Closing the Gap: Integrating Design Education with Industry Practice

Elaine Ho is the Director of the School of Design at Temasek Polytechnic, one of Singapore’s most established institutions for nurturing creative talent across disciplines including interior, product, communication, fashion, and digital film. A passionate advocate for bridging the gap between education and industry, Elaine leads with a future-focused vision that aligns design education with the evolving demands of professional practice. Under her leadership, the School has embraced interdisciplinary learning, emerging technologies, and design for social impact as key pillars of its curriculum—while building collaborative platforms that connect students meaningfully to industry, community, and global contexts. Elaine brings to the symposium her insights on bridging the classroom to real world practice, and her commitment to developing industry-ready designers who are not only technically skilled but also adaptable, reflective, and purpose-driven—ready to meet the challenges of a rapidly shifting design landscape.

Albert Lim is a seasoned leader in the tertiary education sector with over three decades of experience. He currently serves as the Director of the School of Design & Media at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), Singapore, where he is a key member of the institution’s senior management team. Since his appointment as Director of the School of Design in 2016, he has played a pivotal role in shaping NYP’s design and media education landscape. His leadership was instrumental in the 2021 merger of the School of Design and the School of Interactive & Digital Media, forming the School of Design & Media.

Albert’s multidisciplinary academic career spans engineering, information technology, interactive and digital media, and design. A specialist in interactive digital media education, he has been a driving force behind the development of industry-relevant programmes, including the Diploma in Digital Media Design, Diploma in Digital Entertainment Technology, and Computer Animation Specialist Program. These initiatives have nurtured a generation of professionals who now hold leadership roles in the creative and technology sectors.

Faris Hajamaideen is currently the Director of the School of Architecture and Built Environment and Senior Director of the Built Environment and Maritime Cluster at the Singapore Polytechnic (SP). Prior to this appointment, he was the Director of the School of Digital Media and IT (2014-2018) and the School of Design (2010 -2014). Since joining SP in 2002, Faris has developed, and taught modules related to the history and theory of architecture, design and media. His research interests include the study of the relationship between human body and architecture which he has written on and presented at various architectural forums. He is also regularly invited as a guest reviewer at various local and oversea universities.

Sabrina Long is a design educator and leader with over 20 years of experience in both the arts and design industry and higher education. As Dean of the School of Art & Design and Principal of the School of Young Talents at NAFA, Singapore, she leads creative development from early childhood to tertiary levels. Her leadership emphasizes interdisciplinarity, inclusivity, and the integration of Southeast Asian culture with global design practices, with strong focus on advancing student learning and assessment in design education.

An advocate for early arts education, Sabrina has developed NAFA’s School of Young Talents into a vibrant platform offering specialised enrichment and mentorship to nurture creative confidence from a young age. She also serves on several prominent advisory panels, including the Ministry of Trade & Industry’s Design Education Advisory Committee (DEAC), Urban Redevelopment Authority Conservation Advisory Panel, National Parks Sculpture Review Panel, iLight Singapore Curatorial Advisory Panel, Singapore Interior Designers Award, and the Tatler Design Awards. Her interests include curriculum innovation, design futures, intercultural learning, and using art and design to build resilient, inclusive communities.

Ang Xin Wei is a design-educator. A specialist in interior and spatial design, his body of work seamlessly blends interior and architectural considerations.

At LASALLE, he has implemented significant transformations in the interior design curriculum, known for its strong contemporary work embedded in unique Southeast Asian contexts, and has led its international validation by The Open University and Goldsmiths College, UK.

His professional practice is embodied in Atelier 01, a design agency working on architectural and interior projects in Southeast Asia. The consultancy has since completed a range of architectural and interior projects across Asia – specifically in Singapore, Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia – from luxury private properties high-rise residential apartments, commercial offices, F&B and hospitality.

Allan holds that excellent design has the capacity to shape the human experience, connect people to places and is never linear in expression. Having acquired deep expertise in a broad range of projects over the last 15 years, his experience informs his interdisciplinary design approach and enables him to adroitly employ design strategies across typologies. The design outcomes, whether it is an office space or a hospitality development, are places of delight; crafted in response to its genius loci and end-user needs.

This is evident across his body of works, including the luxurious Beach Villas of Resorts World Sentosa; the award-winning micro-hotel Yotel Singapore, which successfully navigates space constraints to provide room for both rest and communal activities; The Exchange TRX in Malaysia, which boldly integrates intuitive wayfinding, technology and biophilic design elements to bring a differentiated retail experience; as well as the new Verizon and Marina Bay Sands offices that leverage wellbeing design principles to reshape users’ work environment and redefine their experience.

I’m Delphine Leon Bellancourt, a French interior designer with over 25 years of experience across the globe. My design philosophy is simple: designing with people in mind. I believe great design isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about understanding people’s needs and creating spaces that truly work for them.

After earning my Master’s from École Camondo in Paris, I had the chance to collaborate with amazing brands like Hermès, Chopard, Sennheiser, Club Med, and Opera Gallery. In 2020, I was honored to receive the SIDA Silver and Concept Silver Awards for my work on Treis Asia.

I’ve led teams as CEO and Creative Director of D’après Nous D&B in Singapore, and today, I’m a proud member of the Society of Interior Designers Singapore and NEWH Paris.

In 2021, I launched The Live Design Project — a collaborative platform that connects junior designers, mentors, and clients from around the world. It’s my way of shaking up the industry, making design more inclusive, fair, and accessible.

I’m also passionate about sustainability — every TLDP client has a tree planted in their name, thanks to our partnership with EcoMatcher.

We will launch the next generation of designers into the industry while making interior design accessible to all—creating a model no one has done before.

A recipient of the 2023 President’s Award for Teachers, Zhi Jie is an award-winning Educator with over a decade long history of working in design education. At Singapore Polytechnic, he enables partnerships and collaborations to enhance student learning through strategic and implementation efforts in the areas of entrepreneurship, internship, alumni and internationalisation (i18n).

Zhi Jie is also the First Vice-President of the Society of Interior Designers, Singapore, as well as the Co-Chair of the Singapore Interior Design Accreditation Council. He believes in connecting academia with industry to create vibrant learning communities for lifelong learning.