From studio to classroom: translating industry experience into creative teaching

Before I became a lecturer, I spent my days crafting stories behind some of Malaysia's most-loved animated characters. I worked at Animonsta Studios as a social media executive in the branding department, where I was surrounded by artists, writers, animators, and sound designers. It was a creative playground but also a place that taught me a lot about strategy, speed, and how creativity must often serve a bigger purpose. Now that I'm teaching graphic design and animation, I constantly find myself reflecting on what I learned back then and how it helps me guide my students. In this piece, I'd like to share how those industry experiences shaped the way I teach students to express their creative thoughts more meaningfully.