Down The Line

Introduce yourself!
I’m Zafirah, and I’m studying design communications in LASALLE, though I actually started off as an IT student. Today, I’m in my “I don’t know what to wear but I need to look like I dressed up” outfit (laughs). I usually always wear this when I’m running late or I’m too tired, so it’s kind of my staple look that I always show up to school in. I just wear a bodysuit underneath and throw something over, like a cardigan or sweater.

Stylish and comfy, we like that! How did you make the switch from IT to design?
When I was in IT, I discovered that I quite enjoyed the UI/UX specialisation, so for my school projects, I would do things that are more design-based. When I applied to LASALLE, I just used my works I did for these projects and here we are. I guess I have a certain interest in design, but I also like structure. UI/UX is a good balance between the two, and there’s more job opportunities in this industry nowadays.

Glad to hear that you found something that works for you! How’s school been for you so far?
I’m currently in my second year, and it’s been interesting so far. I feel like where I came from has prepared me for this part of my education. In my first year, we only did hands-on stuff, which I was okay with, but it felt directionless. Now, we are focusing more on branding and workflows, that kind of thing. I think I’m more into that kind of structure when it comes to producing creative works. As much as the struggle was real in my first year, its worth it.

Any inspirations behind your design works?
I actually don’t have any. I base my work off a lot on logic and user flows, basically how humans generally interact with design work. As much as I really appreciate graphic design and things that don’t really come out from a normal person’s brain, I still feel like I’m far from that. So I’ve diverted my attention to things like shared experiences and common practices. I think that’s how I can connect with my work and with people.

Lastly, what hobbies do you have?
I try to work on myself (laughs). Right now, I’m focusing on my fitness and wellbeing, so I go for pilates and run. I’m also looking to go for gym sessions with friends. It’s not necessarily a New Year’s resolution; I just do things as I go along. Improvement has always been important to me. I think it’s about finding things to be improved on, or something I can enjoy doing and can practice. I also model for Playhood, a local brand, from time to time. Right now, I’m just part of the community, and I really enjoy connecting with the people there during my free time.