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.

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.

Killiney Rebranding

The new design features a more minimalistic and modern ziplock packaging, made of kraft material. The raw and unpolished line drawing against the kraft packaging creates a world where old meets new, when traditions meet modernity.

Killiney Rebranding

The back of the packaging features a summarised history of Killiney for easy reading, and the recipe for each respective dish. A QR code will be provided on every packaging that links to a video tutorial which will help guide customers who are new to cooking or unfamiliar with the recipe. Millennials who have settled down and are unfamiliar with cooking are the main audience for this QR code feature.

Killiney Rebranding

An app for Killiney would help build a closer relationship between the brand and every customer.It serves as a touchpoint for Killiney to personalise each experience for every customer. It can also create a more seamless and fuss-free experience when ordering food through the app.

Rewiring Brown Nosers Everywhere

Brown-nosing. A common sight in working culture. The term originated from early 20th century, from an association of subservience with having one’s nose in the anus of a more powerful person. Creating a virus to deter brown-nosers from the flattery phenomenonwould benefit the workplace, employees and eventually, the world. But what would actually deter brown-nosers from what they do best? A series of uncomfortable and embarrassing symptoms would suffice to help brown-nosers kick the habit. Drawing inspiration from its roots, I decided to invent a virus based off a literal translation of the term’s origin . Xianophoic Suayalitis Virus, or Xia Suay, is a viral infection that attacks the respiratory system - mainly nose, throat and lungs, causing fecal matter to form on the inner walls of the windpipe and mouth. For most, it resolves on its own, provided the patients, for a period of 5 working days, avoid any form of brown nosing however, it comes with an increased tendency to insult work superiors. The treatment for the virus is Brown’s Kit for Brown Nosers. A specially formulated office wellness kit used to treat the Xia Suay Virus, found in brown nosers. The kit consists of a set of antibiotics, medicated tissues, dental care set, aromatherapy and notepads specially designed to help brown nosers fight the nasty symptoms of the virus.

blur magazine

The supernatural world has always intrigued millions around the world. The unknown and the possibility of a co-existing dimension on Earth have been a part of humanity’s story since the beginning. The history of the supernatural can be linked back to ancient Greece. Earlier accounts of the supernatural appeared in Mesopotamian records. Life after death and supernatural beings has always been a controversial topic which left many todebate on the possibility of it. Some say it’s a myth, while others believe in its existence. But one thing is for sure, is that these tales of the paranormal and supernatural reveal a truth about humanity. Ghosts and spirits are no strangers to Asia. In Asia, the culture of the living dead is ingrained in our society. From the Chinese folklore to the spine-chilling entities of Japan, these tales resonate and roots the belief in our community. We grew up listening to stories about the afterlife on Earth, some even experiencing them firsthand. blur provides a different perspective on these paranormal beings and their tales that strike fear and terror in us.


IN YOUR FACE

IN YOUR FACE is an installation work that aims to send a message to individuals who are carelessly and thoughtlessly using plastic. It seeks to question old habits and hopefully get everyone to do their part in reducing plastic use. In order for us to fix the problem, we have to acknowledge that we are not doing enough and we have to amp up our efforts. Start saying no to excessive plastic use, especially when we shop.

DON'T ASK

Excessive plastic use is a global problem that has plagued the modern world for a few decades now. While media coverage on this issue is at an all time high, changing mindsets still proves to be a challenge, especially when certain societies are so deep-set in their ways. To create ONE identity and to bring all organisations to work together to create a nation-wide campaign to tackle plastic problems in Singapore. To bring about a collective realisation among Singaporeans on the severity of our plastic use. It is our responsibility to take charge of plastic matters. We have to keep reminding ourselves to ‘DON’T ASK’ for plastic bags.

ODD GENESIS

In year 2219, A man-made Virus was released to the atmosphere through heavy industrialisations. M.O.B virus confined exclusively or largely to biomes, however, posed the formidable problem of finding a susceptible human infection and cause death. For-Profit company ODD GENESIS has monopoly over food sources. Ferro Subsistence cure, provides all seven nutrients on a daily basis to help build our bodies and maintain health.

CHAIRNNEL

Reveals some very good insights into what a chair can represent - how it can be a metaphor for aspects of being human or for states of the human condition. To highlight our basic need to give and receive compassion in all its various forms and to create a centerpiece which communicates the idea of compassion and evoke a response and reflection of our basic aspects as a human being.

Surreal

Surreal, a world which is 300 years ahead of time. A world filled with colors and shapes. No language is needed in the future. It will come by in a form of imagery. An imagery of shapes and colors. “ It’s the visual manifestation of thoughts. ” Communication are based on the projected thoughts of symbols, shapes and colors. Thoughts are being projected as a visual form, allowing them communicate with each other through visual language.

World

This mystical world brings wonders of joy to me. The place is also known as a happy place. No language was needed but instead, they use visuals to transmit their thoughts. It is a visual communication. They live in a world full of imagery.

Tranquillity

Tranquillity, a state of being calm. It is one of the six key values in the Surreal World.

Lanj Magazine

The name Lanj sparks a curiosity through a question or discussion. Lanj comes from the word “lanjiao” in Hokkien, which means cock. It portrays about the perception on how people perceive things differently. Some may agree while some may not. In this edition, we discussed the topics on stalkers. We are all stalkers behind our phones. Some may call it watching, some may say that they are just curious, but they fail to understand that it’s the same traits as a normal stalker. Lanj. or not?

Lanj spreads

So now let me ask. Are you a stalker? No? Then answer this. Do you go out with someone without knowing who they were? Have you asked for someone’s name then search them up on FB? Have you ever double tap on someone’s Instagram that was posted 52 weeks ago? Have you ever known about someone even before talking? to them before? Then, you are a stalker too yourself...

Mask Off Fest

Mask Off Fest 2020 is a festival that aims to build a community, to gather people and bring people with common interest together. It is organized by The Offbeats. Offbeats is a subculture that aims to build a community and a relationship which is sustainable in the future through a purpose and giving one a sense of belonging in the community.

Festival Collaterals

Taste is subjective and not everyone will be pleased. However, a festival fits the current era. It’s a platform for people to come as one and create a new set of memories together. Festival is a platform that successfully captures Generation Z’s attention. Thus, this creates an opportunity for one to have a sense of identity and gain experience they never had before.

Drop The Label

“Human relation is not some social media ideology of communication.” It’s the understanding of the human idea. To give compassion and tolerance towards each other. Human forget themselves when they have status. What if we take that status out? Can we be pure human? Take the label out of them. Drop the label. When it comes to face. Drop the label. When it comes to race. Unite the difference.

Best-Test

Best - Test. An Analog printing using letterpress and mono prints techniques which is then being digitalize for its ultimate results.

Mono-ed

Exploring handcrafted mono prints. Analog printing techniques is something that I have always been passionate about. Here, I explored various techniques to achieve a glitch effects. I am amazed on the glitch and swirl shapes. Its raw looking textures gave me a of sense satisfaction toward both analog and digital printing. It’s something that could not be achieved solely base on digital.

AboutFace Edition 1

Many are aware of veganism but not many know the reasons and benefits behind it. Inspired by the Cowspiracy documentary, AboutFace is a vegan magazine that aims to create awareness of our eating habits and its impact on the environment in hopes of invoking a positive change in our food consumption. The content is curated to educate people on vegan foods and its dietary considerations. Unlike other vegan magazines, AboutFace takes an illustrative approach to a controversial topic. Credit: The images used to create this poster are taken online

Movement Photography

A series of six photographs, Movement interpretes synaesthesia by creating a hidden language using sounds that can’t be heard by the human ear. ​Synaesthesia is the neurological phenomenon in which the brain mixes up the senses; stimulation of one of the senses leads to experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. The work explores the concept of synaesthesia and visual spaces that are both real and surreal. The images were created by using water, sound and lighting with a little colour touchup.

Wouldyousaveme Campaign

Intended to bring out the compassion people have for animals, #Wouldyousaveme campaign aims to spread awareness and educate the public on veganism. People always say they love animals and care about them but why are some animals treasured and treated as pets while others are not? Research shows that humans adore cats, babies and humans (themselves). With that in mind, the posters highlight the sentiment by showing that all living beings are equal. Credit: The images used to create this poster are taken online

Pascernin X Virus (HealthCare Packaging)

Assigned with inventing an imaginary virus, the Pascernin X virus is a mutation virus that is caused by bad farming practices and corruption in the industry. Humans start to mutate into the very livestock they consume. This fictional virus was created to educate the public on how the food industry result to unethical means to keep up with the high demand of meat, which would in turn start to affect its consumers if we don’t do something about it soon.

La Flamour

Fragrance sticks making process collage

La Flamour

The world is starting to see the result of our environmental negligence and man-made waste is one of them. However, due to the constant coverage, people have become numb to it, thus La Flamour was created. Presented as a romantic and sensual product, La Flamour repurposes “waste” from natural products such as flowers and fruit skins by turning them into fragrance sticks targeted towards the younger crowd.

Big Lies

Big Lies is a series of artworks accompanied by a zine that discusses the lies made by people about the fashion industry. The fashion industry is ​a global environmental injustice. Clothes are essential but it’s not when we overbuy. People lie to themselves to justify their purchase but convenience is a luxury we can no longer afford. Big lies follows a series of lies accompanied by designs to show the truth about the fashion industry. It's created using hand stitched typography with painted illustrations over it.

Plastic Problem

Plastic is essentially everything, we are surrounded by it. It was initially advertised as the future, we no longer need to hoard glass packaging, food are kept fresher in plastic. It is old fashioned to not use plastic. We were told that it is the future, it keeps everything fresh. It is cheap and dispensable. Plastics are the future, save the trees and use plastics. Recycling old plastic advertising images and some taglines, into today's context. Recycling the idea into a new one, see what I did there? My TVC also reuses ads from 1997 by APC, people often gets defensive when called out. We should approach this delicately as people are Compassion Fatigued and Desensitized to Global Warming. Let the audience feel smart figuring out themselves. Recycling the 1997 plastic tvcs copywriting and footages of what plastic has done to our planet to create stark contrast in the video. Hoping to spread awareness through nostalgia and non-conventional way.

Healthcare Packaging

Create a virus or illness including name, symptoms and cure. Chingus was take inspiration from a capitalism as a pandemic. Back in October 2019, NBA and Disney were under fire for censoring themselves to work with China, receiving backlash. When China refuse to work with corporations, they tend to lose millions in revenue. (Avengers are owned by Disney, there are special scenes added into the franchise to enter theatres in China.) (A NBA player tweeted freedom for HongKong in 2019, China was displeased and banned all NBA from showing in China, losing millions in revenue in just a week. The NBA manager made a public apology soon after. So much for American and their "freedom".) This project centered on mostly propaganda. The right tone needs to be set through mock ups. Flyers and posters are shot out of the plane into the streets, sirens will ring and the speaker will spread word of Chingus.

Illustration Book

A self-initiated project, my first illustration project. All the content and illustrations are done by me. It was fulfilling to be able to write my stories. The book is eerily long, the bodycopy is long as well. Each character is the idea of a feeling. Using research of others experienced and their accounts of falling. Painting the mental image of emotions and ideas of certain elements and human instincts.

Project Proxima

The world, stunned by our first contact, is set on the brink of nuclear war, when the message is misintepreted and manipulated to serve mankind’s vile nature. A linguist races against time to translate the message and steer humanity from destroying themselves. The Space Race died 3 decades ago and with it, the public imagination. Project Proxima attempts to reinvigorate the passion for space exploration. The search for ET has always piqued our interest. From the mass hysteria of The War of the Worlds to the claustrophobia of Alien, the prospects of alien lifeforms has no doubt, kept us on the edge of our seats. Themes of astrophysics, communication and humanity are explored using an imagined dialogue between us and extra-terrestrial beings from our neighboring star system, Proxima Centauri.

Project Proxima

Project Proxima

Project Proxima is the decryption, translation, and study of photometric messages from an extra-terrestrial civilisation in the Proxima Centauri System, the closest to our Sun. This facilitates communication between mankind and our neighrbor 4.47 lightyears away.

Project Proxima

Low on options, resources and time, the International Commission devises an ingenious and dead simple way of emitting a comparable energy output we had observed from Proxima Centauri. Well, here's the plan: We humans sure love to stockpile on nukes ey? Modify them to emit the light spectrum that we want. Send them into space, so that our atmosphere does not interfere with the light transmission. Put them at the right altitude and then BOOOM! No gigantic lasers, No costly electricity bill, get rid of our nukes at the same time! I'm not kidding.

Project Proxima

This is a set of vocabulary to guide the celestial dialogue, based on our common understanding of physics, metaphysics and mathematics, the universal constants. The language is based on the Arecibo message, designed by physicist Frank Drake, Carl Sagan and fellow scientists.The Binary message was transmitted in 1974, from the powerful Arecibo Dish Array in Puerto Rico. I adapted it into a more direct and visual form, using the same 73 X 23 grid, in which the nukes will be coordinated to denotate. Nuclear fusion = Emission of light = dots on the imaginary 73X23 Grid.

Project Proxima

This is a set of dialogues,for the purpose of human comprehension. The language relies on a form of universal sign language that can be best compared to frantic hand waving between two people who has not a single clue about each other's languages. But it works most of the times. For example, shouting in a conversation suggests an emphasis. Denoting a bigger nuke in space, emitting more energy, also suggests an emphasis.

KOPE Fest

One man’s trash, Another man’s treasure. KOPE Fest is an exhibition to showcase what can be done using little resources and skills. The interactive nature allows people of varied ages to have a haptic experience. Living in Singapore’s fast conveniences and exorbitant mercantile, we often take for granted what treasures lie beneath our HDB. By creating a series of engaging assemblages out of salvaged material, I aim to spur youth imagination and educate The public about prudency and resourcefulness. using these objects as posters, I also aim to explore unconventional mediums for advertising

The Plastic Problem

Plastic bags are portrayed sexually to create the image that sea creatures are getting choked without consent, consequently losing their lives. This project is catered to young adults, encouraging them to switch to a plastic alternative, Solubag, which is packaged like a condom.

The Plastic Problem

The Plastic Problem

72 Virgins: Terrorist’s Digest

This is satirical digest showcasing the dos and don’ts of terrorism. It is curated specially for someone who is a terrorist, or wants to be one. In this digest, there is a showcase of how race can be a deterrent from you achieving the title of being the most successful terrorist. I also chose to poke fun at how they brainstorm certain ways to make terrorism become “socially acceptable”.

72 Virgins: Terrorist’s Digest

72 Virgins: Terrorist’s Digest

72 Virgins: Terrorist’s Digest

Valaida Snow

Valaida Snow was an African American Trumpet player who sang and played Jazz music in the 1920s – 1930s era. This is an alphabetical record-styled diary, illustrating Valaida Snow’s struggles with racism, as well as her experience getting captured by Nazis for two years.

Valaida Snow

Valaida Snow

Mr Nobody

Mr Nobody is a short film follows a lonely phantom who lives in a deserted city. Consumed by loneliness and desire to connect he spends his days collecting ‘friends’. His quiet days soon changed when an unfamiliar sound resonates through the city.

Mr Nobody Still

A screen capture from the film, when Mr. Nobody was distracted while looking for a ‘friend’.

Mr Nobody Environment Paintings

The environment in the film was painted in watercolour. Using grey tones express how the Phantoms view life, devoid of anything, dreary.

Mr Nobody Development

These are some development sketches for the film.The phantom’s walk pattern is not expressive, hearkening back to how his character view his life; a lack of excitement, mundane and repetitive.

Mr Nobody Storyboard

Storyboards for the film.

The Cost of Love

The Cost of Love is a spin on an old story by Oscar Wilde. It speaks of the woes of love and the idea that everyone has a different perception of love, shining a light inside us and causing us to ask if we truly know what love is.

The Cost of Love Key Image

One of the key images of the story, it symbolizes how sacrifice can lead to another’s happiness, but is it worth it?

The Cost of Love Storyboard

The final storyboard for the storybook.

Booker Book Jacket

“What these three stories have a common?” was the challenge this brief presented. Underlying in all three narratives is a recurring theme that ties these narratives together; Deterioration. Each story tells a different tale about the deterioration of a certain aspect; Sense of Self, Memory and Acceptance

Booker Book Jacket Original Paintings

The original artwork for each cover.

A collage that shows the overall aim of the project which is to understand the sensorial needs of hypersensitive individuals with autism and support them in spaces where they transit into an existing community.

Exploration of the spatial qualities of the communal garden by thinking through making.

In case of sensory overload within the community centre, hypersensitive individuals with autism could use the lounge, which is designed as a therapeutic healing space with interior elements that promote mental curiosity and stimulate the desire of experiencing the space.

The second part of the project is a redesigned hawker centre. The food stalls are placed within the high-stress areas while the seating area is placed nearer to the low-stress areas. The two areas are separated with the main circulation path. This redefines a spatial hierarchy which would help hypersensitive individuals with autism.

Seats that allows configuration are integrated with the redesigned hawker centre. The seats can be converted into booth seating if hypersensitive individuals with autism require a space of a sense of enclosure.

Pause spaces with seating are added into the hawker centre to provide opportunities for prospect while consuming meals. These pause spaces are clearly distinguished with a ring of landscape design which also helps with odour abatement.

The third part of the project is a community library. The library cantilevers above the communal garden, blurs the transition of exterior spaces into interior spaces and creates an inclusive environment for the local community.

LUSH Flagship Store (retail)

This project analyses how existing shopper’s habits in LUSH could be adapted and triggered in a flagship store by tapping into the sensorial aspects of a consumer. The project taps onto the existing senses of shoppers that makes them move and react in a certain manner within the store itself. 3 senses, “See, Touch and Smell” are observed, thus these senses are being used to develop deeper into the flagship store experience tapping onto these sensorial aspects, allowing shoppers to wander into the space, finding their own preferences. ​

Layout Plan: Proposed Zoning, Circulation and Material

The flagship store is separated into different zones which consists of different scents. These zones are separated based on the experience and scent. The proposed zoning, circulation and material provides an overall view of the space as well as the possible journey that could take place within the store.

Red Experiential Zone

Shoppers could place their head into the opening to get closer and feel the texture of the wall. LED strips from the bottom would shine in enhancement of the experience. The experiential wall (scratch and sniff wall) are used to contain the smell within the space instead of having it diffuse around the store, overwhelming the senses of shoppers. Upon scratching onto the experiential wall, it releases the scent of roses allowing shoppers to get a preview of the smell.

Transitional Space

The transitional space serves as a preview of the overall flagship store before shoppers enters. Different coloured pod gives a sneak preview of the senses that will be tapped into as well as associating the specific colours that matches with the scent and senses.

Yellow Experiential Zone

The texture wall for the yellow zone is left exposed in comparison to the other zones as the zone tapped onto its texture such as its smooth, citrus surfaces to provide a different experience to shoppers.

Passage Way

The passage(way) shows how shoppers can walk through the store by their senses through visuals and scents. Certain zones are placed closely to allow shoppers to follow the type of scent they prefer as they can smell 2 different scents while walking through the space

Inhabitation (Installation)

Inhabitation is an experimentation on multiple design concepts by studying the existing habits within the site, thus creating an installation which enhances and invites the existing habits to take place within the installation. Habits in this project pertain to the routine of people. This project is an installation, a temporary feature on site for a 3 – 6 months duration.

Portal of Memories

Modular cubes that are hollow serve as a portal of memories to users. These boxes are like a frame captured in one’s mind, creating memories. What one sees in each box may not be what others see, hence the “memories” captured in these modular cubes differ for each individual.

Reflective Memories

Mirrors trigger a form of reflected memories such that when one peers into a mirror, what they are seeing is being reflected. This reflection alters memory, as what lies before their eyes will eventually become a memory of the past. What one sees today will become a memory tomorrow. The mirrors reflect what users see, turning it into the past.

Inhabitation

This installation allows users to identify and interact with the modular cubes such that the big modular cubes can be used as a space where one sits to read. The smaller cube serves as a step to get from one space to another. It also provides users use it as a sitting or discussion spot.

The Irreversible Cycle: Life and Death (Exhibition)

The Manifesto project is a curation of an exhibition which consists of a constructed narrative that ties the selected collection of installations and art pieces together as a coherent whole, creating a themed exhibition space. A life cycle is defined as the developmental stages that occur during an organism’s lifetime. A life cycle ends when an organism dies. Life and death are a continuous cycle, making birth and death different ends of the same spectrum of existence. This continuing loop of life, death, and rebirth is at the heart of everyday living.

The Irreversible Cycle: Life and Death (Exhibition)

Spatial context of the exhibition which includes a summarised overview of the exhibition’s narrative and its journey from the beginning to the end.

Floating Time (Mid Life Cycle)

In the dark space where lights emitting are mainly from the exhibited pieces, a black curtain is used to separate the artworks so that the lights and its effect does not seep through the spaces, allowing visitors to immerse each space fully.

Decomposition (Dying/Decomposing Cycle)

The decomposition space consists of artworks which represents death and how it can also be in the form of decaying.

Corridor Transition (Death Cycle)

Leading to the next exhibited object, mirrors are placed with the intention of providing a preview of the next artwork, Archive of Deathclock, as well as having the visitors to be a part of the artwork.

Re-Imagined Spaces: The play of light and shadow in our everyday life

This project started with questions of how the duality of light and shadow, that is so significant in our lives, impact us on a daily basis. I believe that light and shadow has the ability to evoke one’s emotions in a space even in very mundane spaces. 'Re-imagined Spaces' aims to investigate the notion of light and shadow and how it can affect in representing a space. Through a selection of ordinary and common spaces, the projects questions the possibilities of how these spaces can be re-imagined when light and shadow is used as the driving force of the space.

Part One: Exploration of light and shadow

The documentation covers 8 various sites in Singapore to explore the existence of light and shadow in our daily life. Ideas from the collection of photographs from the site visits are translated into simple study models. Through it, making discoveries on how light and shadow can affect our spatial experience.

Part Two: The Rhythm of Shadows

Looking into the play of light and shadow in everyday spaces, a transitional space was chosen as the typology of this project. A hospital can be a very anxiety charged place for some visitors. Thus, this project aims to target users from the hospital and explore how light and shadow can momentarily evoke a sense of calmness through the transition. The idea of rhythm and intensity of light and shadow was explored. Darkness evokes a form of mysteriousness and portrays silence. The forms of shadow becomes more rigid and darker when reaching the middle of the transition walkway. The idea of darkness, minimal light and stillness evoke silence in the space and aims to create a contemplative atmosphere.

At the darkest and most still point of the walkway, a slit allows a ray of light to enter the space. The only benches are placed here to encourage one to momentarily remain at this place.

Part Three: Sanctuary Café

This part looks into the typology of an ordinary food court. The project aims to create a relaxing space for people to dine in, contrasting to the surrounding fast paced and crowded environment. It will explore how the interplay of light and shadow create a comfortable experience in such a setting. The project explores calmness through the use of water. In particular, the experience is catered for solo diners.

Moving forward, the glass floor is removed and replaced with glass steps, revealing the texture of the water. The light strips aims to entice people to continue walking forward, while the black tiles gives a sense of depth.

Nearest to the kitchen is the short-term dining area. The curved seating is intended to break the linear geometry and also make it harder for users to communicate, giving more privacy to solo diners. Sounds from the cascading water fountain behind the panels can be heard to create the calming sound.

For the private pods, shoji screens are used as the materials for the partitions to keep it less rigid yet maintain the level of privacy. The screens will also reveal the shadows of people. As it is a really long corridor, the alcove will give depth to the shadows and users will be drawn towards that as they walk through.

The visual and audio aspects of water is strategically integrated into the design of each space to help create the calming experience.

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.

Environmental issues have been so much more important to me in recent years, and that has influenced the ways I approach the type of projects I want to do and how I want to execute them. For my Final Year Project, I wanted to explore the possibilities of how we can live with the least carbon footprint as possible. This will be done by tackling how HDBs can be reconfigured in order to be more self-reliant and self-sustainable. As we live through a strange time, through the COVID-19 pandemic, the notion of being more self-reliant and self-sustainable is more relevant than ever.

This collage was my way of expressing a ‘futuristic’ Singapore and how Archigram’s unbuilt projects could become a reality. My project was very inspired by Archigram and the theory of Rubanisation by Tay Kheng Soon. The idea of Plug-In City constantly evolving to meet the needs of people, and by having all the resources needed in one mega-machine – without harming the environment, was something that intrigued me. I wanted to combine those ideas, with the strategies of Rubanisation, to redefine how we live today so that we live with the least carbon footprint.

This is a series of materials made from waste. Gas, oil, consumerism, electricity, transportation and every other form of human activity, contributes to our carbon footprint. I asked myself, what if I could make my own spoon? Knowing that waste is a great carbon footprint contributor, I wanted to explore how household waste could be reused and made into something new, to kick-start the project. What if I made my own spoon using banana peels? That would mean I do not have to buy a new spoon - I do not contribute to consumerism and energy to produce a new spoon, and I get to reduce and reuse my waste, promoting a circular economy. 1. Milk + Vinegar 2. New-paper (made from waste paper) 3. New-clay (made from waste paper) 4. New-clay 5. Alternative Banana Peel Material 6. ABPM lamp shade 7. New-paper + ABPM 8. Slab of ABPM 9. New-paper 10. Weaving ABPM 11. New-paper + ABPM 12. Weaving ABPM with mesh

This neighbourhood is the site I chose as it already had a lot of existing amenities that I could work with to create a new masterplan. The analysis and masterplans done were based on the strategies of Rubanisation. My main objective was to ensure that no building was just purely residential, it had to be combined with another programming.

The diagrams of different configurations were a process of redistributing the existing amenities from the site, to one HDB building. Although this idea sounds like a Mixed Used Development, I was exploring an idea away from that typology, hence I decided on Diagram 6 as its configuration was most different from a MUD. I then translated this idea to a very draft collage to envision the type of spaces I wanted to have. To continue, I traced over the collages so that I could draw out how certain spaces could relate to one another. It was very important to sketch them so that they came together as one whole space. In order to redefine the way, we live, I chose to focus on a HDB building because it is the most common form of local housing.

What if HDB blocks had everything we needed? A pandemic-proof, zombie apocalypse-proof housing, because we would not need to leave our homes? My vision of a new HDB typology was to combine everything in a neighbourhood, into a singular block. Having urban farms are integral for residents to be able to grow their own food. This new typology is all about self-reliance, self-sustainability and a circular economy. This compilation shows the final iteration of the collage and how in reflects on a HDB from the site. The diagrams on the right show the circulation of the different spaces, programming and space planning.

To decrease carbon footprint, the principle of sharing is very important. For instance, not everyone cooks, hence, not everyone needs a kitchen. Layout explorations 1 and 2 were to explore the optimal potential of a HDB floor plate and how many bedrooms there could be by creating a central node of common areas. Traditional HDB units were eliminated for a floor to become one. With reference to my envisioned HDB typology, I decided to develop Level 9, which consisted of co-working spaces, farm, common areas and residential.

Inspired by Archigram’s Plug-In city and how it is able to adapt and change to the needs of its users, I wanted to incorporate this idea to the residential quarters by designing adaptable bedrooms. The bedrooms can be made bigger or smaller depending on the user. By having this flexibility, it lessens the likelihood of people having to move homes which in turn decreases the demand for new housing. Hence, this could possibly lessen buildings that need to be built and thus decreasing our carbon footprint.

This series of models is an ideation of furniture design. There is also potential to incorporate the earlier exploration of alternative materials, with the construction of the furniture.

This series of models is to explore the design of the common areas. I wanted to explore how people could come together, their co-existence in this new typology and their co-existence with nature. The idea was to create spaces without having to build solid walls, so that the spaces could be open and allow for natural ventilation to take place. By being more open, the common areas are also able to seamlessly connect with the other spaces.

HOME, TOO

Location: Interior design studio @ SIT, TP. When i first spoke to a group of migrant construction workers, it sparked off the idea of wanting to find out more about how one feels a sense of homeliness and how do one build their own home away from home. In his book titled "HOME: A SHORT HISTORY OF AN IDEA", Rybczynski compares the sense of homeliness to an onion. Onions are simple on the outside but complex on the inside, like homeliness, when dissected - it just does not make any sense and it cannot be measured. Anyone can recognise the sense of homeliness but have troubles explaining why they like it. However, he states that the Onion theory of comfort (domestic comfort) is essentially about convenience, efficiency, leisure, ease, pleasure, domesticity, intimacy and privacy. As my first project, i would want to find out how do one create a sense of home in the most minimal amount of space away from home. Everyone has a certain sense of attachment to a certain place, as for me, I decided to use my school's studio as my chosen site. The studio is where students spend most of their day there (design intervention can be used in offices and classrooms also) and my design intervention draws inspiration from our very own bedroom spaces. The way how i approached my intervention is based on these 4 main pointers: 1. the different degrees of private/ public spaces 2. the control over your own boundaries 3. the flexibility of space for interaction between people 4. the need for personalization of objects.This table shows the exploration of new materials in co-relation to the modules proposed.

HOME, TOO

In due respect to the current layout of the studio and not break the openness, I did a minor addition to the existing space. I implemented a grid ceiling that holds several elements in which the user can pull down/ take out to configure their own desired space and outcome. This current view shows the plastic netting (made out of deconstructed ziplock bags) acting as a form of partition when pulled down, hence the user can configure it based on their preferred privacy level.

HOME, TOO

The modular blocks are made out of material scraps found around the studio, all wrapped up inside a sewn-together ziplock bag. These blocks can be used however the user prefers - lying down, sitting, leaning, etc.

PLASTEAC

Location: Tekka centre Ultimately, to build the essence of home is about the people and I personally feel the need for not only the Migrant Workers, but also our own locals to not chase the papers but build communities instead. . I drew a parallel of our very own living and dining room where our families commune. Hence, I decided to use Tekka Market as my site as it is a public commune space. Having their vision as the "People’s Market" and a wide variety of audience, it made a good touch point to promote it as a space for interaction and communing there. Also,Tekka Market is home to the Migrant Workers during Sundays. My design intervention and program intends to push optimisation and promote this movement where we make use of things around us to build our own homes anywhere as a community. As there are several tea shops in the vicinity, I have chosen to promote tea culture into the space as tea is a common multi-cultural element and a good catalyst for conversation starters. The scattered layout contrasts with the traditional linear layout so as to give a sense of adventure to the patrons in the space to go around and attend different tea related workshops and source for the different flowers and herbs available for tea blending.

PLASTEAC

Plastic crates are readily available in the wet market and hawker centre. Inspired by the stacking of crates in the existing space, this terrain is where people can enjoy a different dining experience as compared to the original hawker seating. Patrons can also forage from the hanging down plants and from the crates.

PLASTEAC

This space holds the various workshops - tea-infused cooking workshop in the open kitchen, tea dye fabric and paper workshop. Also, this is where patrons blend their foraged herbs or flowers with tea here, This various workshops are marked out by the various coloured scrap fabrics canopy hanging down, In which, the fabrics are sourced from the 2nd storey retail area.

RE-KEA

The existing sewing service is instead, incorporated into the space to be used for sewing workshops. The exisiting walls separating the AS-IS section to the customer service area is removed so that the patrons do not have to walk through the whole of IKEA just to get to the exit.The netting on top acts a dumping ground of the unwanted furniture parts and celebrates the “unsightly” instead.

Location: IKEA (Tampines), AS-IS section To create a home away from home, one just requires a community and they would be resourceful to find what’s around them to build their own shelter. Applying what I have explored from my previous 2 projects, I chose IKEA as the first baby step to promote this movement for the masses to learn and apply it to their daily lives. IKEA pride themselves as a DIY company, however everything is still controlled based on what generates income - from their store layout that restricts consumers from walking around freely and the products flat-packed for one to build. People are drawn to IKEA’s products as when one DIYs, they build a stronger sense of accomplishment and attachment to the product. However, if one deconstructs IKEA’s furniture, you would realize that they actually use found materials, hidden beneath the mask of a capitalist / a major company supporting capitalism. Hence, i would want to further push the idea of DIY - just by being resourceful and make use of any found objects/ materials lying around your own and piece them yourself, you might even get a more durable furniture that you can personalize and feel a bigger sense of achievement. I would like patrons to find more value in the furnitures of IKEA's AS-IS section. That section is already strategically placed near the exit, with its main purpose is to sell rejected or defected goods from customers.Issues: underutilized recycling area, wrapping station and sewing service could serve more purpose, the as-is section is just not curated as compared to the self-serve furniture area. Materials I could consider to use: the IKEA catalogue, the FRAKTA shopping bags and the free pencils and rulers.

RE-KEA

The broken ‘frakta’ bags are repurposed by sewing them together to form a partition. It can even store the loose furniture parts for patrons to create our very own furniture by piecing them themselves. The Original MALM bed is placed beside the DIY bed to serve as inspiration for the patrons to configure their own furnitures. The exisiting underutilized wrapping station outside is instead, incoporated into the space and scattered around the whole area to be used for DIYfurniture and wrapping workshops.

RE-KEA

The wall is made of the scrap furniture parts, and the gaps creates a sense of semi-privacy between the as-is section and the staff area. With the power of repetition, even to the micro level - the free IKEA pencils, can be repurposed to form a ceiling feature for zoning, or a work mat or even a partition to give a little more privacy for the user using the sewing machine.

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.

UOB Plaza installation

We commonly perceive boundary as a form of physical segregation, rather than as a state of mind. Using the construct of efficiency as a focus on this study, the physical intervention is designed disrupt the psychological boundary. The idea of boundary as a state of mind stems from the observation of people's behaviors during the course of their commute. In a journey, different events may occur, efficiency results in people being fixated on their next destination, often forgoing interacting with their surroundings, like an intangible imaginary boundary around an individual.

UOB Plaza installation

Much of these observations lay testament to Pierre Bourdieu's theory of Habitus, which mentions ingrained habits, skills and dispositions, the way that individuals perceive the social world around them and react to it. An intervention in the end brings about a platform of interaction to an open fast paced region. However this opens up a new question, must boundaries be blurred? or can they be balanced.

243 Joo Chiat Road

This project explores the notion of balance, using a shophouse unit at Joo Chiat Road to carry out this investigation. Joo Chiat has an interesting mix of contrasting functions under one roof, typically segregated by levels. Using existing functions of a bar, habitation and KTV, this project tries to build a reciprocal relationship by blurring the physically boundaries through an interconnection of the functions.

243 Joo Chiat Road

This project uses the idea that lights give preeminence to the active functions at a given time and vice versa. Forms used create different levels of privacy for various functions, whilst light and materials determine the degree of privacy. The denotation of shadows, light exposure over times of the day and form allow for allocating of functions, functions categorized according to their levels of privacy

243 Joo Chiat Road

In the space, activities of each function are exposed to one another. The KTV here can be seen in contrast to the bar, artificial lights from the KTV indicate its dominance in activity at night, while daylight of day reveals the bar open as an eatery and the active function of the moment.

243 Joo Chiat Road

Apart from lights to denote boundaries, forms and materials are important. Consistent materials that pertain to particular functions subtly indicate the domain of public and private. Difference in forms denote the difference in domains. The denser and more rigid forms indicate the habitation area, while more open areas denote the public areas. All of which are connected to each other in different ways. The question of balance in boundaries among functions may not solve immediate problems, but rather opens up avenues on boundaries and their intangibility, and how they can experiment with in the vast domain of interior design.

The living room

Project 3: The mall is my living room (co-existing). Since Funan co-living is located in the mall, using the layout to allow the resident of the co-living to venture out and use the entire mall as its living room, wardrobegamesdining to workliveplay.

open living

project 3: Co-living- using the idea of IKEA showroom, as a living space for my co-living where everyone is able to mingle and live together and experience a different experience of co-living.