Student Profile: Ng Foong Wai, 22

BA (HONS) INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN (3+0), KBU IN COLLABORATION WITH NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

Job title Design architect

Employer ZLG Sdn Bhd

Has been with this company for 5 months

Marc Adamus is my biggest inspiration

I am motivated by the need to make a difference

At university

I am foremost interested in the built form. I took up IAD based on my parents’ advice as it is a less demanding profession compared to architecture.

My course was about interior design but through our reference texts I was also exposed to architectural work on a rather general level, appreciating their forms, cultural and historical context. My final-year project was essentially to design multiple spaces with varied functions and group them into a unifying identity. Through this, I learned how to look at my design from small scale to a larger scale.  I am also enamoured of chain reactions: how one thing reacts to and affects the next.

I would fine-tune my designs for the best possible balance in entirety. Because in real life you only get to build a building once, I try to cover as much ground as possible in its design, and think through how the entire space will function when it is occupied.

My company and job

My company is a medium-sized firm with a minimalist design language. My job ranges from attending meetings and writing minutes to liaising with suppliers, occasionally fleshing out designs, and other operational aspects. I have to be on my toes to make up for the gap between my education and my work. However, it is rewarding on a personal level to learn about new things.

The best and worst bits

The best bit is that I continuously learn, while the worst bit is that reality has a budget.

My happiest moment at work

Being part of a good-humoured team. Good supportive vibes can buoy you above any challenge.

Getting the job

I previously interned in this company and didn’t have to go through a formal interview. I believe it’s my previous overall work performance that helped clinched the job. However, it’s a new ballgame now with a different work scope.

Be prepared for…

… long hours, tight deadlines and skipping meals.

Some advice

Have a good understanding of people and their needs, and be interested in many things as they are what inspire freshness. Be patient with work as it is full of speed bumps. Paper qualifications are important, but equally so is your portfolio. Having your own beliefs and style is important. Ask for help or guidance when you need it.