ZARA scouts Raffles in search of fresh talent
Delhi, Hong Kong and Singapore – Raffles Delhi, Raffles Hong Kong and Raffles Singapore were proud to host giant fashion group Inditex, owner of international fashion-forward brands like ZARA, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti and Bershka, during their campus visits.
The company came to Raffles campuses in hopes of finding fresh blood for their international internships and their ZARA GO! programme. The latter offers candidates an opportunity to work at the headquarters of Inditex in Galicia, Spain for one year to master the operations of the company. Upon completion of their training, candidates can work in an Asian country of their choice.
 |
The international interviewing panel from Inditex was led by Human Resources Director of ZARA India Ms. Betty Catharine Hygrell, Human Resources Manager Ms. Manvi Burman, Mr. Jose Luis, recruitment team of ZARA China, and Ms Christina Velesco Diez from Human Resources Asia. |
With more than 6,200 stores in 86 countries and a consumer base of millions, ZARA's visit naturally created a big buzz among Raffles Designers and Entrepreneurs. Soon-to-be graduates saw it as an opportunity to enter the industry of their dreams that was not to be missed.
 |
“Zara's visit to our college has been an enriching experience, as we got to learn about how the brand and industry works in great detail," said Garima Singh, a student of Fashion Marketing and Management. "It has been really helpful for me in my area of study, as I now know the different roles and tasks of people in the various job fields in such a brand. We got a chance to interact and learn from them, as well as the chance to submit our CVs to them which is a big opportunity for all of us.” |
Raffles Creative Practitioners were similarly appreciative of the educational experience that their students got. “These kind of international activities make our students more conscious of how the world of fashion works," said Maria Cuadrado, who teaches Fashion Marketing. "Having the opportunity to access information straight from the horse’s mouth is really valuable. Also, being interviewed by professional recruiters is a great experience for an international school.” Zurina Naicker, a Fashion Design Creative Practitioner, echoed her colleague's sentiments, praising the team for being “highly experienced, well prepared and enthusiastic."
Laura, part of the ZARA team, had nothing but compliments for Raffles talents, saying, "All of them come from a very strong background in fashion and they are also very business-minded, which is something that ZARA is looking for to join the team." Laura also revealed her excitement in having long-term collaborations with Raffles to engage more budding talents.
Raffles thanks Inditex for their visit, and wishes all hopeful candidates the best of luck.
Joe SPINELLI shares his fashion expertise with Channel NewsAsia
Singapore – Giuseppe (Joe) SPINELLI, Principal and Programme Director of Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing at Raffles Singapore , was invited to share his wealth of knowledge on vintage fashion on national television. The hour-long interview session was broadcasted on Channel NewsAsia's Singapore Tonight Bulletin.
 |
Dawn Tan, the host of the programme, launched into the topic of vintage fashion by inviting Joe to define it in his own terms. "Vintage fashion is clothes that come from or are made in the 1920s to 1960s, and anything that is from the 1960s to 1990s is considered retro," said Joe. Fellow guest Lena Kamarudin, Fashion Editor of Style Magazine, shared Joe's stance when asked about the definition of vintage and how it is frequently confused with retro and misrepresented in the society. |
"Vintage clothing are very expensive and limited as vintage designers back then had a maximum of 8 pieces that they could design," Joe pointed out. When Dawn asked how Raffles College of Higher Education, Singapore, promotes vintage fashion, Joe explained that Raffles Designers are educated about the history of fashion and are knowledgeable about vintage fashion, a trend that certainly becomes an inspiration for their current and future designs.
 |
It was an inspiring hour for Raffles students to see their beloved Principal imparting his fashionable know-how cultivated from years of experience. More importantly, the interview offered a platform to showcase Raffles' proficiency in design from the master Raffles Designer himself. |
The world is our campus: Raffles travels to Italy and France
Kuala Lumpur and Mumbai – Students at Raffles get many opportunities to develop their portfolios not only in school but in life as well. This stems from a holistic education at Raffles, which exposes them to an industry-focused and experiential learning process. Countries were turned into educational points of interest when Raffles Designers and Marketers from Raffles Mumbai and Raffles Kuala Lumpur ventured on eye-opening field trips to Italy and France recently.
For the 10 Product and Interior Designers from Raffles Mumbai , their whirlwind tour of Italy was awe-inspiring to say the least. Covering six beautiful cities - Rome, Florence, Pisa, Bologna, Venice and Milan - in just 10 days, Italy was the destination of choice for the entourage because of its rich heritage, historical value, culture and architecture. Besides visiting interesting architectural sites and museums, the entourage also visited the Salone Del Mobile in Milan. Being one of the main design exhibitions in Italy involving major companies in furniture design, kitchen design and interior design, the Salone Del Mobile was where the Raffles Designers got to see how their theories translated into industry practice.
Over in Paris, France, 20 Fashion Marketers from Raffles Kuala Lumpur were enjoying a similar experience. With the trip focused on fashion merchandising, the entourage attended two trade shows in which many internationally established and upcoming new designers and brands were exhibiting.
 |
Besides diving deep into the culture and history of Paris at the city's various landmarks, the Fashion Marketers also visited the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, a street in Paris known for being one of the most fashionable streets in the world. The street is home to countless international brands from high-fashion street names to exclusive luxury establishments. On their day out on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the entourage studied the window displays, store layouts and merchandising, effectively relating to what they studied at Raffles. |
Both delegations commented that the trips were immensely rewarding. Being able to engage with their theories in a hands-on manner and witnessing the relevance of their education at Raffles has renewed their zeal for their disciplines.
Can't wear shopping bags? Let Raffles show you how.
Singapore – Most individuals merely reuse shopping bags for convenience's sake, but for the astute Raffles Designer, a nondescript shopping bag presents endless opportunities to create an entirely new product. 30 promising Raffles Fashion Designers, along with Raffles Creative Practitioners, converted shopping bags into wearable fashionable apparel during 'Fashion Reimagined 2014', an annual fashion event organised by the Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA).
A collaboration between Raffles and ORBA, 'Fashion Reimagined' serves as a platform to support up-and-coming fashion designers in Singapore to hone their creative problem solving skill. It is a school of thought emphasised in Raffles’ pedagogy and instilled in aspiring designers as well.
The exciting showcase began with Principal and Programme Director of Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing of Raffles Singapore, Giuseppe (Joe) SPINELLI, leading the way. Together with Raffles Creative Practitioners, Jay QUEK and Madeleine WONG, the three led by example in designing two outfits with Paragon shopping bags.
Thirty of their students then emulated the craftsmanship of their mentors, making use of shopping bags from participating retailers in Paragon to produce stunning works of fashion. Doing Raffles proud, a total of 14 gorgeous outfits were made for Adolfo Dominguez, Anteprima, G-Star Raw, GUESS, Karen Millen, POIS and Paragon.
Raffles Creative Practitioner, Arzelle van der Merwe, commented, "This is great exposure (for the students) to different media. It is brilliant to put something different, out of the box and yet constructive enough, into their résumés and portfolios."
The results of 'Fashion Reimagined', an event of 'Fashion Steps Out (FSO) 2014', were exhibited at Paragon Shopping Mall, an exclusive industry partner of Raffles Singapore.
A hearty well done to the consummate talents who represented Raffles in 'Fashion Reimagined'.
Dynamic showcase by Raffles Graphic Designers for Braun Büffel
Singapore – Participating in competitions tests the mettle of Raffles Designers and puts the skills that they have learnt in class to a very real practical test. In recognition of the talented pool of Designers at Raffles Singapore, 24 Raffles Designers, specialising in Multimedia and Graphic Design, were selected by Braun Büffel to take part in the Büffel Art Competition.
Art and philanthropy were recurrent themes in founder Johann Braun’s life, and they are traditions that Braun Büffel seek to uphold even today. The competition was part of an inaugural initiative called the 'Büffel Art Project'. Singapore is the host of this very first event in 2014. Funds raised from the project will be donated to Very Special Arts Singapore, a charity chosen by the German brand.
The competition was not as easy as it sounded, for a monumental undertaking lay ahead. It was no longer a simple graded assignment given by their lecturers, as the Raffles Graphic Designers were tasked with designing the logo and producing scale figurines on the spot at VivoCity, Singapore. On the day itself, the event was sectioned into two groups of participants, and each group was given 3 hours to redesign and produce the brand's famous buffalo logo with materials that they had prepared. The public demonstration of Raffles talent drew a large audience of curious onlookers spending their day in the popular shopping mall.
What an incredible learning experience it must have been for the 24 Raffles Graphic Designers! Lend them your support by voting for their works here.
Hurry, the competition ends on the 15th of June!
Raffles Fashion Designers are stars of Medan Centre Point Fashion Week 2014
 |
Medan, Indonesia – In a movement to promote outstanding Indonesian designers, Raffles Fashion Designers of Raffles Medan and Raffles Singapore were featured in Fashion Week at Medan Centre Point Mall, Indonesia. Organised by the shopping mall, fashion shows, photography competitions, voting contests, make-up demonstrations and performances were lined up for the week-long inaugural event. The mall is one of Medan’s most luxurious outlets, and it was an honour for both Raffles colleges to be part of the event.
Current Fashion Designers of Raffles Medan wowed the audience with a stunning collection of works. The 10 outfits showcased their ingenious craftsmanship and tailoring techniques gained in their first year of study at at Raffles Medan . Their work also reflected a significant uncovering of the potential within each and every student of Raffles. |
The stage was then handed over to S.L. Sari Poetronegoro and Cynthia Fransisca Haryono, both illustrious Indonesian designers from Raffles Singapore. Prior to Medan Fashion Week, they showcased their collections during Raffles Privato's Spring/Summer Fashion Show in April 2014.
Cynthia Fransisca Haryono, with her 'Beneath the Veil' collection, is a graduate in Master of Design, majoring in Fashion Design. Her collection was showcased Raffles Singapore's Graduation Exhibition and Fashion Show in December 2013. "Being featured in the Indonesian media is such an honour. It was a great achievement knowing that the audience can identify with the theme of my collection and I received quite a number of compliments for the fashion show," Cynthia shared. "It was a pleasure meeting other Creative Practitioners in Medan and I really enjoyed working with Raffles. I am glad to be part of the Raffles family!"
Sari added, "The students were all very enthusiastic about the fashion show." As the winner of the Apprenticeship Award 2011 with yet another outstanding Raffles alumnus Alfie Leong, Sari's label has been featured in several fashion shows in Indonesia such as Jakarta Fashion Week and Indonesia Creative Week. Her design was also featured in CLEO Indonesia. She showcased her 'Geomancy' and 'Back to Black' collections during the fashion event.
The Raffles Fashion Designers and their hard work received rousing responses from the Indonesian media and audiences, earning them numerous features in Indonesian media such as SumutPos, Medan Bisnis, Koran SINDO and Harian Medan Bisnis.
Raffles congratulates all designers, for their success is Raffles' success.
'P.O.E.T' by Sari Poetronegoro - Now available on www.poet-fashion.com
'CYNTHIAFRANSISCA' by Cynthia Fransisca Haryono - Now available on www.cynfransisca.com
Give them your support today!
Raffles Fashion Designer Jolene TAN dresses Chris TONG for Star Awards 2014
Singapore – Jolene Tan, Raffles Fashion Designer, had the honour of designing a gown for MediaCorp actress Chris TONG Bing Yu, for the recent Star Awards 2014. Chris is a Malaysian actress who has acted in various local and Malaysian productions, earning her a Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Award at the annual event in Singapore.
 |
The statement piece, designed to accentuate Chris’ feminine silhouette, featured hand-beaded lace, crystals and pearls, giving a three-dimensional look that sparkled under the spotlight. The attention-grabbing gown that Jolene custom-made for Chris led to a feature in local newspaper TODAY.
Jolene's unique creation took months of hard work and patience on her part to come up with for the grand event. Signature of a Raffles Fashion Designer, Jolene gamely challenged old habits and departed from her usual style, choosing instead to use chiffon. An education with Raffles Singapore has taught the young designer that chiffon is notoriously difficult to handle and to make feminine pieces with. |
"It took months for me to complete this made-to-measure gown for Ms. Tong, and the process of making the gown involved many trial and errors, but I believe mistakes are the portals of discovery," said Jolene. "I’m very satisfied with the final look of the gown and be it negative or positive comments, I will accept them and continue to improve myself," she added.
Success is indeed by design for this bright young talent from Raffles. For more of Jolene’s collection, visit Raffles Privato at Level 3 of Paragon Shopping Mall in Singapore.
The Raffles Designer, The Global Entrepreneur
'PLEATATION' by Raffles Fashion Designer CHIANG Xiaojun |
|
Singapore – The world of fashion is currently captivated by pleats, incorporating the trend into blouses, skirts and dresses. For CHIANG Xiaojun, her eye for fashion, sharpened during her studies at Raffles Singapore, helped her to propagate the trend long before it surfaced. Two years ago, the Raffles Fashion Designer started dabbling with pleats and created her own collection. Today, she is a proud owner of her very own boutique aptly titled 'PLEATATION'.
'PLEATATION' started off as an online store featuring Xiaojun's pleated products. Simple flattering cuts that accentuate almost all body shapes are significant aspects of her designs. Together with her own personal touches of pleats and textures, her creations are uniquely versatile. But the intrepid designer soon realised that it wasn't enough to sell visually appealing products online. Her customers longed for the physical feel and texture of her clothes. This sparked the idea of having her own brick-and-mortar store - an idea that soon came into fruition.
Like all budding fashion designers, success did not come without obstacles and hard work. It was no easy feat for Xiaojun to locate the perfect space, but she eventually found her haven at Level 2 of Orchard Central, transforming her unit into a unique and attention-grabbing one that now houses her boutique. The open-concept store gives customers space to shop freely, and most importantly to feel the texture of the pleated dresses, tops, cushion covers and many more interesting products that her brand offers.
"I had a lot of help from the lecturers and my mentor Joe SPINELLI (Principal and Programme Director of Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing at Raffles Singapore), who inspired and motivated my creativity. The opportunities I was given were very meaningful and helped me gain a lot of experience in what the real world was going to be like," said Xiaojun about her experience at Raffles Singapore.
A piece of advice from Xiaojun to all aspiring fashion designers out there: "Go for your dreams, overcome the obstacles and you'll enjoy the sweet success after!"
Take a look at 'PLEATATION' online at www.pleatation.com or visit the store at:
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
#02-17
Singapore 238896
'CHAINLESS BRAIN' by Raffles Jewellery Designer Alverina WIJAYA |
|
Singapore – Want to don one-of-a-kind jewellery pieces that won't be seen twice on the street? 'Chainless Brain' by Raffles Jewellery Designer, Alverina WIJAYA, is the answer to your dreams.
Chainless Brain caters to young people who have an eye for handmade and delicate accessories. Founded in 2006, the brand started off with a simple do-it-yourself concept and has evolved to today's experimental and quirky designs. Each piece is painstakingly handmade and materials are sourced from all around the world.
Founder and designer of the label Alverina WIJAYA’s premiere collection is made of 18K gold precious metal. Titled 'The Alphabet Project', the collection is exquisitely detailed. Although miniature in size, the little jewellery pieces speak a thousand words, symbolising and celebrating love and joy. The collection earned the Raffles Jewellery Designer a feature in July 2013's issue of herworldPLUS, and again in September in ELLE Singapore.
Alverina shared, "Creating a label of my own is my goal in life." She hopes to weave a story behind each jewellery piece as she believes everyone is unique and deserves to own an accessory that is just as exclusive in conveying the individual's personality and attitude. Characteristic of an education at Raffles, designers are taught to draw inspiration from their daily lives, and Alverina's muses include fantasies, childhood tales and her travel journal.
"Every entrepreneur will encounter endless challenges from competitions, unsold designs and rejections," Alverina said. "There may have been times when I felt overwhelmed and considered giving up. However, the thought of a satisfied customer keeps me going and makes the effort worthwhile. Passion and patience are what entrepreneurs need."
These are wise words from a shining gem of a Raffles Designer. Get your rare jewellery pieces now by checking out Alverina's website at www.chainlessbrain.com.
All eyes on Ashani MADOLA in Canberra, Australia
Canberra, Australia – Luminary Raffles Designers are making waves around the world and raising the bar for younger generations of designers to come. Over in Canberra, Australia, Raffles Fashion Designer Ashani MADOLA is in the running to be the country's next shining star. The premiere collection of her label, 'All Eyes On Us', was showcased at 'FASHFEST 2014' recently.
A stunning four-day fashion event, 'FASHFEST 2014' provides the local design talents of the city an opportunity to be in the limelight. Being the biggest annual fashion event in Canberra, 'FASHFEST 2014' is more than just a fashion show. The event seeks to promote Canberra designers while garnering support for all creative talents from different industries such as graphic design and photography. This is what differentiates the show from others in the industry.
Ashani commented, "I am very happy and thankful to be a part of 'FASHFEST 2014', the biggest fashion event in Canberra. I was one of the 24 lucky designers to showcase my collection on the final night of 'FASHFEST 2014'. It was very satisfying to see everything coming together and that the show turned out very well."
'All Eyes On Us' is an Australian label that is modelled after a modern, glamorous and fearless woman. The design embodies romance and sensuality with elements of elegance and luxury. The silhouettes also feature unique detailing and sculptured tailoring for the confident female.
Her collection, 'Glamorous Romance', focuses on bright colour combinations and instils a sensual feel through the use of luxurious fabrics. The collection is enriched with sophisticated prints and intricate detailing. The clever play of architectural elements is also visible in the silhouettes. Ashani personally handcrafted the collection for the show in a commendable two and a half months, earning her a feature on the front page of local newspaper, Sunday Canberra Times
Congratulations Ashani on a job well done! Support her by checking out her label at alleyesonus.com.au.
Raffles Bangalore is the ‘Third Best Design School in South India’
Bangalore, India – Testament to the outstanding quality of education offered at Raffles, Raffles Bangalore , India’s leading design institute, is proud to announce that it has been awarded ‘Third Best Design School' in South India. The school bagged the prestigious award at 'The Edutainment Show 2014', India’s first ever comprehensive media, communication and design education rating, ranking and awards at the national level, held in Mumbai, India.
'The Edutainment Show 2014' recognises and celebrates educational institutes in the streams of advertising, film and television, journalism, public relations and design. A jury of industry practitioners, chaired by Dr Bhaskar Das, Group CEO, Zee Media Corporation, based the results on a holistic evaluation, with parameters including past performance, infrastructure, global affiliations, syllabi, alumni and network.
This adds another feather of prestige to the hat worn by India’s leading design institute as well as the Group's. The illustrious award is exemplary of the high pedagogical standards upheld by the brand and affirms Raffles' professional commitment in producing skilled industry professionals. Raffles Bangalore will continue to exude the very quality of education the Group has come to be known for, cementing the well-established Raffles Education brand name where Success is by Design.
Raffles Product Designers build on theory through practice
Bangkok and Delhi – Characteristic of an education at Raffles, excursions to the facilities of industry partners provide Raffles Designers opportunities to apply what they’ve learnt at school in the working world. With a hands-on pedagogy that has benefited many outstanding Raffles talents before them, Product Designers from Raffles Delhi and Raffles Bangkok went on field trips to take their learning one step further.
 |
Desmania Design Studios recently extended a warm invitation to the Product Designers of Raffles Delhi to take a tour of their clay modelling facilities in Manesar. It is where full-scale, painted models of their automotive designs are created for design analysis and client presentations.
Desmania Design Studios is a multidisciplinary design studio specialising in the fields of electronics, transportation and home appliances. The company operates offices in Delhi, Mumbai and the United States. Desmania has a firm footing on the industrial design scene and their clients include Yamaha, Whirlpool and LG. |
Mr. Vinay, senior automotive designer and manager of the studio, led the visit. He introduced Desmania and the design process the company undertook to meet the briefs of their clients. Mr. Vinay detailed each step for the Product Designers, from identifying the problem to solving it through design and concluding with full-scale clay modelling and presentations. It was an eye-opening experience for the entourage, who went on to tour Desmania’s workshops and view prototypes for a variety of their clients at various stages of production and others being tested for functionality.
Reflecting on the field trip, Product Designer Vishakh Ranotra shared, “Desmania is a proper product and industrial design studio which shows how the discipline is really being practiced on an international level right here in India. The design process I saw being followed here is quite direct and incredibly relevant for a student of product design."
Programme Director of Product Design, Devon R. Foster agreed, saying, “The ability to constantly connect with the industry and current practice is invaluable to students of this discipline. We thank Mr. Vinay and Desmania for their time in showing us their real “nuts and bolts” design studio.”
While cars were on the minds of those Raffles Designers, their counterparts at Raffles Bangkok were visiting Practika Co., Ltd, a leading manufacturer and distributor of office systems and kitchen furniture. Practika Co., Ltd. produces high quality furniture for residences, offices, hospitality businesses, hospitals and schools in Thailand. The visit marked the start of a collaboration between Raffles and the company, making exclusive internships available to Raffles Designers who wish to be mentored by industry professionals in design projects.
The visit was specially arranged as a factory tour, giving the Designers an opportunity to observe how industry professionals work. The Designers also witnessed the use of special techniques in the manufacturing process - including choosing appropriate materials, the operation of quality control systems, unit assembling, packing and installation.
Recognising the benefits of such field trips, Giuseppe Guerriero, Raffles Creative Practitioner, commented, "projects like this one make the gap between an education at Raffles and the industry smaller.”
The rewarding educational experience was clearly shared by Product Designer Akkaradech Bowornkul, who said, “I enjoyed the factory tour as I gained new knowledge and seen things I have never seen before. It surprises me how things I use in this day are made."
An eye-opener for Raffles Designers at Thailand’s international design fairs
Bangkok, Thailand – Raffles' proficiency in design has seen the Group's 31 colleges groom countless talents over the years. A learning advantage of being a part of the Raffles network is the industry exposure that Raffles Designers are privy to. Raffles Bangkok is proud to announce that the works of three Raffles Product Designers were recently displayed at the Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Homeware Fair 2014.
 |
Both fairs featured over 1,600 booths from over 600 domestic and international companies. It welcomed about 7,000 buyers, importers, manufacturers, traders and over 40,000 general visitors from around the world. It was a good opportunity to promote Thailand’s design industry and a worthy platform to introduce Raffles Designers to the working world.
The fairs are the culmination of a collaboration between the Department of International Trade and the Thailand Institute of Design and Innovation Promotion. Young designers from Thailand’s leading institutes and universities, including Raffles Bangkok , were selected to work with manufacturers to design and produce prototypes. Upon completion, they were immediately entered into the 'BIG Toy Design Innovation Award 2014' and displayed at both fairs for the world to see. |
Learning out of the classrooom with Raffles Entrepreneurs
Batam, Indonesia – With the objective of seeing the real world of tourism and hospitality often discussed in their textbooks, seven Raffles Entrepreneurs from Raffles Batam crossed borders and headed to Asia’s largest and most comprehensive international trade event, the four-day Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) in Singapore. Held at the Singapore Expo, the FHA welcomed nearly 65,000 international trade attendees from over 100 countries – a must-see event for those passionate about the industry.
The Raffles Entrepreneurs were given opportunities to interact with exhibitors from Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and USA. Companies offered their finest products for tasting, and were most happy to explain the manufacturing process and the uniqueness of their goods. This helped the intrepid Raffles Entrepreneurs gain professional industry knowledge and establish a network of business contacts, both of which are important in leveraging upon in the future.
Being in Singapore, the Raffles Entrepreneurs visited Raffles Singapore campus headquartered at Raffles Education Square. The delegation toured the new facilities and gained insights about a life of a Raffles student in Singapore. The group was particularly delighted with Raffles Connexion, a student lounge where students can find themselves relaxing and mingling in. The area also doubles up as a space for students to connect over ideas for their projects.
Raffles Foundation Studies off to a strong start at Raffles Jakarta
Jakarta, Indonesia – In line with a mission to provide quality education throughout the vast network of Raffles colleges, Raffles Jakarta has officially launched Raffles Foundation Studies at their campus for 2014 and the years ahead. The college has entered into a collaboration with Pengembangan Potensi Indonesia (PPI), officiated by Raffles Jakarta’s College Director, Mr. Andy Oentoro, and PPI’s Director, Ms. Prity Saraswati.
The Raffles Foundation Studies collaboration with PPI is already off to a solid start, enabling more than 500 students from Indonesia to go to Australia for a two-week learning programme.
The partnership is also stretching out to neighbouring schools in the country, spreading the brand name of Raffles far and wide. Raffles Jakarta recently welcomed a delegation of 32 students from the Amalina Islamic School in Tanggerang. As part of their Experimental Learning programme, the bright young minds had an educational experience at the campus, attending a series of presentations and hands-on activities in classes led by Raffles Creative Practitioners. They also had the opportunity to interact with current Raffles Designers and Entrepreneurs, and hear first-hand what an education with Raffles entails.
Such a cultural exchange has also enabled Amalina Islamic School to venture overseas and through the doors of Raffles Singapore. Their visit began with a presentation by International Admissions Office Director, Andrew Suprajitno, who introduced the school to the young visitors, life at Raffles and in Singapore, as well as the perks of being a student in a multicultural environment.
The students toured the new facilities, where they were duly impressed by the infrastructure at Raffles Education Square and the Raffles Hall of Fame, housing the most illustrious alumni and award winners from Raffles.
The day concluded with workshops in Fashion Design and Visual Communication, both of which were specially conducted to further nurture the potential of the bright young minds. The excited group got a hands-on experience "punking" t-shirts with Arzelle van der Merwe, Raffles Creative Practitioner of Fashion Design, who then placed them in the care of Terrence CHONG, Raffles Creative Practitioner of Visual Communication. Terrence explained the role of packaging in consumer purchase decisions, and reinforced the concept with a hands-on demonstration that the students took part in as well.
Both visits have set the stage for a fruitful collaboration between Raffles and PPI in the years to come, and Indonesian students can certainly look forward to a stellar education in design and business at Raffles.
Homes of Raffles Creative Practitioners and Interior Designers featured in 'SQUAREROOMS'
Singapore – Raffles Creative Practitioners and Designers exude a certain panache when it comes to design. It is no surprise then that their flair for the discipline manifests in their humble abodes as well. Self-designed home of Raffles Creative Practitioner, Louis Albert Dube, landed on the cover of 'SQUAREROOMS', an interior design-solutions magazine. It was accompanied by an extensive 8-page visual spread. Raffles Interior Designers Robin Hoong and Randoll Lee also did their alma mater proud by getting similar features in the magazine.
Louis, who teaches Interior Design at Raffles Singapore, commented, "It caught me by surprise when I was approached by a friend of mine. I am elated and very satisfied that the photos and write-up turned out well."
It is made abundantly clear why Louis is a master of his discipline when he explains the concept behind his humble abode. He bought the space in 2009 and wanted a completely different look and feel. With a transparent and open concept behind his design, Louis renovated his house seeking to open his dark and enclosed space up.
As a trained landscape architect, Louis incorporated various elements to integrate his home with the landscape. He demolished most of the walls on the ground floor to let natural light through and to create open space. Being a lover of nature, Louis went to great lengths to incorporate its elements into his home as well. He made use of floor-to-ceiling sliding doors to simulate a natural environment, while adding to the feel of it with materials like glass, wood, aluminium and concrete.
Giving his place a distinct personality like what Louis has done is Robin Hoong. The Raffles Interior Designer has followed the footsteps of his mentor by earning a six-page spread in the same magazine for his outstanding home décor. His 3-room maisonette unit is coloured in mixed white tones with other textures like grainy finishes, hi-gloss materials or broken marble flooring and raised platforms, creating a home that translates a warm and sleek feel.
A graduate of Raffles Singapore , Robin also helms the reins at Rob.Wynn Interior Design Studio since 2005. Being specialised in designing residential houses, Robin’s discerning attention to details, and the ability to transform his clients’ needs into appealing interior visuals, has established his solid reputation over the years. Most importantly, his passion as an interior designer, coupled with his boldness to explore new ideas, have complemented his well-founded technical skills.
"The modules Raffles teaches simulates the actual working industry. What I learnt can easily be applied to my job," said Robin when we asked him about his experience at Raffles Singapore. He shared, "Life is not a bed of roses, there are bound to be obstacles in work and passion is the key to keep you going."
The condominium unit of his schoolmate, Randoll Lee, adopts an 'Urban Oasis' theme. The Raffles Interior Designer gave class to a masculine retreat with a hotel-styled ambience and sophisticated woody features.
SQUAREROOMS is an interior design-solutions magazine which offers its readers inspiring interiors, tips and tricks to a beautiful home, gorgeous design ideas and practical solutions every month. The magazine covers all aspects of interior design, be it complete home renovations, room specific design and ideas, comparison shopping on appliances, home furnishings or entertainment systems.
Get inspired now by the intricately designed spaces of Louis, Robin and Randoll!
Raffles American School welcomes international coach Dr. Rojas
Johor Bahru, Malaysia – Students are not the only ones seeking to improve themselves when they come to Raffles. With a long-term vision of creating a world-class educational institution in both facilities and quality of education, the faculty at Raffles American School (RAS) is committed to advancing their methods of teaching.
The school was pleased to welcome Dr. Virginia Rojas, who took some time out from her schedule to conduct instructional training for the lecturers of Raffles American School. Dr. Rojas holds a commendable portfolio, having travelled extensively around the world developing language programmes and conducting training courses. She has received degrees in language education, teaching English to speakers of other languages, and educational philosophy from Ohio State University and Rutgers University. She is also recognised for her leadership and her commitment to the development of second language proficiency among school populations.
As students and families settled in for the weekend, Raffles Creative Practitioners went to school with their teacher being Dr. Rojas. The tables were turned on the teachers this time, but the RAS faculty proved to be eager students, absorbing the varied and effective strategies for improving and increasing student learning - for all students!
An ode to friends both new and old
Delhi, India – Anyone who has ever been to karaoke before knows that tears of laughter are often shed while friendships are forged and deepened. A beautiful midsummer's musical evening was organized by Raffles Delhi recently, where all of Raffles came together to perform interesting interpretations of various songs. On that night, students got to see their lecturers in a refreshing light, and lecturers forged bonds with those they taught in a fun night for all.
Student Utsav Vinayak and Raffles Creative Practitioner Predrag Stojicevic kicked things off with a rendition of ‘November Rain’ by Guns 'N’ Roses. More students chimed in accompanied by friends and faculty alike. Within the hour, the entire room was roaring with tunes from all periods, and performances were met with rousing applause.
The evening ended with light snacks like sandwiches, cookies, chips and cold drinks, rounding off an unforgettable night for everyone.
