The below interview was published on The Asian Entrepreneur in October 2020. Thanks to Callum Laing.
What’s your story?
I have been a graphic designer based in Singapore since 2009. I have worked in both agency and in-house environments, for brands in a variety of industries.
My business, Studio Giraffe, was born out of a desire for variety. I wanted to expand on my design experience with a strategic approach, while learning how to run a business. Working for myself gives me the opportunity to work with clients from a range of industries, which is creatively fulfilling while also giving me a lot more flexibility than I had before. I also get to supplement my design expertise with marketing and copywriting work; or anything else that comes my way. Every day is completely different and that’s incredibly exciting.
What excites you most about your industry?
The growth I have seen in the design industry over the last 10 years has been incredible. From having to explain to people what a graphic designer does when I first entered the field; to seeing businesses in every industry invest in their design capabilities, it has been a massive change. It’s a really exciting time to be in this space, as everyone from MNCs to startups are taking the importance of design very seriously. I enjoy working with clients from various industries because it gives me an insider perspective on so many different products and services. Every project is unique and I’m constantly delving into something new.
What is your connection to Asia?
I spent most of my childhood in India, then moved to Singapore in 2009 and have been here ever since. Singapore offers proximity to home and family while giving me the opportunity to experience a diverse workforce and capitalise on the network I have built here over the past decade.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
While Singapore has been my base throughout my career, as part of a regional marketing team in my previous job, I had the opportunity to work with stakeholders across APAC (occasionally even designing in Chinese or Japanese!). I would still say Singapore is my favourite city to work in – there is a great deal of opportunity here for designers and entrepreneurs in general.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
My father has always been incredibly supportive of my efforts with Studio Giraffe and I consider all of his advice and ideas invaluable to the growth of my business. His field may be engineering while mine is design, but the principles of customer service, management and a growth mindset remain the same.
Who inspires you?
I consider my father to be my mentor. He started his company 21 years ago and built it from the ground up to the huge success that it is today; but he managed it while maintaining a perfect balance in all aspects of his life. That’s what I aspire to achieve – a successful business that keeps me satisfied with the work I’m doing while also affording me enough time and money to spend on things outside work that are just as valuable.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
I have been recently listening to the 99 Percent Invisible podcast, and there was a fascinating episode about Singapore that showed me a completely unknown side of the country after 11 years of living here. I don’t want to spoil it by giving too much away, but I learned a lot about the history of cemeteries and cremation in Singapore.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I would tell myself to worry a little less and not be too afraid of the unknown – that’s where the opportunity for growth is.
How do you unwind?
Baking, reading, home decor, podcasts. I am also trying to get back to my fine art roots with some digital illustration on the iPad!
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
I visited Taiwan some time ago and absolutely loved it – I’m hoping to make another trip there as there’s so much more I want to see. Loved the weather, the vibe, the people and the food!
Everyone in business should read this book:
For designers – Work for Money, Design for Love by David Airey
Shameless plug for your business:
Studio Giraffe creates design driven solutions for marketeers, small business owners, MNCs and individuals. We work with clients of all sizes and from a variety of industries: insurance, sustainability, recruitment, FMCG, software, fintech, travel management, F&B, health & wellness, and more. The goal of every project is not just to create something aesthetically appealing; but also to properly communicate with the brand to understand their vision and goals and then bring them to life.