Eventually she’ll have enough dresses to wear one everyday. It seems like an odd choice at first, but it’s also a window into the way Sealfon Eng approaches her personal life and creative work. “There’s something reassuring about no surprises visually,” she says. “I look the same everyday but what comes out of me is different.” The project frees up the time and energy she’d normally spend picking out clothes for other pursuits. She’s also watched the quality of the dresses evolve with her own sewing abilities.

It seems only fitting that someone who pays so much attention to craftsmanship and aesthetics works for a company that’s known for getting all the details just right. At Martha Stewart, Sealfon Eng is one of two art directors who oversee the creation of packaging and print collateral for the product lines sold at Kmart. Her goal is to design materials that reflect the high quality of the merchandise. “I want the consumer to love the packaging,” she says. “Then get the product and think it’s even better.”

Her biggest challenges are designing materials that look good under harsh fluorescent lights and pleasing two different sets of customers —Kmart’s traditional value shoppers and loyal Martha Stewart fans. But Sealfon Eng still manages to push the boundaries with her work. For a new serveware line, for example, she oversaw the design of packaging that makes each piece look like it could be taken off the shelf and given as a gift with no additional adornment.

Sealfon Eng’s life in the corporate world is fueled by an ongoing parade of side projects. Right now she’s working on a series of patterns for her own line of fabrics. She’s also documenting something that makes her happy every day, and at the end of year, she hopes to mount an exhibit to reflect those experiences. Ultimately, her dream is to work for herself, and she’s already picked out a name for her company—Number 5. It’s a choice that seems quite anonymous, but like all Sealfon Eng’s endeavors, there’s a thoughtful rationale: It’s what her (and her husband’s) last name means in Cantonese.

LEFT: Sealfon Eng is in the process of creating a personal uniform for herself; she's sewing the same dress pattern in a wide range of fabrics. TOP RIGHT: At MARTHA STEWART, Sealfon Eng is one of two art directors who oversee the packaging design for products sold at KMART. LOWER RIGHT: HOTO is a promotional vehicle for PHOTONICA’S stock photography that's published six times a year. Several issues, which evolve in form and shape, are shown here.