“I believe designers can be involved in making people's lives better with their innovative design thinking, and I want to do that."

What motivated you to apply for an internship at The Red Pencil (Singapore)? 

Before interning at The Red Pencil (Singapore) (RPS), I was in another internship at a comic publishing company. However, I had to quit three weeks in due to my mental health and acknowledged that I needed to rest to prevent burning out further. After I was ready to work again and began job searching online, I came across The Red Pencil and learned about creative therapy. I was intrigued by what creative therapy is about and I resonated well with The Red Pencil's mission. I never recognised it, but I often use art as self-therapy to get myself back up. Furthermore, I wanted to gain experience and insight into working in a humanitarian organisation, while applying my design skills. 

How does working for a non-profit organisation align with your personal values and career goals? 

As a designer I always believe that designers can do so much more than designing for marketing purposes or designing aesthetically appealing products. I believe designers can be involved in making people's lives better with their innovative design thinking, and I want to do that. In addition, I enjoy collaborative work where I am constantly challenged to get out of my comfort zone, and a non-profit organisation offers that. I'm not sure what organisation or company I'll be working for in the future, but I hope to use my honed design skills and be involved in making the world a better place. 

If you could solve one ‘wicked problem’, what would it be and why? 

If I could solve one ‘wicked problem', it would be global poverty. People suffer from poverty in multiple ways such as lack of access to basic needs and education. I guess I can relate to the poverty issue, even though I never experienced extreme poverty. 

When I was a child back in the Philippines, I experienced what it's like to lack access to clean water and proper sanitation, and it wasn't pleasant, especially for one's health. Poverty is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to resolve. I believe that if we can tackle global poverty, it will have a positive impact on many areas of the world. 

What is a specific accomplishment from your internship experience you’re most proud of? 

I have many enjoyable moments at RPS and small accomplishments that I'm proud of. I may say that designing the Christmas Campaign Postcard is an accomplishment that I'm proud of, but honestly, I'm most proud of the time I volunteered to assist with the Charity Art Exhibition after my internship. It was my first time experiencing a Charity Exhibition, so I thought it would be a great learning experience. 

I got to learn about the behind-the-scenes when preparing for an art exhibition. It was really eye-opening to see how meticulous the process was, such as the specific placement of artwork labels. Also, I got to learn from the new fundraising manager about the collaterals needed to capture visitors' attention, urging them to join the cause. 

Lastly, during the Charity Art Exhibition, I met different artists and gained some insights into their work and inspiration. As an introvert, I'm really proud of myself for bringing myself out there. 

How has your experience as a Marketing and Communications intern at The Red Pencil (Singapore) prepared you for your future career aspirations? 

Being a Marketing and Communications intern at RPS taught me a few things as a designer I never thought of such as what proper words to use in copywriting and planning when to post on social media. I also learned some new technical skills such as mail merge which I may find useful again in my career, especially if I do freelancing and want to send out bulk emails. 

Furthermore, I learned to tackle creative differences, which is a very important skill for creatives to have. I often struggle with working in an environment different from what I'm used to. However, I'm happy to experience that challenge so I can grow as a designer. 

Overall, the experience working as a Marketing and Communications intern at RPS has given me a better understanding of how a business works from a marketing and communications perspective as well as challenged me to grow. 

“I’m mostly proud of the time I volunteered to assist with the Charity Art Exhibition after my internship…I got to learn about the behind-the-scenes when preparing for an art exhibition."

What is your favourite form of creative expression? 

My ultimate favourite form of creative expression has always been doodling. From my journals to my notes, there will be little silly doodles of me expressing my feelings and thoughts. I have other forms of creative expression, but doodling is always my constant form of creative expression, and it's also a funny way of me communicating with others. (I added photos of my doodles J)  

What is a piece of advice you would give a prospective The Red Pencil (Singapore) intern? 

An advice I would give to a prospective RPS intern would be not to be afraid to ask for help when needed, and learn to have fun. Even if it can be monotonous at times, when you get your own energy flowing, it won't be so bad, especially when you're bonding with your co-workers.