Source: Berita Harian © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. 24 Sep 2017, Page 12 Permission required for reproduction

CIK Namie Rasman menjalankan pelbagai tugas ber-beza selepas meraih ijazah muzik daripada Maktab Seni Lasalle.

Selain menjadi pengarah pertubuhan tidak mengaup untung, We Love Jazz, yang membawa irama jaz ke pe-ringkat kejiranan, Cik Namie, 27 tahun, juga seorang ju-rulatih muzik bagi kanak-kanak prasekolah.

Beliau juga mengendalikan kelas bimbingan muzik se-cara peribadi dan turut membuat persembahan jaz dan muzik elektronik di Singapura dan luar negara.

Pelajar terbaik Sekolah Muzik Kontemporari Lasalle yang meraih ijazah kepujian Kelas Pertamanya baru-ba-ru ini berkata:

“Saya akur kebanyakan anak muda lulusan sekolah seni tidak akan ‘melekat’ pada satu cabang tugas sahaja. Tiada salahnya berbuat demikian bagi menikmati keren-caman dalam tugas anda. Asalkan ia berlegar dalam bidang yang sama, saya kira tiada masalah besar.”

Beliau seronok berhubung baik dengan masyarakat pencinta muzik jaz di sini serta menyertai mereka dalam misi memasyarakatkan jaz yang sering disalah anggap se-bagai muzik golongan atasan.

Bagi membangun kerjaya nyanyiannya, Cik Namie merakam empat lagu bagi album EP di studio rakaman sekitar Pattaya.

Beliau juga membuat persembahan muzik elektronik di Esplanade, November ini di bawah program bimbi-ngan seni Noise Singapore, kendalian Majlis Seni Ke-bangsaan (NAC).

“Bukan mudah menembusi industri muzik tempatan, apa lagi membawanya ke peringkat antarabangsa. Na-mun, jika belia di luar sana meminati muzik, jangan fikir

dua kali. Teruskan sahaja asal anda bersedia kerja keras,” katanya.

Bagi Cik Nadhirah Abdul Halim pula melihat keluar-ga sebelah bapanya mengendalikan Kedai Buku Haji Hashim di Joo Chiat dan meninjau kesungguhan kakak-nya mengurus gedung buku Melayu dalam talian, mem-buat beliau minat berniaga.

Bezanya, gadis berusia 23 tahun ini cenderung me-nimba pengalaman dalam perniagaan fesyen.

Cik Nadhirah, yang lulus dengan ijazah kepujian Kelas Pertama dalam Media dan Industri Fesyen, sudah dua bulan bertugas sebagai perantis perdagangan di pe-lantar jual beli fesyen mewah terkenal di Singapura, The Fifth Collection.

Katanya: “Saya bersyukur tidak perlu menanti lama bagi mendapatkan pekerjaan. Tugas saya memeriksa barangan mewah dan menentukan harga serta memerik-sa keadaannya sebelum ia disenaraikan dalam talian un-tuk dijual kepada pelanggan.’’

Kunci kejayaannya pula adalah kesabaran, penguru-san masa yang baik dan keprihatinan terhadap dunia per-niagaan fesyen yang pesat berubah.

“Belia perlu tahu apa kekuatan mereka dan apa yang dimahukan dalam kerjaya. Lulusan bisnes fesyen perlu-kan rangkaian kenalan yang utuh bagi memajukan diri dalam dunia perniagaan.

“Tiada salahnya mengambil pengajian seni kreatif se-perti fesyen asal sahaja kita buat perancangan awal dan ambil tahu tentang keperluan industri fesyen atau pernia-gaan fesyen.

“Saya ingin timba banyak pengalaman berurusan de-ngan orang ramai dan mempelajari kemahiran komuni-kasi dan kajian trend sekali gus,’’ katanya.

JIKA teman sebayanya gigih mencari pekerjaan, Cik Siti Sofiah Ridwan pula dijejak dan disunting agensi pengiklanan besar DDB Group sebagai pengarah seni junior.

Lulusan ijazah Sarjana Muda Sastera dengan Kepujian Kelas Pertama dalam Komunikasi Rekaan di Maktab Seni Lasalle itu telah lebih sebulan bekerja men-gendalikan projek pengiklanan menerusi wadah cetakan dan media digital.

Ketika ditanya Gah!, Cik Siti Sofiah, 23 tahun, tersenyum seraya berkata:

“Saya sudah giat membangun portfolio selepas tamat pengajian Diploma Media dan Komunikasi di Politeknik Singapura (SP).

“Dengan beberapa anugerah yang dimenangi serta se-narai projek yang diusahakan, saya bersyukur ada pihak memerhatikan dan mengamati kemahiran saya.

“Majikan saya kini mencari tanpa saya memohon tu-gas tersebut.”

Gadis berkaca mata ini memenangi Anugerah Belia Harapan Goh Chok Tong dan Anugerah Perak bagi kate-gori ‘Kempen Pengiklanan Bersepadu’ dalam Anugerah Crowbar 2016 yang meraikan daya kreatif pelajar.

Bersama rakan sekursusnya, anak sulung dalam tiga beradik itu menjana Kempen #harshtags yang memu-puk kesedaran golongan milenial tentang isu hak ke-manusiaan yang menjejas dunia.

Kata Cik Siti Sofiah:“Saya rasa sebilangan besar golongan milenial yang

sebaya dengan saya kurang ambil peduli tentang isu hak kemanusiaan dan kerja memulihara hidupan liar.

“Saya pula peka tentang hidupan liar dan penakatan binatang laut yang dikhuatiri pupus. Media sosial dijadi-kan wadah menyebar pesanan kerana ia sesuatu yang de-kat di hati belia.”

BELIA HARUS BERANI MENCUBADitanya apakah kunci kejayaan yang membawa kepa-

da ijazah Kelas Pertama, beliau berkata:“Kajian itu mustahak dalam kursus komunikasi re-

kaan. Kami pentingkan kandungan dan kumpulan sasa-ran. Belia juga harus berani berdikari. Mereka tidak harus harapkan pensyarah memberi dorongan.

“Di Lasalle, saya hargai peluang mencatat jurnal pros-es kreatif. Otak perlu diperah bagi meraih idea kreatif. Hubungan dengan pensyarah yang terbuka menerima

idea kreatif terjalin akrab.“Kalau ada kemahuan, pasti ada jalan. Bidang kreatif

ini luas dan jika anda manfaatkan kebebasan yang diberi bagi meneroka perkara baru, anda akan raih kelebihan-nya dan tidak akan ada masalah membangun kerjaya yang berbaloi.”

DEKAN BANGGA Mengulas pencapaian anak Melayu yang mendapat

ijazah Kepujian Kelas Pertama daripada Lasalle, Dekan Fakulti Reka Bentuk Lasalle, Cik Nur Hidayah Abu Bakar, berkata:

“Saya amat gembira melihat mereka cemerlang dalam bidang yang dipilih. Harapan saya mereka akan menjadi inspirasi buat ramai lagi belia Melayu di Singapu-ra.

“Tiada formula khusus meraih kejayaan dalam seni kreatif. Yang penting, seseorang itu harus berfikiran ter-buka, kekal teruja ingin tahu dan dahagakan lebih bany-ak ilmu pengetahuan dan peluang.

“Namun, mereka juga harus akur bahawa kesabaran dan kecekalan itu adalah kunci kejayaan buat tempoh yang panjang.”

Menurutnya lagi, Lasalle mempersiap pelajarnya bagi

pelbagai laluan kerjaya dengan harapan lulusannya mampu menyesuaikan diri, inovatif dan terdedah kepa-da bermacam kerjasama silang disiplin dan kerencaman cara berfikir.

“Sesetengahnya akan menyertai firma rekaan yang terkenal atau menjadi penggubal dasar seni sedangkan sesetengah yang lain membuka perniagaan sendiri.

“Saya percaya kita lebih memerlukan lulusan dengan minda kreatif dalam mengharungi ekonomi masa kini. Lulusan Lasalle berada dalam kedudukan yang mantap bagi membawa perubahan,” ujar Cik Nur Hidayah.

TUGAS pereka hias dalaman di firma seni bina Chalk Architects sudah diperolehi Encik Isjacob Ishak sejak se-tahun lalu sebelum beliau tamat pengajian di Maktab Se-ni Lasalle.

Kini, selepas menggenggam ijazah Sarjana Muda Sas-tera dengan Kepujian Kelas Pertama bagi kursus reka hias dalaman, beliau selesa mengendalikan lebih lima projek hiasan dalaman perumahan, persekolahan dan komersial sekali gus.

Encik Isjacob, 26 tahun, malah bersyukur Lasalle me-lengkapinya dengan kemahiran berguna bagi kegunaan di pejabat.

Sebagaimana kongsinya:“Lasalle buka peluang kami mengembara. Saya pela-

jari tentang budaya kerja dan juga trend rekaan di luar negara.

“Sambil belajar, saya juga sempat menjadi kurator bersama bagi pameran Myths and Beliefs di Galeri Na-sional Singapura. Kerja seni saya juga dipamerkan di situ.

“Pendek kata, Lasalle mempersiap pelajarnya de-ngan bekalan ilmu dan kemahiran sejajar dengan tuntut-an pasaran kerja. Maka, apabila saya menggalas bebera-pa projek serentak, saya mampu mengendalikannya tan-pa rasa tertekan atau panik.”

Anak bongsu dalam dua beradik itu hanya berdepan dengan cabaran berunding dengan pelanggan menerusi komunikasi berkesan.

Rakan sekursusnya yang juga meraih kepujian Kelas Pertama, Encik Mohamed Khalis Mohd Sidek, 26 tahun, pula mempelajari bahasa Mandarin sebelum bekerja se-bagai jurubina.

Beliau memanfaatkan kredit SkillsFuture dan ber-harap bahasa tersebut dapat dimanfaatkan bagi beruru-san dengan pekerja binaan kelak.

“Buat masa ini, saya pilih untuk membuat persiapan terlebih dahulu. Saya juga mengembara sepuasnya ke be-berapa negara Asia Tenggara,” ujarnya.

Encik Mohamed Khalis juga pernah mengikuti pro-gram silang budaya di Korea Selatan sewaktu di Lasalle.

Namun, beliau tidak dapat lupa detik dinobatkan se-bagai juara peraduan rekaan bilik mandi anjuran jenama pengeluar kepala paip mewah bagi kegunaan dapur dan bilik mandi, Gessi.

Sebagai ganjaran, beliau merantau ke Milan, Italy, dan dibawa meninjau bilik pameran Gessi.

“Pengajian di Lasalle memberi saya peluang menik-mati kebebasan berfikir menerusi hiasan ruang. Bagi pro-jek tahun akhir saya, saya melihat ruang dalam sekitaran rumah pemulihan remaja lelaki bagi melihat keadaan dalam sekitaran mereka yang hidup tertindas,” katanya

‘Dilamar’ agensi iklan sebelumtamat pengajian

Pengajian reka hias dalaman persiap belia bagi pasaran kerja

Minat muzik, niaga fesyen bawa rezeki

TIDAK KEKOK TANGANI BANYAK PROJEK: Encik Isjacob Ishak, yang berpeluang meraih peluang pekerjaan setahun sebelum tamat pengajian ijazah hiasan dalaman, gembira Lasalle melengkapinya dengan kemahiran menangani pelbagai projek serentak.

TEROKA BERMACAM TUGAS: Demi cinta pada muzik, Cik Namie Rasman menjalani pelbagai tugas meliputi pengarah gerakan cinta jaz, We Love Jazz; jurulatih muzik dan penghibur di persembahan gig tempatan dan luar negara.

GIGIH BINA PORTFOLIO: Sejak tamat pengajian di Politeknik Singapura, Cik Siti Sofiah Ridwan sudah membangun portfolio projek rekaan yang diusahakannya sehinggalah beliau dilamar agensi pengiklanan mapan yang kagum dengan hasil kerjanya. – Foto-foto M.O. SALLEH

RAIH SEMANGAT CINTA NIAGA DARIPADA KELUARGA: Cik Nadhirah Abdul Halim berminat menjelajah bidang niaga fesyen, bermula dengan tugas sebagai perantis perdagangan di pelantar jual beli fesyen mewah The Fifth Collection berkat sokongan keluarganya yang menjalankan bisnes gedung buku dalam talian dan juga pengasas Kedai Buku Haji Hashim.

JAUH PERJALANAN, LUAS PEMANDANGAN: Encik Mohamed Khalis Mohd Sidek pernah memenangi peraduan reka hias bilik mandi yang membawanya ke Milan, Italy.

Kecemerlangan dalam jurusan seni kreatif – baik muzik, komunikasi rekaan, reka hias dalaman mahupun media dan industri fesyen – membawa kepada kejayaanlima anak Melayu yang meraih ijazah Kepujian Kelas Pertama di Maktab Seni Lasalle. Peluang pekerjaan mereka dalam bidang kreatif kekal cerah, dengan

masing-masing sudah mempunyai pekerjaan atau membuat persiapan serius bagi pasaran buruh. HARYANI ISMAIL (haryani@sph.com.sg) melaporkan.

12 Berita Minggu | 24 September 2017

Gah! Gaya Hidup · Artistik · Hiburan

Source: Berita Harian © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. 24 Sep 2017, Page 12 Permission required for reproduction

Excellence in the field of creative arts – music, design communication, interior design or fashion media and industries – paved the way to success for five Malay youths who earned their First Class Honours degrees from LASALLE College of the Arts. Job opportunities in the creative field remain bright for them, with each already having a job or making serious preparation to enter the labour market. Reported by HARYANI ISMAIL ‘Offer’ from an ad agency before graduation WHILE her peers are hard at work looking for jobs, Ms Siti Sofiah Ridwan on the other hand was headhunted and offered a job as a Junior Art Director by ad giant, DDB Group. The BA(Hons) Design Communication First Class Honours graduate from LASALLE College of the Arts has been working over a month on advertising projects in print and digital media. When interviewed by Gah!, Ms Siti Sofiah, 23, smiled and said: “I have been actively building my portfolio after graduating with a Diploma in Media and Communications from Singapore Polytechnic (SP). “With several awards achieved and a list of projects under my belt, I am glad that a potential employer had noticed my skills. “My employer approached me without me having to apply for the job.” The bespectacled young lady won the Goh Chok Tong Youth Promise Award and the Silver Award in the ‘Integrated Advertising Campaign’ category at the Crowbar Awards 2016 which celebrates student creativity. Together with her coursemates, the eldest child of three siblings launched Campaign #harshtags that nurture awareness among the millennials on human rights issues which affect the world.

“I think a large number of millennials my age are less concerned about human rights issues and efforts in wildlife conservation. “On the other hand, I am sensitive towards wildlife and the survival of marine animals on the brink of extinction. Social media was chosen as the platform to spread the message as it is something near and dear to the youth.” said Ms Siti Sofiah. YOUTHS SHOULD DARE TO TRY When asked what was the key to success that led to her First Class Honours degree, she said: “Research is important in the Design Communication course. Youths must dare to be independent. They should not depend on lecturers to provide motivation. “At LASALLE, I value the opportunity to keep a record of the creative processes in a journal. The mind has to be put on overdrive in order to produce creative ideas. Close relationships are forged with lecturers who are open to creative ideas. “If there’s a will, there must be a way. The creative field is extensive and if you take advantage of the freedom given to explore new things, you will gain an advantage and will not have a problem developing a worthy career.”

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PROUD DEAN Commenting on the achievement of Malay youths who have achieved First Class Honours degrees from LASALLE, the Dean of LASALLE’s Faculty of Design, Ms Nur Hidayah Abu Bakar, said: “I’m very happy to see them excel in their chosen fields. I hope they will inspire more Malay youths in Singapore. “There is no specific formula to achieve success in the creative industries. What’s important is that one must be open-minded, remain excited and have the thirst for knowledge and opportunities. “However, they also have to realise that patience and perseverance is the key to success for the long haul.” According to her, LASALLE prepares its students for various career paths in the hope that its graduates will be able to adapt, innovate and be exposed to various cross-disciplinary collaborations and complex thought processes. “Some of them will join renowned design firms or become policymakers in the arts, while others will start their own businesses. “I believe we need more graduates with creative minds in the face of today’s economy. LASALLE’s graduates are well positioned to bring about change,” said Ms Nur Hidayah. Interest in music, fashion business brings good fortune MS Namie Rasman has done various different jobs since she got her degree in music from LASALLE College of the Arts. Apart from being a director at a non-profit organisation, We Love Jazz, which brings jazz music to the heartlands, Ms Namie, 27, is also a music coach for preschoolers. She conducts private music tuition classes and also gives jazz and electronic music performances in Singapore and overseas. The top student in LASALLE’s School of Contemporary Music, who received her First Class Honours degree recently, said: “I know that most youths who graduated from an arts school will not ‘stick’ to only one job. There is no harm in doing that in order to enjoy the various facets of your job. As long as it moves in the same circle, I don’t think it’s a big problem.” She enjoys the good relationship with the community of jazz music lovers here and she joins them in a mission to popularise jazz, which is often mistaken as music for the upper class. To develop her singing career, Ms Namie recorded four songs in her EP album at a recording studio near Pattaya. She will also hold electronic music performances at the Esplanade, this November under the Arts Apprenticeship Program, Noise Singapore, conducted by the National Arts Council (NAC). “It’s not easy to penetrate the local music industry, what more bringing it to an international level. However, if the youths out there love music, don’t think twice. Just keep going as long as you are prepared to work hard,” she said.

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For Ms Nadhirah Abdul Halim, watching her paternal family run the Haji Hashim Bookstore at Joo Chiat and observing her sister’s perseverance in managing an online Malay bookstore, spurred her interest in business. The difference is that this 23-year old young lady prefers to gain experience in the fashion business. Ms Nadhirah, a First Class Honours graduate from BA(Hons) Fashion Media and Industries, has been working for two months as a trade apprentice in The Fifth Collection which is a renowned platform for luxury fashion trade in Singapore. She said: “I am grateful I didn’t have to wait long to find a job. My job is to check the luxury goods and set the pricing as well as check its condition before listing it online for customers to purchase.” The key to success is patience, good time management and awareness of the fashion business which is constantly changing. “Youths have to know what their strengths are and what they want to achieve in their careers. Fashion business graduates need a solid network of contacts to advance themselves in the business world. “It doesn’t hurt to take creative arts studies like fashion as long as we plan early and take into account the needs of the fashion industry or the fashion business. “I want to gain a lot of experience dealing with people and learn communication skills and at the same time, study trends,” she said. Interior design studies prepares youth for job market His job as an interior designer in an architecture firm, Chalk Architects, was already obtained by Mr Isjacob Ishak since a year ago, before he even graduated from LASALLE College of the Arts. Now, after graduating with a BA(Hons) Interior Design First Class Honours degree, he is handling five interior design projects for housing, schools and commercial projects, simultaneously with ease. Mr Isjacob, 26, is grateful that LASALLE has equipped him with useful skills for use at the office. He shared: “LASALLE opened up opportunities for us to travel. I learnt about the work culture and also design trends in in other countries. “While studying, I also became a joint curator for an exhibition, Myths and Beliefs at the National Gallery Singapore. My art work was also on display there. “In short, LASALLE prepares its students with the knowledge and skills which are in line with the demands of the job market. So, when I take on some projects simultaneously, I am able to handle them without feeling stressed or panicked.” The youngest of two siblings, Mr Isjacob overcomes challenging consultations with customers through effective communication. His coursemate who also achieved First Class Honours, Mr Mohamed Khalis Mohd Sidek, 26, learnt the Mandarin language before he worked as an architect.

Source: Berita Harian © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. 24 Sep 2017, Page 12 Permission required for reproduction

He used the SkillsFuture credits and hopes the language can be of use when dealing with construction workers. “For now, I choose to make preparations first. I also would like to travel to several countries within Southeast Asia,” he said. Mr Mohamed Khalis also attended a cross-cultural programme in South Korea while studying at LASALLE. However, the most memorable moment for him was when he was named the champion in a bathroom design competition organised by Gessi, the luxury faucet brand used in kitchens and bathrooms. As a reward, he travelled to Milan, Italy, and visited the Gessi showroom. “My studies at LASALLE has given me opportunities to enjoy the freedom of thought through space design. For my year-end project, I observed the interior space of a boys’ rehabilitation home to see the living conditions and surroundings of these boys who are facing tough challenges in their lives,” he said.