Interview with MAD Adventurer Michelle Lim
Why did you start CMA?
We wanted to create an unconventional school, as we believe everybody is Creative.
No matter what your background or your academic performances were in the past; if you are willing, you will be given a chance to fulfill your creative dreams and have your potential unleashed in marketing and advertising world. In Singapore, there are many design schools where students are often taught how to design but eventually, they are unable to bring their design value to company, due to the lack of understanding of business functions.
Our mission is to show and to teach the students - how to design and go beyond design. Learning how to become a designer is just the beginning; our students are required to know how to create a piece of visual communication that speaks for the business world and be able to sell their ideas.
THIS IS WHAT THE MARKET NEEDS, and it is missing in most of the design schools. MAD talents are able to master the skills and know-how - swimming in this MAD pool of Marketing, Advertising & Design.
We would like to let every single student treat this journey as a turning point. “Rekindle one’s passion in design, rediscover possibilities in creative industries and realize their potential” is our mission.
How do you come out this MAD Formula?
At the beginning, we were the Exclusive Education Partner of Institute of Advertising, Singapore (IAS). We provided creative modules and IAS provided marketing communications modules. As time went by, we realized the current modules were unable to feed the needs in industry and we started to work with pool of creative practitioners and came out with this MAD formula in order to bridge the gap between design and business.
How many MAD graduates have you trained so far? What are they doing now?
So far, we have already trained over 200 students. Initially, we have almost 80% of our students coming from different Asian countries. Many Singaporeans were skeptical to pursue their creative dreams here and preferred established design schools over boutique schools such as CMA. But in the recent 2 years, local Singaporeans have dominated 80% of our totally students’ base. In 2010, we have welcome students from France, Australia, Scotland and Dubai. Some of their parents even visited our school and are convinced by our MAD formula and our passion for shaping uniquely creative talents.
Currently, many of graduates are working in top advertising firms in their countries, many are holding positions such as art directors and copywriters in Ogilvy & Mather, second account managers in Dentsu, LOWE and BBD, as creative director in Riverorchid.com, Design-entrepreneurs who started their studios: Eleven Communications, Design AirLAB, BlackSpice… to name a few. They are the unsung heroes in their companies, adding their values in marketing, advertising and design.
What advice would you give to new entrants who wish to establish their creative careers?
I always tell my young students or matured graduates to enjoy every moment of life. Everybody is Creative and this is the belief I hold strongly. I am not a designer but I can contribute my ideas to my art director and often, clients accept our combined efforts. At times, things may not turn out to be the way we wish, but stay on the path your have chosen and never let your passion die, never stop learning even if you have achieved the goal. If you have tried your best and work towards the goodness of a creative professional, God will show you the way.
