There is No Wrong Body

As social media becomes the main form of media consumptions for most teenagers, many teenagers have left the social media’s feed feeling bad about themselves. With much emphasis on evaluating how people look, it has associated the teenagers with how they feel about their own bodies. They have to live through the unrealistic views of other people’s lives and peer pressure. My project centers on teenagers who have the need to fit in and worrying for not following the society's body goals. This is because of how they are being socially isolated, therefore leading them to try to conform to the society’s standard of normal. The idea of how appearance can form impressions especially body sizes.

There is No Wrong Body

It's a self-help book that shows how different body sizes are being appreciated across different cultures and countries. The illustrations are made to be more organic and natural. This book boost the teenagers’ self esteem and is personalize to each individuals as it allows them to write and reflect on their daily personal thoughts through the given activities in the book and at the same time, with the help of the illustration, encourage them to push on. At the end of the day, is there even a wrong body? My main message is to let the teenagers understand that there is no wrong way in having body. You do not need to conform.

There is No Wrong Body

This was an initial direction for the project. The idea was to create interactive walls at busy walkways. During golden hour or at any point of time when the sun cast shadows of the people on the wall, together with the illustration drawn on the walls, people are able to see the complete illustrations. They are part of the shadow play.

Together

Aging population for baby boomers are growing and as people grow older, they become less self-sufficient in terms of taking care of their own health and general day-to-day needs and obligations. More often or not, the children or grandchildren have to step up to take care of them because there is not enough medical care to support them. However, there is a greater concern for the children or grandchildren on juggling their daily lives and caring for the elderly. There are so many medical information for the elderly and sometimes they tend to overlook the emotional wellbeing of the elderly.Together is a medical app that promotes the preciousness of togetherness and bonding. The objective of this app is to provide a platform to remind people the need of constant interaction between them and their loved one in order to motivate them when going through chronic illnesses. Spend some time with them. Family members are able to document medical records in case of medical emergencies. Through this app, the elderly are empowered for their own medical and it acts as an invitation for conversations.

The Admiral's Beard

Men sometimes struggle with the way media portrays about masculinity and boldness. It becomes a pressure for them too, as society wants to uplift those values. Masculinity and boldness can be the cause of so many broken hearts and unsatiated desires. The thoughts to the construction of masculinity in everyday life can be draining and also reducing one’s self-esteem. Based on the literature of Treasure Island, The Admiral’s Beard is a hypothetical barbershop that brings out the ‘pirate’ in you. It centers on the idea of bringing out the adventurous and boldness in you. Adapting the personalities of the characters in the literature, the shop strives to gives you personality in order for you to continue with the bumpy road of life. It is a place for you to boost your inner strength and boldness, to give you that extra help.

Mark

We live in a society where we gaze in disbelief at the people who are the most passionate and fiery enthusiasts in collecting things. Sometimes these people live with mounds of unimaginable things that we question the motives behind the collection. We are a natural seeker in one-way or another. We seek and collect in any form. There are no goods of fixed value. They are valuable as long as people value them. Being a collector requires an emotional connection to these items. As the world moves to become more modern, collecting items become more and more attractive. These items offer a retreat back to simpler times when such products may no longer be produced. Mark is a magazine on collecting. Mark aims to highlight why one simply need to collect and keep things. In this issue, we cover on collecting Air Sickness Bag where majority sees it as waste product but to this community, they are little icons of the sky.

Mark

We may not realize that our motivation in collecting can be influence from a lot of different factors. One of such is our cultural background and how we are raised. Part of the magazine’s content talks about how one’s cultural background influence us in collecting things.

Adaptation Magazine Issue 1: Post-apocalyptic Literature

An adaptation is a feature that is common in a population because it provides some improved function. Adaptation Magazine strives to create an archival and organic approach to information, mixing unique storytelling and user interaction to convey complex themes. This issue serves to introduce the masses to Post-apocalyptic Literature and its various cultural and social influences. The cover utilizes a perforation to tear as like post-apocalyptic literature authors, the reader would need to destroy in order to create and thus, opening the book.

Adaptation Magazine Issue 1: Post-apocalyptic Literature

An adaptation is a feature that is common in a population because it provides some improved function. Adaptation Magazine strives to create an archival and organic approach to information, mixing unique storytelling and user interaction to convey complex themes. This issue serves to introduce the masses to Post-apocalyptic Literature and its various cultural and social influences. The cover utilizes a perforation to tear as like post-apocalyptic literature authors, the reader would need to destroy in order to create and thus, opening the book.

Adaptation Magazine Issue 1: Post-apocalyptic Literature

An adaptation is a feature that is common in a population because it provides some improved function. Adaptation Magazine strives to create an archival and organic approach to information, mixing unique storytelling and user interaction to convey complex themes. This issue serves to introduce the masses to Post-apocalyptic Literature and its various cultural and social influences. The cover utilizes a perforation to tear as like post-apocalyptic literature authors, the reader would need to destroy in order to create and thus, opening the book.

Adaptation Magazine Issue 1: Post-apocalyptic Literature

An adaptation is a feature that is common in a population because it provides some improved function. Adaptation Magazine strives to create an archival and organic approach to information, mixing unique storytelling and user interaction to convey complex themes. This issue serves to introduce the masses to Post-apocalyptic Literature and its various cultural and social influences. The cover utilizes a perforation to tear as like post-apocalyptic literature authors, the reader would need to destroy in order to create and thus, opening the book.

Adaptation Magazine Issue 1: Post-apocalyptic Literature

An adaptation is a feature that is common in a population because it provides some improved function. Adaptation Magazine strives to create an archival and organic approach to information, mixing unique storytelling and user interaction to convey complex themes. This issue serves to introduce the masses to Post-apocalyptic Literature and its various cultural and social influences. The cover utilizes a perforation to tear as like post-apocalyptic literature authors, the reader would need to destroy in order to create and thus, opening the book.

Adaptation Magazine Issue 1: Post-apocalyptic Literature

An adaptation is a feature that is common in a population because it provides some improved function. Adaptation Magazine strives to create an archival and organic approach to information, mixing unique storytelling and user interaction to convey complex themes. This issue serves to introduce the masses to Post-apocalyptic Literature and its various cultural and social influences. The cover utilizes a perforation to tear as like post-apocalyptic literature authors, the reader would need to destroy in order to create and thus, opening the book.

A Tale of Memories

An explorative journey through the creation of memories. An immersive interpretation of the bittersweet pursuit of remembrance and capturing longing feelings.

A Tale of Memories

An explorative journey through the creation of memories. An immersive interpretation of the bittersweet pursuit of remembrance and capturing longing feelings.

A Tale of Memories

An explorative journey through the creation of memories. An immersive interpretation of the bittersweet pursuit of remembrance and capturing longing feelings.

A Tale of Memories

An explorative journey through the creation of memories. An immersive interpretation of the bittersweet pursuit of remembrance and capturing longing feelings.

“Everything is fine.”

What you consume, consumes you. Plastic has become essential that one cannot live without. Awareness of plastic pollution has been ongoing for years highlighting the negative impacts and urgency for eco life and us. Disturbing visuals has been the approach to trigger and change consumer habits however, are we changing our ways? Overexposure to such visuals could perhaps cause people to be desensitized with this whole plastic situation. Thus, this campaign features a series of posters addressing the problem with a twist. A joyful vibe in contrast with hints of black humour to make people rethink their actions towards the consumption of plastic by using marine life. The aim of using marine life ties in with the consumption of seafood. Research has shown that Singapore consumes seafood above average and reliance on plastic should be reconsidered, encouraging them to change their lifestyle habits. *For this project, images are taken online in the creation of these posters.

“Everything is fine.”

Ideation and process.

Good Citizen: Simi Lang Are You?

When it comes to the concept of preservation, language is a factor in consideration. Bilingualism being the utmost importance for self and economy questions our act of preservation. Following the act as a result of convenience, it has been an act of exclusion rather than inclusion. The effects of past campaign efforts are seen with a decrease in dialect communication in current younger generation. Language barriers can be inevitable with an increasing aging population down the road. This publication aims to question people in rethinking how we learn languages. Understanding and connecting on a more interpersonal level the inclusivity language plays a part in and preserving it for our future generation.

Good Citizen: Simi Lang Are You?

Good Citizen: Simi Lang Are You?

Good Citizen: Simi Lang Are You?

A Story In Statues

Having documented heavily the extent of the street art scene in Europe. I began to create a series of posters showing a collage of street art and using statues I found in Europe as the focal point in each piece, I chose to create very raw images while juxtaposing them against the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles as a representation of Singapore and it’s street art scene.

A Story In Statues

Sterile Singapore

A Story In Statues

The statues

A Story In Statues

"Swee" in Hokkien is an adjective to describe something or a situation is "beautiful".

Skins Magazine

Created a magazine labelled 'Skins" highlighting the hobby of taxidermy and the importance of preserving our animals especially if they happen to go extinct

Skins Magazine

Skins Magazine

Featuring certain advertisements, here are some highlights of advertisements which i designed to compliment the magazine. showcasing the plight of endangered species in a striking yet accessible way.

Satire Supermarket

Introducing the Satire Supermarket, "World End". A satirical take on how Supermarkets & consumers are handling the plastic problem.

Satire Supermarket

Going green literally & why stop at double bagging, when you can quadruple it

Satire Supermarket

Sweet of The Forgetfulness

A story about a boy and his mysterious encounter with a MAMA Shop in Singapore, that give him a chance to reset his life. This project deals with discontentment we have in our daily life, always never satisfied with the life have, instead we are always searching for that reset button in life.

EVERYTHING IS LOVE

This is an alphabet book about a love that was really something and not just the idea of something. Reimagining Bonnie and Clyde relationship in the 21th century.

EVERYTHING IS LOVE

This is an alphabet book about a love that was really something and not just the idea of something. Reimagining Bonnie and Clyde relationship in the 21th century.

RE:Singapore

Little Red Dot, known as home for majority of the Singaporeans ; whom many assume had explore and seen everything but not yet literally everything to this date. In these series of photographs which depicts the interior, artefact and the women of Imperial Harem ( hou gong ) serves the purpose of leading back in time through the Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle which is also known for its famous Dragon Kiln. Delving back into the Imperial Harem of the Qing Dynasty where the Emperor, Empresses, Consorts and Concubines live. Many of these women who were at the age between 13-17 years old when they married the Emperor of China. Thus with this little collection and series of photographs it serves a meaning deeper to know that there’s after all light and hope to explore further and leave no stone unturned.

Stand Out Magazine

Drag queens; not just men with makeup and dressed in women’s clothing, and more than meets the eye. Beyond just performance, it is an art form. In this issue, take a peek into the transformation process of our local drag queens and be drawn into the artistry of it all.

Stand Out Magazine

Gen X, Y and Z in Singapore

This is a not so typical alphabet book about Generation X, Y and Z in Singapore. From queuing for the latest bubble tea for over an hour, complaining about little things and taking as many samples as you can carry, because they’re freebies. You ask what else seems absurd when you think about these situations. Having said that, this behaviour is sometimes what make us a true blue Singaporean.

OBTD (Obsessive Bubble Tea Disorder )

Bubble tea here. Bubble tea there. Bubble tea everywhere. This obsession locally, is getting out of hand. The resulting disorder, OBTD (Obsessive Bubble Tea Disorder) is showing up. A 10-day BBT Detox programme aims to soothe the withdrawal symptoms of this condition, and eventually cure it. The kit consists of all the essentials you need to cope with it

OBTD (Obsessive Bubble Tea Disorder)

OBTD (Obsessive Bubble Tea Disorder)

OBTD (Obsessive Bubble Tea Disorder)

Sexual Crime

Sexual crimes are rising, with 56 cases reported in Singapore's local universities in the last 3 years. Even though disciplinary action has been taken and security measures heightened, tech-enabled sexual violence has tripled since 2016. These series of posters are targeted at student perpetrators as well as victims, telling them that they can be reprimanded or molested anytime and anywhere; A single message that covers both sides of the spectrum.

John Berger's Ways of Seeing – Voyeurism

By understanding sex and shifting the perspective of the woman’s role in society, this can help lower the rates of sexual assault, voyeurism and misogynistic tendencies.

OOH+ Sexuality Education

A non-profit organisation that delivers sex education that actually benefits, counsels & provides assistance to the young people of our society. Singapore’s sex education curriculum is not equipped to address and educate our young people, which makes them vulnerable.

OOH+ Sexuality Education

As teenagers are becoming more tech-savvy, they are exposed to unfiltered sex content which poses a high risk of early sexual relations and abuse of pornography.

Trailing Type

Using pen & ink calligraphy to explore typography over human body forms

Delirium

Delirium – an acute mental disturbance characterized by confused thinking and disrupted attention usually accompanied by disordered speech and hallucinations. An exploration of mental illnesses and expression of emotions with no words, just effects, mood, lighting & other techniques with music.

Something Different

A poster depicting my experience in Glasgow for my immersion trip. I constantly seek that same feeling I had a taste of in my present life.

It's Not Okay

In Singapore, about 700 million kg of plastic waste is discarded every year. Less than 10% of the plastic usage were being recycled (WWF). Plastic was the largest category of waste disposed of in Singapore last year — 763,400 tons. Reality perception — “When truth is blurred by lies and misinformation, perception becomes reality and all is lost.” What people perceive is usually what they believe, and this is based on what they hear, see and think. The government in Singapore has yet to take serious action in reducing the Plastic usage in Singapore. However, I believe that the consumption of bubble tea is one of the culprit that contributes to this issue. Yet, Singaporeans fail to see / experience the fact that the usage of plastic is a factor to the environment. I’ve created a series of illustration that could be potential posters, as a reminder / awareness to Singaporeans that there is always an alternative. By bringing their personal mugs or bags could help to save lives.

It's Not Okay

It's Not Okay

Place-Non-Place

Introduction This exploratory painting represents the contrast in culture between Singapore and Glasgow in which I have experienced through this study exchange. This painting was inspired by a Scottish poem (Auld Lang Syne) written by Robert Burns.

Place-Non-Place

Concept - Chaos is a definition of what the world is today, and being a part of this world, we are often blinded by the hiccup that is placed right in front of us. How often can we acknowledge that we are conscious of our actions all the time, namely our experiences, the things we purchase and consume? In this project of Place – Non-Place, it’s a creation of my experience in Glasgow, the visual comprises of parts taken from the poem of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and the words were assembled in an unsystematic order. I have come to realise that, chaos itself, might not actually be what we think it is. Being in a state of chaos is a feeling that one may feel perpetually under certain circumstances. It is not an unfamiliar feeling yet we still let ourselves immerse into that state. As I was sitting by the ledge in Glasgow, I’ve came to an understanding that, the unknown always appears to be LOUDER compared to my ordinary, that might be where the feeling of chaos is found.

Place-Non-Place

The Ways of Seeing

This project was created with a combination of Spark AR (Augmented Reality) and Cinema 4D. The concept is a reaction to how society has advanced into something so absurd with the use of the mechanical eye. Everything that can be seen on the internet in this day and age, might not be the actual truth. In fact, a captured moment by an individual could easily be manipulated. Hence, I’ve chosen the use of Augmented Reality and a metaphorical theme (alienation) to explain the message of what we see from our phones, does not always represent reality.

The Ways of Seeing

Mona Lisa

Mona Lisa, a publication that speaks of the imperfections of the world that can’t always be seen with the naked eye. Mona Lisa embraces the imperfections using art and literature from the history and the present times to disclose a positive spirit for its readers. In the first issue of Mona Lisa, it has discussed the different viewpoints and ideas about the nature of love by Plato (The Symposium).

Pareidolia

A psychological phenomenon involving a stimulus (an image or a sound) where in the mind perceives a familiar pattern where none exists called Pareidolia that allows human to perceive faces in places where they do not exist. These images have been taken around Chinatown, Singapore and it forms a similar style and colour to create a typeface.

Arsenal Football Club Official Magazine - Feb Issue

Me being a huge Arsenal fan, I did not want to have football players on the cover page as most designers would, instead I used their mascots to portray the clubs, Arsenal (Cannon) and Tottenham Hotspur (Blue Chicken) respectively. The main attraction is in the centre, The cannon is ready to blast the chicken to outer-space. This way I could add some fun to the cover page design.

It was quite a challenge to design this page. This was my first time doing a “print design” as I’ve been designing for the screen (digital) my whole life. Layout placements in print design can be very important, but I didn’t want to compromise on my digital skillset for this particular page. Therefore I fused both styles. Now read the RED letters from top to bottom. What do you get?

I thought it would be quite interesting to show all the French players who have played for Arsenal Football Club during it’s 134 year old history. As such this would be the complete list of French players from the year 1886 - 2019.

I had a lot of flexibility and fun working on the design on this page in particular because of how I managed to cleverly merged 2 different Arsenal Third Kits (Pink & Cyan) into 1 page. By doing so, not only does it not look regular and dull anymore… It also looks energetic and youthful!

The last one would be a collage of many more different page layouts and designs that are featured in my own edition of the Arsenal Magazine. 

For more information, visit https://www.behance.net/gallery/96609881/Arsenal-Magazine-Design.

Incuba - Luxury Healthcare Packaging

INCUBA is a microchip that is inserted and incubates in the human body which reverses the effects of procrastination by monitoring and re-balancing the different levels of hormonal and negative chemicals changes in the human body.

This is my design process where I came out with some rough sketches digitally with pin-point accuracy and measurements done to scale for the development stage for product prototyping. I also made a breakdown of the different parts needed to put the prototype together to finalise the design.

This is the “Chip base Plate” where the placement of INCUBA chip will be for display.

Once the top half of the packaging is opened and remove, underneath this is what you will see. The Emblem of the INCUBA chip design (hexagon-shaped) and a Manual for the user to know how the product functions.

The last one would be a collage of many more different page layouts and designs that are featured during the Product shot on INCUBA.

For more information, visit https://kingkumarart.myportfolio.com/incuba

The Fisherman and His Soul

The Fisherman and His Soul is a short story (6209 words) written by Oscar Wilde. It features a young fisherman and his yearning for a mermaid, his obsession drove him to commit unholy and unthinkable actions. Upon reading the story, it is apparent that the main cause of the story’s tragedy was due to the actions of the stubborn priest in the story. The priest then is one of the core parts of the story. In this revised version, I attempted to retell the story in the point of view of the priest, the story accompanied by a set of hand-drawn illustrations.

Phase Plastic Out

A habit becomes an addiction when we continue to engage in an activity despite knowing the adverse consequences of it. Comparably, people are using plastic whilst understanding the impact of plastic usage on the world and themselves. The difference, however, is that they don’t recognise their plastic dependence as a form of addiction, but rather a necessity. In my research and observation, I came across a few uncles carrying a newspaper roll in a single plastic bag. I found that they do so as to not dirty their hands. If only plastic leaves a mark as a newspaper does, it would be less popular. I then connected these with self-abuse, abuse, then addiction - all of which is obvious visually, and heavily stigmatised by society. My project, therefore, aims to liken our plastic reliance to other severe forms of addiction such as drugs, in the form of a campaign to stop plastic use.

Gravity's Spiral - One and the same

To point a finger at the self (myself) - to uncomfortably yet essentially deny denial, I believe, is a step closer towards human flourishing. This is a personal project aimed at visualising and reflecting and interpreting my daily occurrence. One and the same: Someone preached that the problem with social media and the digital world is that it creates an antisocial world. Well, for me, I rate his statement a “maybe, but not really”. Regardless of device or tech, we still tend to be immersed in the self a lot. We are normally anti-social. However, biology states that we are normally social too. Maybe, momentary isolation is just a way of coping with the constant noise and stresses of our environments - perfectly fine, really. In his defence, he might be referring to the overindulgence of media - how normal consumption easily becomes an addiction.

Gravity's Spiral - The Assembly Men

I was watching a trending video of a man listlessly working at his customer service job., a fake smile plastered onto his face. This man me think about how manufactured the actions of people have become. How different are we from mass-produced items?

Gravity's Spiral - Curled up. (Acrylic paint on cardboard.)

I was watching a trending video of a man listlessly working at his customer service job., a fake smile plastered onto his face. This man me think about how manufactured the actions of people have become. How different are we from mass-produced items?

Wayfinding Project at SIT@Dover

This project aims to make SIT@DOVER a place of effortless navigation through wayfinding signages without compromising the appearance of its “SIT-DNA”. The signages have been designed to mimic the patterns of polarising light, which migratory birds depend on for a correct orientation towards their destination - it is a symbolism for SIT’s guidance of students that have travelled great lengths to get and complete their degree.

MIMICREE (MIMICRY)

Presented with a magazine brief, I was tasked to write the copy and design its graphics of a random topic. The topic I went for was about “mimicry”, the imitation of someone or something. The content is written about different subjects that touch on different aspects of copying, and I have illustrated and collaged visuals according to the written content, stringing them into a proper magazine.

From entertainment to salvation, the former Venus Theatre in Singapore

In 1983, the Venus theatre in Singapore’s west went through a metamorphosis by adaptive reuse after the cinema suffered economically. In 1985, the Church of Our Saviour became its new occupant. Today, the church continues to operate in the community, struggling to stay relevant. This project aims to create a greater connection to the community through a multi functional, therapeutic space bringing people together whilst being relevant to the current context.

Breathe

This collage shows how the project proposes to open up the enclosed space, bringing people together and breathing new life into an old building. The site happens to be strategically located along the Queenstown MRT and Queenstown Secondary School. Because of its favourable location, the church adapted the space to fit the needs of the youth who can use the site’s facilities for quick foosball games, water break, resting spot and meeting point. However, the main church auditorium remains untouched during the weekdays making this space underutilised.

Model Exploration

With a desire to open up the enclosed space, model explorations have been undertaken to break the buidling’s rigidity by adding alternate circulation, playing with volume height and width, yet celebrating the original structure, and taking both its interior and exterior activities into consideration. Some of Singapore’s buildings seem greatly influenced by Le Corbusier’s modernist, 1960s practice, especially his “Five points of architecture”. In the case of the Church of Our Saviour pilotis act as a primary support of the building.

Redefining the Church

While adaptive reuse gives a space new purpose, the church community was forced to dwell in a building that was not originally meant for its use. This photo montage hopes to represent how a church hall could look- drawing individuals into the holiness of God through considerations of form, materiality, zoning, light and shadow.

Forms, Light and Shadow

Martin Luther gave birth to the reformation and protestantism, changing Christianity through a rejection of ornamentation, the legacy of empire and majestic socio-spatial power. These model explorations look at the influence that materiality and light can have on atmospheres that may draw individual to sacredness. Taking influence from monolithic architecture where buildings were carved from a single piece of material, these models try to replicate a similar raw, intimate dwelling space.

The journey into the main sanctuary

To create a dynamic and versatile interior space that enhances the look and creates a timeless, classic feel, materials such as natural stone, in particular limestone, were used, as well as both elements of wood and glass. Lime stone is known to be strong and able to withstand abrasion. A tunnel was designed to play with depth, and a low ceiling creates a space that allows for individual contemplation.

Sanctuary

In reference to Peter Zumthor’s Bruder Klaus Field Chapel of which he says: “In order to design building with a sensuous connection to life, one must think in a way that goes beyond form and construction” this design was established from a foundation of two contrasting materials: rock and light. With minimal ornamentation, this design hopes to bring people atmospherically into an experience of holiness.

Interior Space

This image shows the exploration undertaken, to captures both materiality, form and texture in render.

Space for the community

This project looks into creating a dual functional design, i.e. two programmes that operate at the same time in the same space. The first floor caters to a public crowd, while the upper floor caters to the existing Church of Our Saviour community. This design hopes to revitalised and be relevant to current community activities in the face of urbanisation.

Adjacent Play Space

This project explores ways to bring about playfulness in adults; to relieve stress relief, develop social skills, to allow for relaxation and to provide “escapism”. The installation is located in front of Ocean Financial Centre and is open to use for all who are passing-by. Enhancing their experience on what they deem as escapism / leisure in Raffles Place is key rather than physical play.

Adjacent Play Space

My models made were inspired by Bruno Munari’s geometrical shapes and Alexander Calder’s theory of the relation between things, to create “private-ness” as most adults there are comfortable being in their own zones like using their phones, talking to friends and looking around. Iteration one consists of most models but seem too enclosed. While visual play is being explored, play in this project is about embracing “private-ness” in the open space.

Adjacent Play Space

The proposed design works around existing circulation with visual play, movement, and interaction. Having natural lighting, there can be a play of colours that will reflect on the ground. The shapes hanging is an interactive installation, allowing to be pulled down or rotated while able for one to sit on it. This might make one feel more comfortable if they want to have a certain private physical boundary.

Retail Play

“Retail Play” This project leverages on the activeness in teenagers to create an interactive experience with the displayed products. Located in 313 Somerset, Level 1 and 1M, for the fashion brand, Bershka, the design centers on the idea of decentralisation. Bershka is about fashionable colours, contemporary furniture designs, and for it positions itself for adventurous young people who are aware of the latest trends, music and social networks.

Retail Play

Observations of consumers were made, and models were presented on how products can be interacted differently. The circular shape is chosen as the final as it is more cohesive with boundless circulation as compared to rigid fluidity, and there can be interaction with both merchandise and forms.

Retail Play

Being a retail space, play in this project is interactivity. Although being able to see the merchandise from afar, there might be a gap between the levels that forces them to figure out how to get there. The coloured areas indicate fitting rooms, rails, and a platform for the products.

Retail Play

With decentralisation, all the non-load bearing walls and the mezzanine level were removed to create one space. Similar to model 7, the levels allow one to figure how to get to certain products. Fitting rooms are incorporated throughout the forms so that consumers do not need to carry so many items all the way to fitting rooms at the end of the shop like most do.

Retail Play

Products are placed on different heights, materials, and colours to engage consumers. These platforms blur the line of a resting space and an area for merchandises.

Retail Play

Lights of different colours, shine from the grout of the surfaces giving it vibrancy. The different levels allow one to explore where they want to go next.

Retail Play

Tablets are provided for consumers to look at the merchandise all at once at the entrance. Similar to model 8, this spiral allows a clearer view of the merchandises on the red rail and green display.

Retail Play

A workshop area is found at the corner of the left, while the right has an alteration area and seating at the front for the seasonal fashion show. During the fashion show, models will be coming from all areas and have a runway at the empty space in the middle.

Retail Play

Similar to model 9, the extruded circle serves not only as a platform as there is different heights. The left shows an area for evening dresses while the right shows the alteration area, with the fitting rooms on the extruded platform.

Comfort Zone

Comfort Zone is a project that aims to improve the standards of gathering spaces. By looking at the liveability of an interior space through the users’ comfort and the overall spatial layout, a design intervention would be developed. Proposed design would then be applied to three sites with different typologies, and this aims to maximise the user experience of such spaces.

Recurring Language

The design language of ‘Steps’ has been identified to be a suitable design element that can evoke a sense of comfort in interior spaces. It does so by introducing the idea of ‘Versatility’ into the users’ experience. This element was then incorporated into the design interventions throughout each of the three sites, serving as a connection that links the seemingly different proposals together.

Don't Tell Me How To Study

Don’t Tell Me How To Study is a library project that aims to break the studying conventions of a library space. Proposed at Jurong Regional Library, the project focuses on promoting ‘Physical Comfort’ through the intervention of a steps design which creates a versatile study space, and ‘Visual Comfort’ with the incorporation of a uniform design language throughout the whole site.

Don't Tell Me How To Study

All forms of structural elements such as walls and doors on the site are removed, resulting in the steps intervention spanning across the library. Different spaces such as walking paths and areas to read books are thus all integrated and taking place at the same area.

Don't Tell Me How To Study

The stairs intervention is a safe design that, while appropriate for a library reading area, seems to be too ‘sensible’ aesthetically. A dose of ‘fun’ in the form of box features was thus added into the otherwise boring space. While they stand out, these box features are still in keeping with the sense of uniformity created by the ‘steps’ intervention.

Rest Well, Shop Again

Rest Well, Shop Again is a project proposed in Jurong East Mall (JEM). Although located in a shopping mall, this project focuses on the communal area in the mall’s Basement 1 floor and how well can shoppers rest in this given space. Hence, the proposal aims to inject a sense of calmness into the hectic mall environment, while attempting to blend into the mall surroundings.

Rest Well, Shop Again

Water is used as the medium to evoke calmness. Being a powerful sensory element, the use of water here was kept subtle to prevent it from overpowering the existing site. The intervention attempts to blend into the site, and thus the effects of water could only be experienced when shoppers use the space. Sensory characteristics such as sounds of water falling are also used to maximise the potential of water.

Rest Well, Shop Again

The shopping mall has walkways which are too restricted to be used as communal areas. Instead of forcefully doing so, subtle elements such as ceiling designs are instead incorporated into these spaces to create a visual link that ties the entire floor together. With this, the functions of the walkways are retained.

Sit Down Talk

Sit Down Talk is a project that aims to improve the comfort of the overall dining experience in a neighbourhood coffeeshop. Proposed to be at the Broadway Coffeeshop at Blk 286 Toh Guan Road, the project emphasizes on using the notion of ‘Decentralization’, an aspect that modern day coffeeshops lack, to bring back the coffeeshops’ original intention of being a welcoming space for everyone to gather and mingle.

Sit Down Talk

The site also presents an opportunity for a semi outdoor dining experience. This dining experience is emphasized with the selection of cork as the flooring material. Cork flooring provides a comfortable sitting platform for users, thus encouraging them to gather and sit on the floor. Not only does this freedom of choice emphasize on the sense of community, it also creates a versatile dining space that prioritizes the diners’ experience.

The Men's Mall

A collage of *SCAPE in its current condition. In our fast-paced city-state, economic development occurs an unprecedented rate. To keep up and increase density, the wasteful practice of replacing older buildings with new ones is considered the norm. Existing properties are also under constant pressure to renovate and upgrade to keep relevant. The purpose of this project is to speculate the possibilities of how under-utilised spaces in *SCAPE can be readaptedto give it a new breath of life.

The Men's Mall

Site map of *SCAPE and its surrounding in Orchard Road.

The Men's Mall

Process. Sketches and ideation of how the users will be moving through the space with swinging walls and display fixtures.

The Men's Mall

A diagram on layout studies that will be adopted in the Men’s Mall. (top) A maze layout has a fixed path and a maze of spaces for product displays. It also extends the distance users traveled in the store. (middle) A grid layout, most common in stores as it is very convenient and speedy. (bottom) Freeform layout facilitate in exploration and brings users to visit more parts in the store

The Men's Mall

Layout Plan of the Men’s Mall.

The Men's Mall

Interior of the high-end men’s fashion store. A tightly curated selection of products is displayed, encouraging customers to explore other parts of the store.

The Men's Mall

Interior of the high-end men’s fashion store. A tightly curated selection of products is displayed, encouraging customers to explore other parts of the store.

The Men's Mall

The Fashion Gallery is a flexible space that can be converted to suit various events such as workshops, seminars and product displays and aims to increase the awareness of the brand’s philosophy.

Function, aesthetics and construction

Throughout history, the triad of aspects corresponding to function, aesthetics and construction has been proposed as the fundamental components in design, from Vitruvius to various contemporary authors. This year-long research, titled 'Optimal design: function, aesthetics and construction', builds upon these theoretical underpinnings, and through a series of exercises, this idea is investigated and clarified within the context of interior design. The lobby-seating area of SIT@TP was chosen as the site.

Designing to the context

The optimality of the design to its context is explored. For example, in 'Project 1: Function', a 'double-decker' strategy (shown on the left) may be better when there is space constraints, while a flexible programme and capacity may require collapsible furniture (shown on the right).

Finding the context

Factors, such as the pedestrian flow or circulation of the site, largely influence its function. In this case, the circulation reaffirms that the site is heart of the building. Thus, it may serve as a kind of landmark as one of its main function.

Functional design explorations

The circular design is explored, which conveys the centrality of the space, and contrasts against the straight lines of the building. Refinements are made on the basis of the functional concerns – its primary uses (programmes, activities and users), comfort (such as privacy, access and noise) and safety.

Spatial arrangement

Atelier-Bow-Wow style perspective plan of the design.

Aesthetics

In 'Project 2: Aesthetics', the design is approached first as a kind of sculpture or art before dealing with functional concerns. Through collages like this, the atmosphere of the space and the visual composition can be quickly explored. For the site, the quiet and darker study and resting area is contrasted with the brighter and more busy lobby area.

Aesthetics design explorations

Through understanding the formal visual language of the existing building, the new design can be conceived as the continuation of a visual composition of the whole gestalt. Different aesthetics forms can be produced based on the formal language, although they are functionally similar.

Modular furniture

A modular approach may be interesting, where the furniture can be arranged to form many different seating configurations.

Different arrangements of furniture

Physical models exploring the modular furniture configurations.

Track details

Exploration of how the modular furniture can be moved along a track. In A, a metal floor strip provides only visual feedback on where it should be. In B, a custom-extruded strip provides a small slope along the edges, allowing the furniture to slide more easily into its track. In C, a wheel-and-grove design enables users themselves to easily reconfigure the furniture arrangements, although more maintenance may be required.

The norm of working

This is so apt in this moment of a worldwide pandemic where we are all forced to stay home, work from home and work from our limited desk. Humans are the most adaptable creature in the world, we went from agriculture to a capitalist society in such immense speed. What lies in the future of work?

Adaptive Living

Most of us are comfortable in our homes because it is a place to unwind after a full day out. It is a place where our true character unveils itself. Walter Benjamin famous phrase “to dwell is to leave traces” applies to most spaces, but especially in our dwelling, our home.

Spatial Use

When we micro-analyse our space usage, the original intent of the space ended up suiting our needs instead. A room turns into a workspace or a store. A dining table turns into a study table. A coffee table turns into a dining table. How users define the use of these objects and spaces are different in every household.

Embracing the mess

A collaged utopian world of what embracing all our assumed flaws and mess could be. A messy table with a conveyor belt of endless items. A house filled with surveillance cameras. A living room with clothes piled up. The lounging seat with extension plug becomes one with the wall filled without enough socket to charge all the devices at home. A balcony filled with cigarette butts that must be cleared away every day.

Life vs. Play

In the functional bus interchange, what difference does it make when life gets injected into the space. Through play elements, biophilia elements, art installations or localized bustling coffeeshop? The robotic-like functionality of the space was disturbing. The fact that we are all part of the system of dropping off and picking up points made the idea of this standard bus interchange boring and monotonous.

Interventions

A myriad of intervention designed for a functional bus interchange. It aimed to diminish the efficiency of the space by injecting elements of life, fun and play. Where kids can play, where adults can sit.

Elemental Examination

If interventions are placed in a non-obstructive manner to ensure the efficiency of the space, is that how we can celebrate pluralism? If the intervention lies within a commuter’s walking area, how would the commuter adapt? Take a longer path? Possibly.

Life

The act of playfulness in a bus interchange does not align with the stringent requirements of what a bus interchange should be. But why should bus interchanges all look the same?

The transition of light to this sacred corridor

The light guides us and sets the mood. “In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.” By Le Corbusier.

At a state-of-mind

The lighting goes seamlessly through our journey. At the start, the lights define the familiarity between us and the object that represents the dead.

The movement of bricks

The attention of the loose bricks starts to reunite as we walk further into the corridor, creating a wall of memories.

The transition back to reality

At the end of the journey. The brick wall starts to lose its tension and fades off to the lights, that transits us back to reality and daily routine.

Roof Terrace of Chong Pang Community Club

Located away from the crowd and noise of the community club, the unused roof terrace creates the opportunity to take us away from our hectic and stressful lives to peace and relaxation. Natural-like and flowing water feature helps to set the mood of this space.

Pods for 2

Pods for two is where personal information are keep safe, with the adjustable soundproof curtains the amount of privacy can be controlled. The fabric paper on the outsides blurs our identity to make us feel comfortable and confident.

Pods for 5

Pods for five is where a small group can exchange ideas and remarks. This idea was inspired by the Japanese seating culture. In this case, we are submerging ourselves, making us feel like we are diving into our journey of overcoming our loss.

Pods for 9

Pods for nine is the maximum amount of people that a counsellor can handle on the topic of grief. The gap between the ceiling and the pod allows us to look out to the sky and view the movements of the clouds as we overcome our thoughts.

Urban Mobility in Singapore

It seems that vehicles take precedence and acquire privileges in the form of transportation in Singapore. However, a far more affordable and environmentally friendly mode of transport like bicycles and PMDs has insufficient opportunities and relevance in our country. Singapore is still lacking in offering traveling alternatives for car-less commuters other than its existing high standard of public transport.

Urban Mobility Devices

Over the years, bicycles, PMDs (personal mobility devices) and e-scooters have been a new mode of transportation for a handful of individuals in Singapore. It does not merely serve as a form of transportation but also as an important asset for some users to perform their daily jobs. However, pedestrians are anxious and unpleased as how these devices cause public alarm over the risk that it put to others.

Reactions From The PMD Ban

A large number of individuals were upset after being informed of the PMD ban on shared pathways in Singapore. It seems that these users are not given the rights and access in moving around the city freely. Besides, there are plenty of solutions that can be executed to facilitate them. Thus, banning of the PMDs is not a final resolution.

Collage of Site Settings

Collage of different site settings – hawker centre, market, MRT station and cinema.

Diagram of Hawker Centre

Diagram of inhabitation – hawker centre

Visual 1

To make use of the double volume space in the existing site, a second level was designed to particularly accommodate cyclists who prefer dining in the hawker centre. It also includes a parking space for users to park their bicycles safely while they enjoy their meal.

Visual 2

Food stalls were designed with double openings so that one of each can be used to facilitate customers on foot and the other for cyclists or delivery riders. This will allow a better interaction between hawkers, customers and cyclists as it avoids the intersection of purchasing and collecting of food within one another.

Visual 3

To avoid any collision between a pedestrian and a cyclist, the implementation of zebra crossings can alert both individuals. Hence, arrows and signages on the double bicycle lanes play a major role in creating a safe and comprehensive pedestrian-cycling network. So do the choice of colours used to differentiate between various zones respectively.

Visual 4

Cyclists can utilize the ramp that brings them to their dedicated eating space while non-cyclists have the entire ground level to dine in the hawker centre comfortably.

Visual 5

Food stalls were also designed in a fluid form as to display the flexibility of movement and interaction between pedestrians and cyclists in the hawker centre. Thus, each stall owns a distinct form of space.

The region rich in history and culture

Illustration of project site, Waterloo Centre, which sits amongst different building typologies, surrounded by rich Singapore culture and visited by people of different race and religion.

Map of intervention

Three interventions, each with different agenda, to sieve out the idea of Ornamentation that may happen at Waterloo Centre.

Sketched elements

Documenting distinct visual elements at site.

Taxonomy of elements

Taxonomy of visual elements extracted from site to speak of the lifestyle of the people, and the mix of old and new architecture.

Overwhelmed with ornaments

Section of Waterloo Centre that identifies existing and new ornamentation that introduce new functions.

The Jungle

Residents transform the site into a jungle where they grow plants and enjoy the sight of greenery outside their windows.

Iconic shop fronts

Part I: Each is a 3D collage of possible shop front design created by isolating the most iconic shapes and textures found at site.

Conceptualising new coffee shop

Part I: Iconic shapes and colours are employed to a busy coffee shop at Waterloo Centre to make it more memorable.

Model of intervention

Part II: Model of intervention outside a junior arts school located at a corner of third floor.

Glass blocks pods

Part II: Exterior view of intervention which shows the prominent material seen at site – glass blocks. The pods with varying heights and dimensions encourage exploration.

Extended play zone

Part II: The malleable sheer wall lets people on either side to connect. It is also lowered to appeal to children.

Waterloo Centre reimagined

Reimagining an ornamented HDB with striking colour, pattern, signage and plants to draw attention of the crowd.

No ornamentation

Part III: Conceptual model of intervention at the ground floor intending to link two major staircases. The cocoon-like pods amplify and transfer sound via metal conduits (represented by the coloured straws). Sound can be an ornament in space.

ornaments

Part III: Sitting area with concrete pods and metal conduits that amplify the sound of wind.

Keeping it neutral

Part III: Pods elevated off the ground to suggest lightness. Plants can help to dampen sound and soften the hard-concrete materials.