Speaking to a group of students is a privilege, and addressing a school of graduates is both a special honor and a daunting task.
Even though I put off starting to write my speech until I received pointers from the school, I had already begun gathering ideas, lines, and everything in between into my Voice Notes app. It was helpful to speak my thoughts aloud as I tried to make sense of them and find connections.
When I received the 8-page PDF from the school, I was now trying to fit what was stated into a 5-minute speech, as given as a guide. These were the standard points you would expect to hear in a graduation speech.
Until less than 24 hours before I had to deliver the speech, I was still debating
– should I give the standard speech everyone expects to hear?
– Or give the speech I wish someone had given me when I was sitting in their shoes?
So the latter became the speech I wrote. And until the very last minute before going on stage, I wished I had more time to edit better, rehearse more, and deliver better.
When I asked myself and my peers if any of us remembered who gave our graduation speech or what was said, none of us could recall.
So my ultimate aim was to share these (hopefully) useful ideas in such a way that one day, when the moment is right, the idea resurfaces again with “I think I heard that before somewhere…” and the ideas ignite action.
Here is the cleaned-up version of the graduation speech, presented as a blog post. The aim is to improve readability for a written format while preserving the original message and voice.
A Personal Cheat Sheet for Graduating Designers: Looking Back, Moving Forward
Based on a speech delivered at the TP Graduation 2025 for the School of Design.
Good afternoon, Mr. Peter Lam, Principal and CEO of Temasek Polytechnic, members of the Board of Governors and School of Design Advisory Committee, distinguished guests, proud parents, and of course, the main reason why we are here today: you amazing graduates!
Before I begin, I think we should give a round of applause to all your parents, teachers, and everyone who has supported you to get here today.
I am extremely honored to be here at one of the finest design schools in Singapore. I once sat where you are today and I’m guessing you have a lot of questions about what’s next.
While I can’t give you all the answers, allow me to share some pointers from my own personal cheat sheet that I wish someone had told me many years ago.
Maybe some of these can help you get closer to your answers.
Here is my personal cheat sheet:
Number 1: Everything Happens for a Reason, and There’s a Season for Everything.
This line has helped me through many difficult times when I just couldn’t understand why things were happening. The reason always reveals itself over time. Remember, you’re right where you’re supposed to be, and you are stronger than you know. Those challenging design projects that pushed you past your limits have always been preparing you for greater creative challenges ahead.
Number 2: Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable.
Indulge me for a moment. I’m going to ask you to do something a bit uncomfortable. I’m going to ask everyone in the audience to take a deep breath. Yes. Okay, breathe in for four counts. Hold your breath. And breathe out. Let’s do it one more time. Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out.
Did the first time feel awkward? It probably did.
How did you feel the second time? A little bit more natural, right?
That’s because you’ve expanded your comfort zone.
This simple exercise is an important lesson I’ve learned: the quicker we get comfortable with being uncomfortable, the faster we expand our comfort zones and we grow.
As designers, your entire education has been about pushing boundaries, both in your work and in yourselves. So embrace those uncomfortable assignments, uncomfortable tasks, because they are opportunities for you to grow.
Number 3: Deal with Being Overwhelmed Using a Brain Dump.
How do I deal with being overwhelmed and not sure where to start?
I do a brain dump with pen and paper. I write down every positive, negative thought, ideas, to-dos, worries, things that I’m grateful for, things that I wish doesn’t happen to me – everything in between – on paper.
Once I’m done, I put it aside or even shred it. This allows my brain to take a breather so I can focus on more important things.
For designers, this practice of externalizing your thoughts, whether through writing or sketching, creates clarity that digital tools aren’t quite there yet to fully replicate.
Number 4: Prioritize Your Health.
We take our bodies for granted.
We have to make time every day to move and to take care of your body. Because if we don’t, the day will come your body demands that time and attention back from you, with interest. Your creative energy is directly tied to your physical well-being.
The most innovative design ideas often come when you’re away from your desk. So, take a walk in nature or get that bubble tea you’ve been thinking about.
Number 5: Ask Better Questions.
The single most underrated, yet truly powerful, tool that I realized in my career was asking better questions.
Instead of asking, “Why is this problem so hard to solve?” try, “What is the most important outcome or solution I need to get to?”
Instead of asking, “I have so much to do. Where do I find the time?” try, “What is the one thing I can do in the shortest amount of time with the greatest impact?”
Asking great questions focuses your mind on the right path.
As designers, you’ve been trained to question assumptions. Continue applying this skill throughout your life, and it will get you quite far. To get better answers, you need better questions.
Number 6: Continue Your Life-Long Learning Journey.
As Mark Twain said, “A person who does not read good books has no advantage over a person who cannot read.”
It is important that you continue your life-learning journey. Read, listen to audiobooks, watch YouTube. There are so many ways for us to enrich and continue learning every day.
Temasek Polytechnic has always been very strong with a continuous learning journey. The Diploma in Design, Digital Commerce and Experience and the Specialist Diploma in Design for Integrated Communications have empowered many adult learners to upskill in digital design, e-commerce, and brand storytelling.
Your design education does not end today; in fact, it has just started. The most successful designers remain perpetually curious, constantly exploring new techniques, trends, and technologies.
Number 7: Money Management.
One of my favorite topics, which I think a lot of you want to know more about: money management.
First, don’t chase questions about how to make more money because you probably won’t find the answers you’re looking for.
Ask a better question: What problems can you solve for others? The bigger the problem you can solve and the more people you can impact, the bigger the rewards you will receive.
You all have monthly bills to pay, or maybe not yet, but soon. Too many times, we forget who is the most important person to pay. Always pay yourself first.
Once you pay yourself, you can put your money into four jars:
- A rainy day jar for those times when you need extra cash.
- A savings jar for your future.
- An investments jar, because you should make money work for you.
- And let’s not forget the most important of all: the “let’s have fun” jar, where you can put money for travel, buying things you enjoy, and having fun.
The last thing I want to talk about for money management is using the “eight wonder of the world: The power of compound interest over time,” as said by Albert Einstein. Because you’re young, you have time ahead of you, so use it.
The Elephant in the Room: AI.
The final thing I would like to touch on is AI. Industry experts say that it’s not about AI taking over our jobs, but it’s those who use AI will take over.
I’ve been in awe at how TP jumped ahead with a forward-looking approach to try to introduce AI to your school even before most people truly understood the impact it would make.
AI will bring centuries of knowledge to more people than the internet did, in a matter of seconds.
We probably have to relearn how to learn to use it almost every day. AI works best when it has lots of data, context, and great questions.
So I would suggest starting to build your own personal knowledge management system or second brain where you collect all your thoughts and ideas into a safe space that you can use for many years to come.
As designers, you are uniquely positioned to shape how humans interact with these new technologies, creating experiences that remain fundamentally human.
Finally, there’s this quote that I have as my wallpaper. It inspires me and at the same time, it ‘nags’ at me.
This quote is: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” This quote came from Goethe.
So, congratulations, graduates of 2025. The world is waiting for your brilliance, your creativity, and your unique design perspective.
Congrats and thank you.