Steph (33) & Pivoting Prowess
This article was written in collaboration with Don’t Mind If (DMI) to document and archive creative journeys of those who labour within Singapore’s Communication Design industry and community. This is a preview of the entry.
We met Steph, freelance arts & culture writer and creative producer, for some boat noodles all the way back in August. Having read her self-published volume, Self-Made; written over 2 years and multiple trips across the region, we were ecstatic to learn about her interest in releasing another project of a similar make, about her love for hawkers and the culinary sphere. Here’s how this aspiring Rockstar Graphic Designer pivoted to writing, producing and being a mom to the bestest boy.
Steph’s work space
“I am a writer and creative producer. As a writer, I take on a mix of art, culture and design editorials, as well as branding and publication work. For producing, it can range from design projects to programming spaces and short films. It may seem like I wear many hats but the things that I do actually inform one another.”
“The fact that I’m a generalist or jack of some trades and master of none isn’t something I consciously set out to do. I think the work that I do is a result of my going with the flow, being open to new things and making the most out of the opportunities I’ve been given.”
“(On the process of putting Self-Made together) I’ve always been fascinated by Southeast Asia and wanted to get to know our backyard better. What better way than to see it through the eyes of creatives—in the context of their work?”
“From late 2018 – early 2020, I began taking short bi-monthly trips to interview the subjects face to face. Apart from reaching out to people who I got to know through my work, I also contacted people via cold-emailing/ calling. After each interview, I would begin the process of transcribing and turning them into prose. However, the bulk of writing, editing and putting it all together happened from May to July 2020—at the height of the covid-19 lockdown.”
“I think empathy is the most important trait in what I do—be it writing or producing.”
“I had always thought of writing as a hobby and never entertained the idea of making a career out of it. In fact, I wanted to become a rockstar graphic designer but that unfortunately didn’t come naturally to me. In my first job at a creative agency, I started out as a graphic designer but transitioned to a more producing/ managing type of role. My colleagues were so much more talented! I also began editing and writing for the firm’s indie magazines. In hindsight, these were gaps in the office that I had to fill because I couldn’t do the thing that I set out to do. I struggled trying to fill these new roles while managing an identity crisis.”
“But I’ve come to realise that the sooner you acknowledge your weaknesses, the sooner you find your strengths. It’s okay to give up sometimes. That’s the only way you can open yourself up to new things that suit you better.”
Steph tells us fondly of her father’s two loves (Teochew Muay and Steamed Fish) - he runs White House Teochew Porridge on Serangoon Road
