If you’re struggling to pass your exams at school or university, relax.
 

Pann Lim was a hopeless student – and today he’s one of Singapore’s most celebrated designers.
 

He’s also incredibly prolific. In addition to his day job as Creative Director of Kinetic Singapore, he runs a zine, hosts exhibitions, is a founding member of The Design Society and a frequent guest at Singapore’s design schools.
 

Apparently you struggled in school, but eventually found your passion for design.  When did you first realise you wanted to be a designer?
 
In the past, getting a degree in Singapore is the way to secure a better future. Likewise, I was following my brother's footsteps and tried to study my way into university.
 
In all honesty, other than being mischievous and a daydreamer, most of the subjects offered in the mainstream education did not interest me. The result was me going to two primary schools, one secondary school, two pre-universities, two Junior Colleges and two Polytechnics.
 
In the process, I found out I really love art, wood/metal work and economics. I failed my ‘A levels' as I did not turn up for most of the papers.
 
So while I was serving in the army, a good friend of mine who was in Temasek Polytechnic pursuing Visual Communications said I should try that course because she felt that I might like it. In all honesty, I would like to say that I knew I wanted to be a Creative Director since I was young, just to romanticise the story.

But the truth was I had nowhere to go except to give design and advertising a try. It was sheer fate and the lack of options that led me there. But once I was there, I fell in love and never turned back.
 

You’ve won hundreds of awards, like the prestigious President's Design Award for Designer of the Year – twice. But what’s your biggest achievement?
 
For me, awards are of course good to have but they are not a 'must have'. There are many things at work more valuable than that. For example, seeing everyone in my office working together, both account service and creatives sharing ideas and opinions: this family teamwork and bonding is priceless.
 
It also makes me happiest when the younger folks in my office put in their best commitment for our clients to make every project better. And then the results are translated into them winning awards for those projects. That is the best achievement for me: to see young people succeed.
 

You’ve said: “Creating work without an idea is a sin”. But what if you’re struggling to come up with an idea? Do you ever have creative block, and what’s your cure?
 
Most people (myself included) will struggle to come up with a fresh and original idea. It is common and it is part of the creative process. Sadly, I don't have a cure for it, however I have always listed 'creative block' as part of the ideation process so I am well aware that it's always there.
 
Ironically when this 'creative block' is always there, it becomes 'invisible' and definitely not a 'threat' to me anymore. To me, thinking of ideas is like farming - on certain seasons you get better harvests because your project gets the right amount of sunshine and rain (which is controlled by mother nature) etc.
 
However, steps within my control like removing weeds, pests and making sure the harvest is appropriately fertilized are equally as important. With this care, chances for the projects turning out better are always higher. So do not let this 'creative block' hinder or scare you, just embrace it.
 
 
Can you tell me more about The Design Society where you are a founding member?
 
The Design Society is a non-profit organisation and was co-founded with a group of close friends from the design industry in Singapore. The original members stepped down four years ago so that the next generation of creatives could helm and shape the new Singapore design industry.
 
Our mission for starting TDS has always been about archiving, educating and sharing creativity from Singapore and beyond. TDS publish journals bi-annually, run conferences, sessions and workshops, which are open to the public and professionals.
 

You must fly away to London after judging the ADFEST Lotus Awards for a book launch. Have you written a book, and what is it about?
 
Holycrap.sg is founded by my wife Claire, my 13 year-old son Renn, my 10 year-old daughter Aira and me. To date, our kids have had six exhibitions since 2011 and have collaborated with lomography, Supermama and Muji.
 
As Holycrap, we also publish our family zine called Rubbish Famzine. It's a bi-annual zine that documents things that interest us as a family. The kids are very much involved in the zine process be it with photography, drawing or writing down stories and ancedotes etc.
 
One of the main objectives of the zine is really to collect and archive precious memories, using it as a platform to educate our kids and at the same time to push the limits of creativity.
 
Since 2013, we have published five issues of our Rubbish Famzine and we are currently in the madness of designing and putting together our 6th issue. We are very grateful that we have this great opportunity to launch Rubbish Famzine Issue No.6 in London and I am really looking forward to it.
 

Now that you’ve become a rock star and an author, what would you like to achieve next?
 
The truth is I am neither a rock star nor am I an 'author' of any sort. Besides, my wife Claire does most of the writing. I just love doing what I do. And I love the process of failing, learning and improving the projects at every stage. I will always remain a student at any stage of my life.
 


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