My Creative Journey

Where It All Began: Tracing My Creative Roots

Looking back, I think I’ve always had that creative itch. Back in primary school, I was always sketching: Pokémon, Digimon, Fire Emblem characters… basically anything that lived rent-free in my head at the time.

But it wasn’t just doodling. My friends and I actually turned our drawings into games and stories. Recess was like a mini convention. We’d trade characters, battle, and build entire worlds on paper.

As much as I’d love to share those old doodles here, I don’t have them anymore. My mom’s never been much of a keeper of childhood art.

High School: Trying Everything

In high school, that creative side started branching out. I got really into languages (which I didn’t realize back then was just another way to create and express things).

I also jumped into performing arts: singing, seni khat (Islamic calligraphy), nasyid, munajat sufrida—you name it. Those moments taught me not only how to express myself differently, but also how to build something with people, not just by myself.

University: Drums, Design, and Design Deadlines

When I got to university, things got intense pretty quickly. One of the first things I jumped into was the 24 Festive Drums troupe. That counts as performing arts, which is still art—just not the drawing or design kind. There’s something about making rhythms with a group and creating excitement through music and movement that’s every bit as creative and expressive. Some of my best memories (and sore muscles) came from those practices and performances.

But to be honest, what really started to take over my life was design. I definitely wasn’t behind all the visuals for campus events, but I did end up making a lot of posters, banners, and digital graphics. If you were a new student, there’s a decent chance you saw something I designed—even if you didn’t realize it.

Here’s a little showcase of some of the things I got to make:

Cultural Night Visuals for Facilitator Camps

For this project, I got to blend my love of languages with design. Since the event featured performances from Malaysia's three major ethnic groups, I made countdown posters in Chinese, Tamil, and Malay. It wasn’t just about looks; it was about making everyone feel included right from the first glance. I also created matching stage backdrops for each dance, keeping everything culturally in sync.

Event & Club Posters

Outside orientation, I started handling branding and publicity for all sorts of events. You know those countdown and poster graphics you’d see around campus, or on social media? Yep, that was my (often sleep-deprived) handiwork.

Lion Dance Branding

Oh, remember the 24 Festive Drums I mentioned earlier? It's actually from a Lion Dance troupe in University Malaya! Of course, I was (again) part of the publicity team, so we got to make posters! :)

Somehow, all this led me to being the reluctant "Head of Publicity" for a few clubs. That meant late nights, too many Canva tabs open, and constant WhatsApp messages. It was definitely chaotic at times, but I liked seeing our ideas come to life with the team. I also realized good design is more than just making things look nice; it's about catching attention and getting people interested.

Now: UI/UX & Frontend

These days, most of my creative energy goes into frontend and UI/UX. I work closely with our designer, discussing wireframes, turning Figma mockups into real interfaces, and figuring out how to make things feel good to use. Sometimes I’ll jump into Figma myself to tweak layouts or test ideas.

It’s very much a team thing. We go back and forth on user flows, polish small UX details, and keep asking, “Does this feel right?” It’s a mix of logic, design, and empathy that I really enjoy.

Lately, I’ve realized it’s not about perfect pixels anymore. It’s about making something that feels natural and easy for people to use. That’s the kind of work that keeps me excited.