A beginning to an end.

Tan Yao
Tan Yao
Aug 27, 2017 · 2 min read

Who am I? A question that has plagued me for a number of years and is still one of the toughest questions I have ever been asked. To be honest, I’m not sure who I am. I cringe at the thought of my own existence and what to make of it as I’m sure a large part of us do. I’m still finding myself so this would be the best I can do.

I’ll skip my formative years, and all its clumsiness. School, sports, Army values, family, friends pretty much covers it. Fast forward to 2012 where I began my study at the National University of Singapore where I spent 4 years cultivating skills and knowledge in the discipline of Architecture Design. I grew up with a fervent passion for art and drawing and architecture just seemed like a natural choice to me at the time. It was a great 4 years, I learnt things that I would have otherwise have not in any other course of study. Architecture taught me how to think critically, present ideas visually, dream powerfully, and design beautifully. It was the reason for me falling in love with design, and respecting the methodology required for any form of it.

However, the reason why I chose to deviate from a career in architecture is one of interest. After 4 years of studying, I came to a realization that despite my specialization in Architecture Design, I was attracted more towards the latter. I realized that I don’t have a passion for architecture, but rather a passion for design in itself. To me, design is in its most fundamental sense, problem solving. Regardless of aesthetics, design is meant to improve upon a certain problem, issue or fill a lack of something. I saw myself with a problem at the end of my study. I could not picture myself working as an architect for the rest of my life, especially so in Singapore where creativity is stifled to a certain degree. Interestingly enough, the solution to my problem was problem solving, design.

This brings me to where I am currently, typing this out while anxiety fills up within me as I think about starting a 3 month course in UX design which I admit makes me feel like a fish out of water. It might suffice to say that I have a little experience in design and that would probably help me to an extent, nevertheless, experiencing something new always makes me nervous. I learnt about UX design through online reading and friends who have dabbled in the industry. It struck a chord with me because whenever UX design was explained to me, it reminded me of the way I learnt how to design in my architecture study. It was something familiar yet foreign, intriguing to say the least. What attracted me the most was the fact that design can be used to change lives and improve the world, and UX design is a perfect rung of the ladder for me to climb towards that goal. I am excited, anxious, but excited.

)
    Tan Yao

    Written by

    Tan Yao