BA (Hons) Design Communication alumna Elyssa Tan Mei Qenn has had many passions and interests throughout her life, but her one constant was in making art. After considering opportunities in various industries, from medicine to biotechnology, the curiosity and challenge to take her drawing skills as far as she could brought her to the Sunway University School of Arts under the Department of Art, Design and Media.

Elyssa fondly recalled the beginning of her Sunway journey at orientation, where the first person she met - amongst students from all programmes - happened to be a fellow coursemate. The chance encounter made her first few classes more comfortable and she came out of her shell and interacted with her coursemates easily. Elyssa found her student life fun and enriching as she attended classes alongside interesting people of various backgrounds, ethnicities, and even prior fields of study. “We learned together, we struggled with assignments together, we had laughed together – it was never a dull moment going to class,” she reflected.

Studying in the Design Communication programme broadened Elyssa’s mind while allowing her to narrow her scope of focus within the design discipline. She learnt the qualities and skills needed in the creative industry, with hands-on projects that taught her values beyond what can be learned by mere observation. The programme taught her how to deliver effective messages and impressions to the audience to sell products or skills, carefully taking elements like colour palettes and marketing materials into consideration. Additionally, she picked up the ability to be flexible within a team by experiencing being both a team leader and a team member in various group projects.

Graduating from the class of 2021, Elyssa is now a game asset and graphics designer for Optimai Sdn. Bhd., the company she completed her internship with. “I started as an intern who struggled to create relevant artwork that was in synch with the game’s overall message about investment, to becoming a graphic designer who knows how to weave themes into work. I’m still new, but I know that every day I learn something new with each challenge I overcome,” the alumna commented.

Elyssa is particularly thankful to the Department of Art, Design and Media lecturers Ms Helen Guek and Ms Perline Siek for fostering a fun and conducive place of learning. Through assignment feedback sessions, she was able to learn the proper terms used in the creative industry, which now allows her to contribute to project discussions effectively by accurately describing points of improvement in any one design element.

Overall, Elyssa’s initial curiosity about the limit of her own ability brought her through a journey of constant improvement and growth, which she has never regretted. Reflecting on this, she firmly believes that a willingness to learn new things and an ability to view criticism as suggestions for improvement are crucial character skills that should be developed to grow and overcome challenges. “The first is an essential skill as sometimes you have to do so to prove your worth out there, to create the impression that you and only you have the experience and knowledge to make something work or be better. The second takes time to master. Behind every critique is a person passionate and determined to make something work. Remember that and you’ll be a more valuable employee overall.”