Grace Tay

She turned her life story into an award-winning film. Digital Film & Television graduate Grace Tay’s story of love, trust and redemption won multiple awards in the National Youth Film Awards 2018 and recently snagged a finalist certificate in the prestigious New York Festivals TV & Film Awards 2019.

1. What was a high point in your life and why? 

Growing up, I was always different. I’ve never really felt like I belonged to a place nor to a group of people. So the high point in my life was when I came to TP Design School and realized people accepted me; that it is okay to be a bit weird, to embrace who I am.

2. What are the key motivations for your current pursuits? 

There is still so much for me to learn, to see, to experience and also to build new perspectives. My strongest motivation is to keep improving myself, as a person and as a film-maker. I want to be brave enough to embrace criticism and be fearless in the face of change.

3. What are your future goals in life? In other words, what do you want to be when you grow up? 

I want to create films that leave a lasting impact on people’s hearts. I want to do work that leaves a deep and lasting impression on the audience.

4. What do you love most about your work? 

Film gives me an outlet to express myself, to share a bit about my thoughts to those who do not know me. You can always tell what a person is like from his/her work. The work would express a certain tone or style that you would never have known just through a casual conversation.

5. How would you make the world a better place through the work you do?

Through film, I want to raise awareness on issues happening around us; especially people, causes, issues that fall beyond our usual radar. And in creating awareness, bring attention and meaning to help make a difference.

6. Why did you choose to do design as a course/career?

I was always a little bit rebellious, the one who always didn’t want to do what others were doing. I love to question and I was looking for something that would give me more freedom in being myself and freedom in expressing my craft.

7. What advice would you give your juniors?

Learn to enjoy the stress, the countless nights that you stay up doing work. Learn to embrace the bad and the good because when you look back at those times, you’ll be glad it happened. At the end of the day, it’ll be all worthwhile and you will realise that people really do matter a lot in this journey.

The “Do What You Love” series of short interviews showcases the love that students, lecturers, alumni from the School of Design have for design and where this love is taking them in life through the discovery of new skills, new opportunities, new careers and life-paths.