RAFFLES OP EN HO USE

2013 - AV ENUES OF

INNOVA T ION , ROA DS TO

D I SCOV ERY

On the rainy morning of 19 January, 2013, we

opened our doors to the public so they could

experience Raffles College of Higher Education first-

hand.

During the open house, hundreds of young visitors

met with lecturers and students from various

academic programmes and learnt more about the

respective curriculums, skill sets and career

opportunities. The guests had plenty of fun, rolling up

their sleeves and participated in every activity from

all the programmes.

During the activities, participants learned interesting

skills such as fabricating garments on a mini-doll,

producing iconic figures with colour paper, making

jewellery with resin, team-building with drinking

straws, the know-hows of making a good mock-tail,

and many more. It was the first time for many of

them and they were really excited!

Though it rained throughout the day, it didn’t dampen

the high-spirited event. Visitors were asking for more!

If you missed our Raffles Open-House 2013, and

would like to know more about our academic

programmes, do not hesitate to contact our friendly

education consultant at 6338 5288 or email us at

enquiries@raffles-college.edu.sg

January 2013 Issue

Team-building with drinking straws drew encores from participants.

Learning the tricks to a really tasty and eye-catching mock-tail at

the Hospitality and Tourism booth.

Aspiring Graphic Designers applying their creativity at making

iconic figures with colour paper.

UNV EI L IN G T HE LARGEST

GRA D UAT ING CO HO RT

FROM RA FFLES CO LLEG E

Prominent designers, key industry figures, foreign

emissaries and numerous distinguished guests

gathered at the Fairmont Singapore to witness the

‘Unveiling’ of the graduating cohort on the 13

December, 2012. The much anticipated Graduation

Exhibition and Showcase of Raffles College of

Higher Education wrapped up with much fanfare and

compliments from guests who attended the symbolic

event.

Visitors were enthralled by the outstanding and

innovative works from a total of 476 promising young

leaders, many of them award-winning designers and

business graduates with remarkable portfolios.

Amongst the works, there was an interactive wall of

digital portfolios showcasing the creative works from

Raffles Graphic Designers; individual portfolios of

Raffles Interior Designers which display space

planning concepts; and interactive video games

developed by Raffles Game Designers which unify

the interplay of characters, graphics, technology and

storytelling. Also, in collaboration with DHL and Fide

Fashion Weeks 2012, Raffles Fashion Designers

showcased their winning collection of 8 haute

couture dresses inspired by DHL’s branding.

Raffles College of Higher Education is proud to

unveil our graduates to the real world, equipped with

knowledge and skills to pursue their dreams.

One of the highlight during the Unveil graduation was the winning designs from the ‘DHL Fashion Design Competition’.

Left to right: Director of International Admission Office for

Mongolia - Mr. Henry Tan, Mongolia’s Ambassador to Singapore – Mdm. Delgermaa Benzragch, and CEO of Raffles Education

Corporation - Mr. Chew Hua Seng.

Left to right: Vice President, South East Asia (East) at Raffles

Education Corporation – Mr. Ong Kai How, The Secretary General of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (ICCS) – Mdm. Raffaella Orsini, and Principal & Programme Director of Fashion Design for Raffles College of Higher Education – Mr. Giuseppe

(Joe) Spinelli.

RAFFLES W IN DHL

FASHION DES IGN

COMPET I T ION

In conjunction with the much celebrated annual

fashion event, Raffles College of Higher Education

was the exclusive Design education partner for the

‘Fide Fashion Weeks and DHL Fashion Design

Competition 2012’. Raffles Fashion Designers were

given the challenge to design couture inspired

garments and submit their proposals within a short

time frame. Every design was then stringently

evaluated by a panel formed by Raffles lecturers and

DHL, and then chosen for production!

Eight of the best designs were produced and

submitted to an International Judging Panel

consisting of renowned names in the fashion

industry. The finalists’ creations were also displayed

at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands throughout

Fide Fashion Weeks 2012. At the finale, well-known

international designers and guests witnessed the

award ceremony, where Mr Didier Grumbach, the

President of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute

Couture, praised and complimented Raffles Fashion

Designers on their remarkable works.

Raffles College of Higher Education would like to

congratulate the winners, Virginia Liu Killory (Grand

Prize Winner), Aurelia Evelyn Santoso and Petrick

(First Runner-up) and Patricia Bianca Martinez Apolo

(Second Runner-up). Click here to look at their

creations.

Mr. Didier Grumbach – President of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, presented the awards to the winners at the Fide

Fashion Weeks 2012.

RAFFLES A T THE FIDE

FASHION WEEKS – AS IAN

CO UT URE EVEN ING

The Fide Fashion Weeks started off with a bang at

The Pavilion, South Promenade, beside The

Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands! Many renowned

fashion figures packed the event venue, appreciating

the magnificent pieces dressed on the models

walking down the fashion runway.

A fusion of Chinese influence and Western elegance from renowned Chinese Fashion Designer - Guo Pei.

At the Asian Couture Evening, there were a total of

four fashion shows featuring collections from four of

the most prominent Asian couturiers. The event

debuted with the much celebrated Chinese haute-

couture designer, Guo Pei, who showcased her

elegant designs and strong foundations in traditional

Chinese embroidery.

Asava’s designer-owner, Polpat Asavaprapha, a

renowned designer from Thailand known for his

designs focusing on female individuality, showcased

his stunning collections which demonstrated clean

lines, classic cuts and strong colours.

Thereafter, 43-year-old Barney Cheng, the couturier

to the stars, or, as Michael Kors coined him, ‘The

Versace of Asia’, mesmerised the audience with a

design style that displays ‘extravagant simplicity’.

Towards the end of the show, Ochirjantsan Bold of

Torgo Fashion wooed the crowd with his ‘modern

chic ethnic’ collection.

F ID E FA SHION WEEKS –

JAPAN CO UTURE EVEN ING

From French Couture Week to Japan Couture

Evening then to the latest addition of the

phenomenal Asian Couture Evening 2012, the full-

fledged line-up of couture showcases in the Fide

Fashion Week 2012 has undoubtedly left us

breathless in awe!

Featuring three of Japan’s most respected couturiers

– Somarta by Tamae Hirokawa, Junko Shimada and

Yumi Katsura – the Japan Couture evening

showcase was a testament to the event’s

commitment to provide an invaluable platform to

Asian designers, to showcase and gain wider

exposure for their creations beyond their domestic

shores.

Models showcase the colourful collection from Junko Shimada.

Formally trained by Issey Miyake, the lead designer of fashion

label SOMARTA – Tamae Hirokawa is hailed as a voice in

Japan’s new fashion industry.

RAFFLES PR INCIPA L MEET S

JAPAN ES E FASHION ICON

MR . KENZO TA KADA

At the Fide Fashion Weeks, the Principal of Raffles

College of Higher Education Singapore – Mr.

Giuseppe (Joe) Spinelli, and Fashion Design, Senior

Lecturer of Raffles College of Higher Education – Mr.

Brian Forst, met with renowned Japanese fashion

icon – Mr. Kenzo Takada, and the President of

Bunka Fashion College – Mr. Satoshi Onuma.

Mr. Kenzo is best known for being the founder of his

eponymous label Kenzo, a worldwide brand of

perfumes, skincare products and clothes.

He recently collaborated with Parisian atelier 10

Royale; his first foray into the world of high-end

jewellery.

Left to right: Fashion Design, Senior Lecturer of Raffles College of Higher Education - Mr. Brian Forst, Mr. Kenzo Takada and the Principal of Raffles College of Higher Education - Mr. Giuseppe

(Joe) Spinelli.

Left to right:, Mr. Brian Forst, Mr. Kenzo Takada and Mr. Giuseppe (Joe) Spinelli, accompanied by the President of Bunka Fashion

College - Mr. Satoshi Onuma and his guest.

RAFFLES FA SHION

DES IGN ER SHIN ES A T THE

JAKA RTA FASHIO N WEEK

2012

Raffles Fashion Designer, Jessica Tjiptoning, whose

collection was recently featured on contestants in the

hit TV series Asia’s Next Top Model, also took part in

the annual definitive fashion event in Indonesia, the

Jakarta Fashion Week 2012 held between 3 and 19

November, 2012.

“It was a totally amazing experience and a very

exciting and hectic one!” exclaimed Jessica. Stress,

time management, unforeseen situations and fatigue

- Jessica had much to deal with during the event.

Arriving at six in the morning, she would work as

quickly as possible, complete fittings, trouble-shoot

issues, only to have a no-show model - how nerve-

wracking! It’s no wonder Jessica felt it was a hectic

event.

Jessica Tjiptoning (left) with her design (right)

Jessica’s involvement in the Jakarta Fashion Week

2012 gave her the chance to work independently and

make critical decisions. At the fashion show, she

worked with one of the top choreographers in

Indonesia and was introduced to one of the top

fashion photographers of the country. Jessica’s

collection, which was showcased at the Jakarta

Fashion Week 2012, was covered on web portals

like Yahoo and Canada’s authoritative news website,

Globe and Mail.

RAFFLES FA SHION

DES IGN ER - PET R ICK

SUT R ISNO WIN S T R IP TO

JAPAN

Raffles Fashion Designer, Petrick Sutrisno, who won

himself a sponsored return air ticket to Japan, shared

how he spent his days in the culture-rich country.

The 2nd

runner-up for the JCC 2nd Sustainable

Fashion Design Contest, Petrick was given the

opportunity to visit the Bunka Fashion College and

the Nippori fabric town in Tokyo from 29 October to 4

November 2012.

Petrick proudly poses with his winning creation and Certificate of Achievement in the JCC 2

nd Sustainable Fashion Design Contest.

“I love the warm welcome here! The flight was

smooth and it’s really great to be exposed to the new

culture where people are well-educated, thoughtful

and considerate,” Petrick shared on his first day in

Japan when he visited Bunka and was introduced to

many student fashion designers from the school.

“Seeing the work displayed in the Bunka exhibition

amazed me. The work displayed demonstrated the

designers’ skills and portrayed their passion for

design. I am really happy and grateful for the

experience!” Petrick gained lots of insights on the

fashion industry in Japan. He visited the Bunka

exhibition, which was filled with many great pieces of

work from students, and also attended several

fashion shows, including a Harajuku fashion show.

UP CO MING RA FFLES

FASHION TA LENT –

PETR ICK SUT R ISNO

At the recent Japan Couture evening of Fide Fashion

Week 2012, Raffles Fashion Designer, Petrick, who

had just returned from his visit to the Bunka Fashion

College in Tokyo, proved his creative aptitude on

stage once again.

The second runner-up of the JCC 2nd Sustainable

Fashion Design Contest 2012 had his award-winning

design proudly presented before an international

audience comprising many notable individuals from

the fashion industry.

Observing the Japanese philosophy of

MONOZUKURI (craftsmanship), a long-standing

tradition of producing things that are environmentally

friendly, Petrick had to take into account fabric

characteristics, environmental aspects and minimum

wastage during the conceptualisation and production

of his creation. Adding to these challenges, he also

had to give details for his inspirations (from the

Harajuku fashion theme), conception and fabric

swatches to rationalise his design. All this he

achieved through tenacity, his runway pieces

showcasing his design excellence.

RAFFLES DES IGN ERS

S T YLE S MOD ELS ON AS IA ’S

NEXT TOP MOD EL

A burst of energy engulfs the region as the much

anticipated reality television series Asia’s Next Top

Model premiered globally on 25 November 2012 on

StarWorld TV. The new Pan-Asian television series

is a fashion-themed reality television show adapted

from the original hit TV series, America's Next Top

Model, created and hosted by Tyra Banks and

broadcasted in over 100 countries around the world.

In its pilot episode, alluring collections produced by

Fashion Designers from the Raffles College of

Higher Education were carefully chosen by

Singapore’s renowned Fashion Director, Mr Daniel

Boey, to style the 14 Asian finalists vying for the title

of Asia's Next Top Model.

In addition, Raffles Alumnus Afton Chen, designer

and co-owner of Reckless Ericka, also dressed the

finalists in their first photo-shoot challenge with

Fashion Photographer, Todd Anthony Tyler. In

support of Singapore-based Fashion Designers,

Daniel Boey was also dressed in Reckless Ericka by

Afton Chen, and Mr Howard by Tsai Ming Hung,

another Raffles Alumnus who was winner of the 29th

HEP Original Fashion Contest, Japan, 2006; 2nd

runner-up in the Asia Young Fashion Designer

Award 2006; and also winner of the Star Creation

Award 2011.

Raffles College of Higher Education is proud to be

part of this collaboration that could help inspire and

fuel the dreams of upcoming talents in the fashion

industry.

AWA RD-WINNING

ARCHIT ECT PRO F .

POMEROY MENT ORS

On 23 October 2012, students from the Raffles

Interior Design programme attended an illuminating

seminar on Sustainable Design, conducted by

award-winning eco-architect, Prof. Jason Pomeroy.

Prof. Pomeroy shares his views about design sustainability and

the environment with Raffles Interior Designers.

Prof. Pomeroy is a well-recognised authority on the subject and he holds professorship at both the University of Nottingham and Mapua Institute of Technology. His expertise in sustainable design was

demonstrated in his design of Asia’s first zero carbon house – a multi-award-winning idea house. He also published a book entitled ‘Idea House: Future Tropical Living Today’.

During the seminar, our students gained great insights from Prof. Pomeroy on various possible ways to minimise the usage of artificial lighting and artificial ventilation. A number of examples were also shown to students, enabling them to get a clear understanding on how designs can greatly affect sustainability and the environment.

NESCAFE INVI TES RA FFLES

DES IGN ERS TO F LA UN T

APT I T UDE

Tens of thousands of Japanese pop culture fans

descended on the Singapore Expo on 9 November

2012 for the fifth edition of Anime Festival Asia (AFA),

the largest showcase of Japanese pop culture that

featured cosplayers, concerts and exclusive

merchandise.

In collaboration with our key industry partner, Raffles

Designers were invited to the event to paint unique

caricatures using Nescafe Coffee! The initiative

generated a long queue and was extremely popular

among visitors, thanks to our Raffles Multimedia

Designers - Cathy Zhou Ni and Raffles Alumnus -

Bae Ji Hyun, Programme Director - Mr. Kenji Choo,

and Multimedia Design lecturer - Mr. Alexandru

Ghitescu.

This year’s Anime Festival Asia had many exciting things lined up for fans coming mainly from Asia, namely cosplay, merchandise, talk shows and DJ performances.

IND UST RY LEAD ERS

MEN TO R ASP IR ING

ANIMATO RS IN RA FFLES

In days of yore, film animation was done the old-

fashioned way — with pencil and paper. That was

how it was done from the very beginning, from even

before Steamboat Willie (1928), the first appearance

of Mickey Mouse.

In the modern day context, there are people like Mr.

Barry Lim, a CG Artist or an Animator, as some

might call him. He works with Industrial Lights and

Magic (ILM), a division of the well-known Lucasfilm

Ltd, which brought you epic films like Star Wars and

Indiana Jones. Barry’s credits under his belt include

working on recent box-office hits such as "Star Wars:

Clone Wars", "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" and

“Rango”.

Mr. Barry Lim shares his experience with the audience.

Now an adjunct lecturer specialising in Animation

and Games Design at Raffles College of Higher

Education, Barry recently shared his insights with

aspiring animators on valuable experiences in the

industry, and how he ventured into the unchartered

territory of Computer Graphics and Digital Media,

during a seminar held at Raffles College of Higher

Education.

With much enthusiasm, he told the crowd his

thoughts. “I’ve always been drawn to the magic of

story-telling. Giving ‘life’ to a character tells a story.

Animators are digital actors and they work closely

with film directors to tell that story. Story-telling was

my inspiration. The way stories can affect a person's

emotion intrigues me. It can inspire, bring change or

educate audiences.”

Another experienced lecturer specialising in the

same domain is Mr. Carlos M. Diaz, who has

extensive working experience in countries like

Colombia, France and Spain. At the seminar, he

fervently shared some of his own works and those by

his students, enthralling the audience members.

The CEO of Tiny Island Productions – Mr. David Kwok was

‘swamped’ by many aspiring animators wanting to know more of the industry and his experiences.

Spicing things up was invited guest speaker, Mr.

David Kwok, the CEO of Tiny Island Productions.

Better known for their 3D stereoscopic animated

series “Dream Defenders Adventure” and “Ben 10:

Destroy All Aliens”, a 66-minute television movie on

Cartoon Network, David shared his personal

experiences, from taking the road less travelled to

turning his dream into reality and becoming a

successful million-dollar entrepreneur.

The crowd was totally engrossed with the speakers during the

seminar.

RAFFLES PROD UCT

DES IGN ERS AT TOKYO

DES IGN WEEK 2012

A giant, rainbow-colored "Hello Design" welcomed

visitors at the entrance to this year's TOKYO

DESIGN WEEK 2012, held at the Meiji Jingu Gaien

Park in Tokyo's trendy Shibuya district. This grand

annual event is the biggest design trade show in

Japan and provides an excellent platform for visitors

to meet like-minded people such as designers,

curators and industry professionals from all over the

world.

Raffles College of Higher Education Programme

Coordinator - Mr. Hector Salazar, took the initiative to

organise a week-long field trip for Raffles Product

Designers to attend this much celebrated event, and

gave the students a rare opportunity to rub shoulders

with many talented avant-gardes from all over the

world. They interacted with designers, posed many

questions and received pointers on areas dealing

with design, to nurture their minds in developing a

clear perspective of various design processes.

The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology.

From Tokyo, Mr. Hector and the students took the

Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Nagoya prefecture to

visit the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry

and Technology – a museum in central Nagoya

tracing the history of the Toyota Company and its

innovations.

Raffles Product Designers observing a demonstration of the

fabrication process.

The museum was established in 1994 to

systematically introduce the history of Japanese

manufacturing technology to those who would be

responsible for its future development. With 4,000

exhibits, it showcases dynamic displays of original

equipment, actual demonstrations by operators,

instructive videos, and more.

Students watching the manufacturing process of steel to enhance

what they learned in class.

During their tour in the museum, our students

witnessed and greatly appreciated the manufacturing

process in making fabrics and automobiles (the

manipulation of steel in the different steps) and the

evolution of the machinery. The tour proved to be an

eye opener for them and enhanced what they had

been taught in school. This field trip to Japan not

only gave our students great exposure to design and

technological concepts outside of their classroom

environments, but also allowed them to experience

and understand foreign cultures as well.

CELEBR I T Y DES IGN ERS

SVEN & KAN E ARE IN

GOOD COMPAN Y

Principal of Raffles College of Higher Education - Mr. Giuseppe

(Joe) Spinelli (centre) with his two established fashion designers – Mr. Sven Tan (left) and Mr. Kane Tan (right).

33-year-old Sven Tan and 30-year-old Kane Tan,

both Star Fashion Design graduates from Raffles

College of Higher Education, shared with us their

vision of In Good Company.

“IGC is not just another fashion label. For one, the

label does not chase after international trends;

neither does it follow the international seasonal

calendar. The vision of IGC is to address the eternal

fashion conundrum of women who can never seem

to locate, or ever buy enough of everyday outfits.”

Sven explained.

Leaving behind eight years of career with

alldressedup, a well-known international fashion

label, Sven has dressed international and Asian

celebrities with the likes of Fergie, Michelle Yeoh,

Lucy Liu, Danni Minogue, Cheryl Cole, Zhang Ziyi

and Kelly Lin. Sven fervently shared that he felt great

to be able to embark on a new phase of life along

with Kane and two other co-founders of In Good

Company.

“I came to a point where I felt there was a need to

move further as a creative person. After working 16

seasons in alldressedup since my graduation from

Raffles, I just felt that I had to explore new

opportunities,” said Sven.

A winner of numerous awards including the

prestigious Mercedes-Benz Asia Fashion Award and

being touted as one of Singapore’s most promising

fashion designers, Sven shared his views on the

local fashion scene and his advice to young, aspiring

fashion designers.

Recalling his times and memories as a student at

Raffles College of Higher Education, he shared that

his schooling experience was great and had set the

foundation of his career as a fashion designer.

“I transferred to Raffles for my degree programme

after finishing my advanced diploma. What attracted

me to Raffles was really the technical strength the

school has. I was a competitive student who took

part in many competitions when I was schooling.

Through my participation in competitions, I was

exposed to the work which Raffles students

produced, and there was no doubt that Raffles was

always the strongest in craftsmanship and all the

technical aspects in fashion, all of which I attributed

to Mr. Giuseppe (Joe) Spinelli, Principal and

Programme Director for Fashion Design. Thus, I set

my heart on enrolling into Raffles to be an apprentice

of Joe.” said Sven.

Despite its being years since graduation and having

established himself in the fashion design industry,

Sven still holds Joe in high regard. “I am really glad I

made the transfer to Raffles to become an

apprentice of Joe. He did not disappoint me at all.

Joe is an excellent lecturer who has a vision of how

each student could be morphed into something

greater, and he will go the extra mile for his students.

What really impressed me was also his willingness to

impart his knowledge. As a mentor, he is really

selfless,” shared Sven.

Raffles College of Higher Education is proud of our

Raffles Alumni, Sven and Kane, who are living their

passions and dreams!

In Good Company womenswear and girl’s wear is

currently retailing at multi-label store ‘Front Row’

located at #02-28 Raffles Hotel Arcade, Tel: 6338

2737.

Their collection can also be purchased from their

online store at www.ingoodcompany.asia

RAFFLE S A LUMN US , L I U

WE I L ING TR IUMP HS WIT H

HER EN T REP REN EUR IA L

SP IR I T

Liu Weiling, Raffles Alumnus, is a true blue

Singaporean with the tenacity to carry out a career

switch. Armed with a degree in Computing, the 31-

year-old enrolled in Raffles’ Fashion Design

programme with the vision of fulfilling her passion.

After two years of hard work and mentorship from

international lecturers in Raffles, Weiling graduated

with an Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design.

Liu Weiling (centre) proudly poses with modelswearing her collection at the opening of her boutique, TEZZO & trioon.

“It is really challenging yet gratifying when I finally set

up my own boutique! I’m really thankful for the skills I

have gained in Raffles College of Higher Education.

The fundamental skills of sewing, drafting, draping,

designing to suit bodies’ curves, and the frequent

reminders from our lecturers about the importance of

good finishing and fabric quality, are really essential

skills in developing a designer’s brand that can meet

customer’s expectations,” said the young local

designer cum entrepreneur at the opening of her new

boutique, TEZZO & trioon.

When asked about what inspired her collections,

Weiling’s eyes brightened. She explained, “From

Singapore to Mumbai to Capri, every trioon design is

meant to suit the lifestyle of my customer, making

her feel fabulous, effortlessly. To add on, trioon’s

designs are also kept exclusive, tailoring in limited

quantities.

”The future belongs to those who believe in the

beauty of their dreams.” For Weiling, these words of

wisdom from Eleanor Roosevelt led her passion into

realising her goals.

“To be able to set up my own boutique is really a

dream come true, and I would like to thank all my

lecturers from Raffles College of Higher Education

who have shared their experience and knowledge

with me. I had a very enjoyable and fruitful

experience in Raffles. In addition, I would like to give

a special shout-out to my Principal, Mr. Giuseppe

(Joe) Spinelli, and Mr. Ong Kai How, Vice President,

South East Asia Operations (East) Raffles Education

Corp, for their continuous encouragement and

support!”

TEZZO & trioon is located at the Mandarin Gallery,

333A Orchard Road, Singapore 238897.

One of Weiling’s creation now retailing at her boutique.

A glimpse of TEZZO & trioon at the Mandarin Gallery.

A R I S ING S TAR IN T HE

G LOBA L FASHION

IND UST RY

Raffles College of Higher Education is extremely

proud of Raffles Alumnus and Celebrity Fashion

Designer, Alfie Leong, at Workshop Element’s recent

fashion show.

W.E. Workshop Element, a retail outlet which is

located at Wisma Atria, had its very first fashion

show recently. The fashion show showcased creative

fashion pieces from various labels and attracted

many photographers, designers and members of the

general public.

Initiated and spearheaded by Alfie, Workshop

Element carries collections from many promising

local brands such as Reckless Ericka, Eve and

Bargundy - labels owned by Raffles Alumnus, as well

as Alfie’s very own AWOL and Mu, to name a few.

The open-space concept of the outlet and the

various creative pieces dressed on the statuesque

models mesmerised attendees of the event.

After a successful season in Paris, Alfie continued

his successful streak in South Korea at the Seoul

Fashion Week 2012, featuring AWOL’s Fall Winter

Collections 2012/2013. While honing his skills at

Raffles College of Higher Education, Alfie was one of

the top students in the Fashion Design programme.

His success today has made many lecturers who

had guided him during his schooling days

exceptionally proud of him.

Collection by AWOL

Celebrity fashion designer and Raffles Alumnus – Mr. Alfie Leong

at the launch of his new retail outlet W.E.Workshop Element.

Collection by Bargundy

Collection by Reckless Ericka

NAT IONA L GEOG RAP HIC

SHOWCA SES RAFFLES

PHOTOG RA PHY TA LEN T

As featured in National Geographic – Hershey’s work ‘Snake Eyes’.

As a leader in capturing our world through brilliant

imagery, the National Geographic sets the standard

for photographic excellence. Thousands of freelance

and professional photographers around the world

aspire to have their works featured in the National

Geographic – a major milestone in every

photographer’s career.

Raffles Alumnus, Hershey Desai, winner of 24

international awards in photography and a Master of

Design graduate from Raffles College of Design and

Commerce (Australia), shared with us his

achievement after his work “Snake Eyes” was

featured in National Geographic – Life in Colours.

“I was awestruck, proud and excited when my work

got published. Having my photos featured in the

National Geographic, to be seen by millions of

people around the world, had been a goal in my life

for the past three years,” Hershey shared.

While studying in Raffles College of Design and

Commerce (Australia), his photography works were

exhibited twice at the Powerhouse Museum in

Sydney, Australia and his artwork was published in

“The Type Image”, a typography collection book

published across the United Kingdom. He also

worked with The Salvation Army, the third largest

charity organisation in the world.

When asked about the inspiration behind his

featured work, Hershey replied that he was on a

class photography outing with his lecturer, Mr.

Alfonso Bonilla, when he captured the moment.

Taking the path less travelled, Hershey explored the

snake pit and was mesmerised when saw the

emerald green snake, perched on a small branch,

glaring at him.

Mentors have also helped him to break through

many creative hurdles along the way. “I am very

thankful to my lecturers at Raffles College of Design

and Commerce. If it wasn’t for Alfonso who

consistently believed in my potential, and also the

mentorship of the other lecturers, I am sure I would

not have reached this level of success today. I am

truly grateful for their support and enjoyed learning

and debating with them during my course of study. I

would also like to thank my dad, for being so

supportive, without whom, none of these

achievements would have been possible.” says

Hershey.

To aspiring photographers and designers, Hershey

advised, “Have the right attitude. Be confident in your

work but be humble enough to listen and rationalise

the faults that others point out. Be proud of your

awards and accomplishments, yet be absent-minded

enough to forget the achievements the following day,

and focus on pursuing your next goal. Be wise

enough to shun narrow-minded critics and be alert

enough to listen to those with experience.”

When asked about his experience at Raffles College,

Hershey described life in school as being both hectic

and beautiful because of the assignments and

challenges. “Raffles and I have a strong bond which

cannot be forgotten easily. It is an experience which I

hope to relive again one day, only this time as a

lecturer. For Raffles students, your lecturers are

there to guide you; they will guide you very well.

There is a wide assortment of books both in the

college library and the national libraries. There are

many tutorials available online. So make use of

these valuable resources.”

ASP IR ING PSYCHOLOGIST S

AT TEN D S T UDENT ’S

RESEA RCH AWA RD 2012

IN RAFFLES CO LLEG E

To support young researchers in their ongoing work

and to facilitate dialogue in psychology, Singapore

Psychological Society initiated the Student’s

Research Award and held the event at Raffles

College of Higher Education on 20 October, 2012.

Dr. Nenna Ndukwe speaking at the Student’s Research Award

2012 in Raffles College of Higher Education.

At the event, Dr. Nenna Ndukwe, who obtained her

PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of

Teesside, UK also shared on the topic “Do We Need

Clinical Psychology in Medicine?”

Students from the faculty of Applied Psychology from

Raffles College of Higher Education received various

awards at the event. Amanda Ong Hui Zhong’s

research paper on the topic “Motivation and Decision

Making among Young Adults” received the SPS

Gratitude Award and was invited to share the results

with Ministry of Defence. Along with Amanda, Erny’s

research paper titled “Association of Adult

Attachment and Big Five Personality Traits” also

received the SPS Gratitude award and she was

invited to share the results with Ministry of Social and

Family Development.

RAFFLES PSYCHO LOG ISTS

EXP LO RE BEYOND T HE

C LASSRO OM

ENVIRON MENT

Raffles Psychologists posed for a group photo after the talk at IMH.

It was not a typical Monday morning at the Institute

of Mental Health (IMH) on 12 November 2012, for

the facility hosted 15 Raffles students from the

Specialist Diploma of Applied Psychology (SDAP)

programme who were there on a field trip to learn

more about the institution’s facilities and their

services.

During the visit to IMH, the students attended a talk

which gave them a deeper understanding of IMH, the

organisation, and its services; followed by a tour

which included visits to the Woodbridge Museum,

Outpatient Clinic, Job Club, OcTAVE and the

patients’ activity room.

Raffles SDAP students obtained more information on

the services of IMH such as the OcTAVE centres,

which are centres for Occupational Therapy,

Activities, Vocation and Empowerment. They learnt

that OcTAVE centres are outpatient rehabilitation

centres which provide ongoing therapy for IMH

patients on community living skills, vocational tasks,

group therapy, functional re-training and supportive

therapy; and there are currently three outpatient

rehabilitation centres, all managed by the

Occupational Therapy Department.

CEO O F HCA HOSPICE

CARE CONN ECT S RA FFLES

PSYCHO LOGISTS

CEO and Medical Director of HCA Hospice Care, Dr. R. Akhileswaran (left) hosting Raffles Psychologists during their visit.

In order for students majoring in Applied Psychology

to have an in-depth understanding of providing better

healthcare and patient treatment, Raffles College of

Higher Education collaborated with HCA Hospice

Care to give our students the opportunity to tour the

hospice and its facilities on 7 November 2012.

The CEO and Medical Director, Dr. R. Akhileswaran

gladly hosted our students and gave a talk which

provided great insights into hospice care services. In

conjunction with the visit, students were tasked to

submit an assignment answering two questions,

which were “How can cultural variations in death and

dying be translated into better health care?” and

“Given constraints in manpower and time, what can

be done to improve patient treatment?”

Our students gained good insights from Dr. Akhileswaran about

ways on improving patient treatment.

Applied Psychology Student, Vanessa Emily Quek

shared her opinions on improving patient treatment

despite constraints in manpower and time. “For a

start, we can raise awareness through word of mouth

and the different media platforms to invite volunteers

on board to work together with specialised

healthcare professionals, towards the common goal

of improvements in patients’ treatments. We can also

educate and share the importance of family support,

love and nurture for patients as these are strong

factors which can influence the quality of the

patients’ final stages of life.”

A group shot together with Dr. Akhileswaran.

Young Raffles Psychologists eagerly learning during the visit.

LEA RN ING BEYOND T HE

C LASSRO OM CREAT IV ELY

Together with Raffles lecturer, Lawrence Sticca, the

students of the Tourism and Hospitality programme

visited the Singapore Science Centre. Lawrence’s

objective was to create an engaging and fun learning

experience to gain a deeper understanding of issues

concerning the environment. Raffles Business

Management student, Chan Leo Loi shares with us

his experience:

“I am thankful to Lawrence for giving me the

opportunity to join the trip, meet new friends and gain

more knowledge on the environment. It has been an

awesome learning experience.”

Leo, along with all his classmates from the Tourism

and Hospitality programme, benefited greatly from

the many intriguing exhibits with their interesting

elements involving technology and arts, which

illustrated the environment and its impact on our

society.

Currently doing his internship with Nobel Design

Holdings Ltd, Leo also shared that his learning

experience in Raffles College of Higher Education

has been invaluable. “I’m really thankful for the

knowledge gained from the various modules of my

course, which has helped me put theory into practice

effectively during my internship, allowing me to apply

them in the real world. The lecturers not only provide

us with theoretical knowledge, they also actively

organise field trips for us to better understand how

relevant industries actually function.”

Lecturer for the Tourism and Hospitality programme – Mr.

Lawrence (left) encouraging student’s engagement during the trip to the Singapore Science Centre.

Raffles Business Management student – Chan Leo Loi

Students enthralled by their lecturer’s way of creative teaching.

Learning the fun way with a deeper understanding of Chinese

culture and its origin.

RAFFLES S INGAP ORE

ESTABL ISHES IND UST RY

NETWO RK W I TH I TA LY

Principal and Programme Director of Fashion Design for Raffles College of Higher Education - Mr. Giuseppe (Joe) Spinelli (left), explaining the intricate craftsmanship of a student’s work to the

CEO of Pier Spa - Mdm. Marzia Narduzzi (centre) and, Managing Director of Treviso Technologica – Mr. Roberto Santolamzza

(right).

Raffles College of Higher Education had the honour

of hosting distinguished Italian delegates in our

campus.

The three visiting delegates comprised of Mr.

Roberto Santolamazza, Managing Director of Treviso

Technologia, a special non-profit agency for

innovation in Italy, promoting the growth and

development of businesses through innovation;

Madam Marzia Narduzzi, CEO of Pier Spa, an

established organisation and protagonist specialising

in production for the high-end fashion industry, and

Madam Raffaella Orsini, The Secretary General of

the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore

(ICCS).

The guests were given a presentation and tour of the

college and were extremely impressed with the

brilliant fashion collections crafted by Raffles Fashion

Designers when Mr. Giuseppe (Joe) Spinelli,

Principal and Programme Director of Fashion Design

for Raffles College of Higher Education, introduced

the students’ works to the visitors.

These Italian delegates were among the

distinguished guests who attended the Unveil

Graduation Show.

CULT URA L EXCHANG E

BETWEEN RA FFLES

S INGA PO RE AND BUNKA

GAKUEN UN IV ERS I T Y

(JA PAN )

Raffles College of Higher Education hosted Fashion

Design students from the reputable Bunka Gakuen

University (Japan), accompanied by their lecturer,

Professor Zeshu Takamura. Following their first visit

last year, the trip to our college this year signified the

robust bilateral relations between the two well-

recognised design colleges.

The visitors comprised of the three Japanese

winners from the recently held 2nd Sustainable

Fashion Design Contest 2012 organised by the JCC

(Japan Creative Centre). The group was flown into

Singapore for the award ceremony, and had the

opportunity to exchange and promote ideas with our

lecturers and students on the growing importance of

sustainability and responsible design within the

Fashion Industry. Students from both colleges

gained insights to topics discussed and thoroughly

enjoyed the dialogue sessions.

We are definitely looking forward to their next visit!

Finalist of the Triumph Inspiration Award 2012 and Raffles Fashion Designer – Kwek Teck Chuan (left) with students and

Prof. Zeshu Takamura (right) from the Bunka Gakuen University.

RAFFLESED UCAT IONCORP

EXPAND S MARKET REA CH

IN ISKANDA R MA LAYS IA

Almost three times the size of Singapore, at the

southern part of Johor Bahru, is the imminent

metropolis of Iskandar Malaysia. Within this region,

an education hub called EduCity has been

developed to attract renowned academic institutions

to set up their overseas campuses there.

RafflesEducationCorp (the Group) was one of those

international institutions convinced by the promising

opportunities of Iskandar Malaysia. The Group

established not one but two institutions of different

kinds to expand its educational offering and

institutional network.

Raffles American School (RAS) is the Group’s first

pre-tertiary institution and the first American-

curriculum school in Johor Bahru. RAS offers a well-

rounded K-12 American education to the local and

foreign youths in the region, preparing them for top

universities in the US through the collaboration with

International Schools Services (ISS). ISS currently

works with more than 300 international schools to

provide them with world-class services and solutions.

Mr Chew Hua Seng, Chairman and CEO of

RafflesEducationCorp, said, “RAS marks the Group’s

expansion into the international school business and

is yet another high point for the Group as we address

the education needs of children below 19 years of

age in the region. We are delighted to partner ISS to

jointly develop an international school programme for

RAS. With our experience as a tertiary education

provider, we are confident that the Group and RAS

will contribute significantly to the development of the

education sector in the region.”

Raffles University Iskandar (RUI) is the other

prominent development in EduCity by the Group.

RUI is a comprehensive, practice-oriented university

approved by the local government to provide quality

higher education in Malaysia. Focused on providing

intensive hands-on curriculum and employer-based

internships, RUI offers undergraduate and

postgraduate programmes in Design, Business

Administration, Accountancy, Education

Management, Applied Psychology and Information

Communication Technology.

With much physical space and incentives from the

local government to develop Iskandar Malaysia into a

thriving metropolis, it does make sense and cents for

RAS and RUI to build their campuses in EduCity.

Nestled among the lush rolling hills of Iskandar

Malaysia, the massive 45-acre RAS campus will

feature educational and sports facilities, performing

arts space, boarding facilities, as well as a large

green space with nature trails and natural vegetation,

all for the purpose of providing a holistic learning

environment for the students. RAS is currently

operating at a temporary site in Nusajaya.

RUI is now based in Kotaraya, Johor Bahru. Its

permanent campus of 65 acres will feature state-of-

the-art facilities, hostels and amenities. It enjoys a

strategic location in Iskandar, where diverse culture

and economic growth converge. RUI students can

expect a university experience that is distinctive,

challenging and fulfilling. Professor Malek

Pourzanjani, President of RUI, said, “Raffles

University Iskandar provides a vibrant and creative

learning environment where inspiring mentors take

great pride in transforming the lives of the students.”

Applications to RAS and RUI have been on the rise,

and enquiries are constantly flowing in. Both

institutions received their first batch of students in

August this year.

MAKING A SPLASH IN T HE

INT ERN AT IONA L FA SHION

WO RLD

Students from Raffles Design Institute, Shanghai

have shone spectacularly on the global stage with

their works and stellar participations.

The Institute was handpicked by Miss Yue-Sai Kan,

National Director of Miss Universe China, to

collaborate with Miss Universe China on a variety of

fashion initiatives. They included a fashion workshop

for the pageant contestants, as well as the rare

opportunity for Raffles students to work as backstage

dressers at the pageant and assist in designing the

complete wardrobe for Miss Universe China, who will

represent her country at the world pageant contest -

Miss Universe 2012 - in December.

Mr Michael Yap, Executive Vice Dean of Raffles

Design Institute, Shanghai, said, “We are very proud

to be involved in this international beauty event. At

Raffles, we encourage our students to apply their

international knowledge and skills to help grow and

nurture the Chinese fashion industry.

This is a wonderful and exciting opportunity for our

students to gain international recognition for their

talent and efforts.”One Raffles graduate who put into

practice the invaluable training and education she

received from the Institute was Miss Zoe Zhao Min.

The September Special Edition of VOGUE Italia, an

internationally-acclaimed fashion magazine, featured

Zoe as one of 190 talented emerging designers

around the world. Zoe’s minimalistic yet

sophisticated designs, coupled with a neutral and

elegant colour palette, have impressed the renowned

VOGUE fashion editors.

Zoe’s success is the Institute’s honour; while the

designer’s career has elevated to an international

ground, Raffles Design Institute, Shanghai has once

again proven itself as a leading institute that

encourages innovation and develops future creative

leaders.

As icing on the cake, Raffles Privato, a fashion

boutique that retails the students’ private labels, also

attracted VOGUE’s interest earlier this summer,

when it was named as one of Shanghai’s hot spots in

its famed Fashion Night Out.