Bringing Ideas to Life Through Design

For those with creativity, drive and a passion for design like Shannon Teoh Yi Wen, the DesignSingapore Scholarship offers a unique opportunity to pursue a higher education in design.

Since its inception in 2005, the DesignSingapore (Dsg) Scholarship has supported 73 scholars who have become design leaders who transform organisations and drive innovation through cross-disciplinary collaboration. The Dsg Scholarship holds tremendous potential for aspiring designers, offering fully subsidised tuition fees and comprehensive support for holistic development, paving the way to an impactful career. One of its recent recipients, Shannon Teoh Yi Wen, can attest to its impact.

Shannon’s passion for design was ignited at a young age when he first interacted with Apple’s intuitive devices. “The interaction design of Apple products first inspired my interest in digital design,” he shared. The sleek aluminium bodies, multi-touch screens, and skeuomorphic textures of the first iPhone and MacBook captivated him. “These products made me instantly obsessed with the possibilities in digital and interface design,” Shannon revealed.

Having earned a Diploma in Visual Communications and Media Design from Singapore Polytechnic, Shannon considered the Dsg Scholarship and a career in design. This path was further illuminated by Patrick Gan, co-founder of design firm BLACK, who mentored Shannon while in polytechnic. Recognising his potential, Patrick encouraged Shannon to pursue further education abroad and apply for the Dsg Scholarship.

Ever the diligent planner, Shannon had been meticulous in charting this path years earlier. “In my first year of polytechnic I submitted a five-year plan as part of a report for a module,” he recounted. This strategic plan included clearing language benchmarks and portfolio development, culminating in getting accepted into Tama Art University.

“Patrick and I talked about all possible paths; he was sure that going to Tama Art University in Japan on the Dsg Scholarship was the best option for me,” he commented. Shannon elaborated that his interest in Tama Art University began in secondary school, inspired by the works of a designer who was an alumnus.

More than financial support: every opportunity to learn and grow

Dsg offers scholars more than just financial support. “The scholarship gave me the liberty to not hold back in obtaining educational resources that would give me leverage,” Shannon said. He noted that he was able to invest in supplementary classes like lighting design. Scholars are also required to record their educational progress and periodically report back to Dsg. Shannon found the process extremely helpful to his growth and academic journey. “You need to submit reports on what you learn to the talent development team—it became something I frequently referred back to, to re-learn and remember,” he added.

“The Dsg team also gave me opportunities for public speaking and networking,” he mused, reflecting on the invaluable experiences Dsg afforded him to broaden his perspective. For example, in his first year, Shannon tagged along as executives from DesignSingapore Council met entrepreneurs, architects, and designers in Japan – a rare opportunity he is still thankful for today. “It opened my eyes to new ways of thinking,” he said.

Merging journalism and design

After graduating, the inevitable challenge of transitioning from academia to the working world awaited. Having interned at design firms and freelanced for a Japanese tech startup, Shannon was well-equipped to handle this transition. “I had worked part-time with two design firms prior to university and did freelance work as an undergraduate. These experiences helped my transition,” he noted.

Backed by his academic and work experience, Shannon secured a job as a Digital Designer in The Straits Times’ Digital Graphics department, where he now works with a team of data visualisation journalists, designers, and developers. “We use a variety of digital tools to bring things to life, from 2D drawings to virtual reality. This includes using lasers to take measurements and capture movements, and turning photos into 3D models,” he explained.

Shannon’s role involves ideation, design, and writing code for interactive and data- driven stories. His work calls on his skills in Adobe graphic design software like Illustrator as well as 3D tools like Blender and code libraries like Svelte and D3.js.

Creating designs that entertain and innovate

Looking ahead, he aspires to create entertaining and easy-to-understand interactions that push design boundaries. “Personally, I am looking at improving my 3D skills and aspire to create interactions that could be used as VR content,” Shannon shared.

Shannon recommends the Dsg Scholarship to anyone with an interest to pursue an education in design. He encourages potential applicants to “promote the distinctive merits you have and set yourself apart”. He emphasised the importance of highlighting one’s unique qualities and experiences, expressing his desire to study design in East Asia during the scholarship interview process.

Shannon’s journey as a Dsg Scholar serves as an inspiration for aspiring designers. Whether you are a student or professional, why not explore the Dsg Scholarship to drive impactful change through design?

This article was first published in BrightSparks July 2024 magazine. Reproduced with permission from Kariera Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd.