Mother Knows…Best?

Mother Knows…Best? is a semi-fictional and semi-autobiographical illustrated publication based on a series of conversations with my family and close friends. The publication explores stories of emotional inheritance in Singapore from a Generation-Z perspective and serves as a means of self-reflection of my own experience.

Emotional inheritance is the transmission of emotions from generation to generation. In studying the intergenerational transmission of trauma, also known as generational trauma, where the effects of a traumatic incident get passed down from those who directly experienced the incident to subsequent generations, we investigate how our ancestors’ unprocessed emotions, especially trauma, are passed down as an emotional inheritance, leaving a trace in our minds and in those of future generations.

Through storytelling, the publication will allow greater awareness and understanding of this phenomenon, and educate the various nuanced and layered ways in which emotional inheritance manifests in family units and their dynamics. This will encourage readers to make sense of their own experience, as well as provide them with a culturally appropriate, pragmatic and accessible means for retrospection.

Playful Bygones: The Novelty of an Expired Era

PLAYFUL BYGONES: The Novelty of an Expired Era is an experimental zine that embraces the delightful lunacy of play through journalism, illustration and design. “Play culture” may be a nebulous concept at times – but it is a perfect reflection of the norms and values of a society at any given moment, deserving of its own documentation and celebration.

Nearby

Nearby is a mobile application designed to facilitate interpersonal connections and foster a sense of community among neighbours in Singapore.

In contrast to the declining trend of neighbourly interactions, the app seeks to rejuvenate the kampung spirit by providing a platform for users to engage in authentic interactions with their neighbours. With features such as finding events and interest groups in the area and connecting with like-minded neighbours who share common interests, Nearby aims to promote meaningful relationships and strengthen bonds within the community.

Lessons in Colour

Colour is one of the most influential tools in design, with the ability to influence the way one perceives and interprets the world. Being such an integral subject, the symbolism of colour is frequently thought to be knowledge that designers should be familiar with. Yet a designer’s understanding of colour is often limited to the colour theory taught in schools. Colour is also often understood through the theories and practices of people with normal colour vision. While this is not wrong, it is important to acknowledge that the meanings of colours extend beyond what is taught in textbooks or in educational materials. Each individual’s perception of colour is highly unique and subjective, and designers could benefit from gaining a new perspective that could demonstrate the vast richness of colours and their symbolism.

Hence, this project studies the meaning of colours by understanding the perspectives of individuals with colour vision deficiency to showcase a different way of viewing colours that is outside of what is typically known. It aims to document a designer’s personal journey in relearning the meaning of colours in order to rethink the way colours can be used, thought about, and learned.

Safe Food, Save Lives

Reactions caused by food allergies can have a significant impact on a person’s lifestyle. A reaction can range from mild to severe, including life-threatening anaphylaxis. Despite the existing food safety rules and guidelines, many Singapore hawker centres continue to provide inadequate food options for people with food allergies. Therefore restricting their access to affordable and safe food. As food allergies continue to become more prevalent, this poses physical, emotional, and economic concerns that must be addressed (Cummings et al., 2010).

The project Safe Food, Save Lives aims to provide creative strategy, solutions and insights into the stakeholder ecosystem along the food allergy journey. While there is currently no way to completely eliminate the risk of food allergies, there are steps that can be taken to mitigate the risk of allergic reactions occurring in hawker centres.

Cummings, A. J., Knibb, R. C., King, R. M., & Lucas, J. S. (2010). The psychosocial impact of food allergy and food hypersensitivity in children, adolescents and their families: a review. Allergy, 65(8), 933–945. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02342.x