Yap Ying Hui loved drawing and creating since she was a child. She always knew she wanted to be in the art and design industry. This led her to enrol in the BA (Hons) in Design Communication course to pursue her dream.

In 2020, Ying Hui was awarded the Sunway University Art and Design scholarship and began her studies with financial aid. She is personally proud for receiving the talent-based scholarship, as it helped her study without bringing any financial burden on her parents. The scholarship motivated her to do better in her studies and grow her skills carefully.

Ying Hui’s student journey started online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While she did not have physical classes, she would visit the campus to do work, use the library, and conduct photoshoots. Online learning was difficult as she found it hard to connect with her peers or join any clubs. However, in her final semesters, she had the chance to hold a physical graduation showcase on campus.

As the organiser of CLOUD 2022(https://instagram.com/cloudbysoa), Ying Hui enjoyed allocating tasks and making sure everything went well. The experience boosted her confidence in being a leader. It also allowed her to meet new people, work with them and create long-term friendships before graduating. The graduation showcase is a fond memory for her, as it introduced her to a group of friends that she now cherishes.

The BA (Hons) in Design Communication course taught Ying Hui the basics of printing, layout, and visual design. It also helped to build Ying Hui’s eye for design, so she could propose ideas that help the community. Her company recently had a charity project with an orphanage, where she guided kids in drawing for Earth Day. The artworks were scanned and edited into a series of collages to be made into merchandise she designed. A portion of the sales will go back into funding the orphanage.

Ying Hui joined her current company, Kittieyiyi, as part of an internship training program. As an intern, she learnt the ropes and grew to love the office culture there. She met many wonderful individuals with unique personalities and a kind boss. She decided to stay on with the company as a full-time employee and dedicate her time, love, and effort to building Kittieyiyi's brand.

When she first joined the workforce, Ying Hui was afraid because she had no design job experience. But, after multiple product launches, events, and solo design projects, she pushed herself to grow and create better visuals. Over time, Ying Hui transitioned to become the sole lead designer for Kittieyiyi. 

“Being the only in-house designer is a lot of responsibility,” Ying Hui comments. She finds it stressful, but when sales come in or customers compliment their work, she feels that the stress is worth it. Her proudest achievement so far is being art director for a recent campaign, curating an eyeshadow palette series for the company and handling the execution of it herself. She describes it as a hectic, but fun and memorable experience.

To Ying Hui, being able to create art for people to enjoy is a luxurious job. It is also a rough and competitive scene to be in. Despite the challenges, Ying Hui holds close to her childhood dreams and says she would still choose design in another life! 

Edited by:
Elizabeth Marie Edwin
School: School of Arts
Email: [email protected]