Soh Jin Wen is a proud March 2021 alumna of the BA (Hons) in Design Communication programme. As a Junior Illustrator for Start Something Studios, a digital marketing company based in Singapore, her responsibilities include working with the art team to illustrate comics, artworks and web and game assets for internal and external projects. Additionally, she works with the marketing team to design social media visuals for the company’s clients.

Jin Wen describes her Sunway University experience as a time when she cherished an enjoyable learning environment. Her 3 years spent at the university seemed to pass by in a flash as she gained genuine interest in the subjects offered by her programme. “Although I wasn’t the most active student in terms of extracurricular activities, I still had so much fun; even during stressful times it felt so fulfilling to be there,” she comments, adding that her university life and friendships made were amazing experiences she would not trade for the world.

The BA (Hons) Design Communication programme equipped her with technical skills such as illustration, software utilisation, and utilising the design thinking process, which allowed her to communicate easily and consult with colleagues and supervisors through every step of her work. Jin Wen expresses her gratitude to the dedicated academic staff in the Department of Art, Design and Media for guiding her throughout her journey. “I have got to thank Mr Chen for helping me see the light of motion graphics! It’s one of my favourite mediums to work with now. Learning motion graphic animation with Adobe After Effects during my degree has greatly helped me in improving the interactivity of my work and producing more compelling visuals.” Apart from her academic life, the university also provided for her mental well-being through Sunway’s professional school counsellors. Jin Wen credits them for guiding her through some of her darkest times.

Additionally, communication, teamwork and stress management were skills Jin Wen picked up alongside the technical skills in art and design. The programme’s course structure and varied assignments taught her how to convey ideas clearly and execute them in an orderly manner while fostering better communication when working with team members. Meanwhile, she gained flexibility in her working style, allowing her to work both in teams and on her own. The pace of her assignment works developed her ability to work in a face-paced environment, granting her a higher tolerance to stress in high-pressure situations. Jin Wen mentioned that the programme allowed its students to foster their brand of creativity, pushing them to think outside the box for bigger and better ideas as they adapt to problems that arise.

Reflecting deeper upon her experience, Jin Wen stated that the programme opened her eyes to the importance of art and design in society. It expanded her horizons as she learnt of the role art and design play in influencing the general opinions of society, instilling values and spreading messages. This inspired her to give back, by utilising her skills to do art illustration commissions as a method of fundraising for flood victims. She comments, “Art and design can be a shared experience that generates topics of discussion, or at times provide a sense of escape for those who need it. Everyone experiences illustration, art, and design differently and I just find it so beautiful that we collectively can bond through it.”