking to follow in Eugene’s footsteps, Planning Interiors Limited continues to champion innovation, integrity, and excellence in East Africa’s design landscape. Eugene’s journey reminds us that true design excellence is about creating spaces that transform lives and experiences — a legacy that will undoubtedly inspire generations to come.

Planning Interiors Limited thanks the entire Kenyan design community for three decades of collaboration and support. 

To learn more about internship opportunities and our commitment to developing the next generation of design talent, visit our website at www.planninginteriors.com or contact our offices in Nairobi, Kenya.