“Restrictions do not exist in the design dictionary.”

In an interview with UrbanWire, designer Lim Si Ping explains, “The beauty of design is that there is no such thing as ‘you can’t do this’ or ‘you can’t do that’. It is exciting to experiment with all forms of design mediums, knowing that you won’t be held back.”

The bright-eyed 21-year-old, Lim Si Ping, is one of Singapore’s daring young designers whose works knows no bounds as she loves to experiment and toy with new ideas.

The Multi-Talented Designer

This new generation Singaporean designer founded her own studio at a mere 18. In 2005, Si Ping created Pixel Pastry. She envisioned Pixel Pastry to be “the design studio that turns out fresh ideas like just-baked buns”.

Si Ping mentioned in a feature in The Straits Times last year that “her clientele [had] grown quickly to include overseas ones since she started” Pixel Pastry. The launch of her design studio brought in bigger clients like PumaTalk and Mediacorp Radio. “I am lucky that there are people who are willing to pay me for what I enjoy doing most”, admits the young artist.

Besides juggling her design projects with a clientele of local and international firms, the freelance designer also had to juggle homework! Si Ping just graduated from the LaSalle SIA College of the Arts.

“It was very tough for me to balance both. I wanted to make the most out of my school projects, as well as do a good job for my clients. I enjoy designing, I love creativity, I spend every day with [my designs] and it doesn’t seem to mind,” the designer shrugs.

“I grew up surrounding myself with art so it wasn’t hard to me to decide that design might be the thing for me.”

Pillars of Support

The switch in her career path was not as smooth as she had hoped. Si Ping tells UrbanWire that her parents didn’t allow her to take art as a subject in secondary school.

It was Si Ping’s secondary school art teacher, Mr Foo, who saw her potential and inspired her to pursue design. “He gave me the opportunity to pursue my passion for design,” she shares.

When she was in Secondary 3, her mentor suggested to her parents that Si Ping should be given a chance at art. “My parents were skeptical about it at first, but after they saw the grades I was receiving in art class, they were more open about my love for art.”

Her pillars of support include her secondary school friends. “In fact, they were the initial ones who were supportive of what I did which gave me hope and encouragement to pursue design.”

Note to Aspiring Artists

Here’s Si Ping’s advice to aspiring artists: “Think thoroughly before you decide if you have a passion strong enough to take you through the tough areas you will face as a visual artist.”

“Sometimes it’s very hard to pursue something that you’re passionate about when the people around you aren’t morally supportive about it. It takes a lot of determination to do what you enjoy”.

When starting out, aspiring artists may experience mental blocks and not know what to draw on for inspiration. “When mental blocks come, I forbid myself to touch the computer for a few days! Then I’ll take out my sketchbook and run around the streets of Singapore. There’s tons of inspiration there… It is up to you as the designer to allow yourself to be inspired by the things around you.”

A Peek into her Artistic Style

Looking through her designs, you see an underlying constant – the mixture of reality and fantasy. “I like to amplify reality. I capture what I see and I enhance it through design. What is not achievable in real life is aesthetically possible through design.”

Her pieces sparkle with the clever play of light and dark that draws audiences to her work. “I just do what I think is aesthetically pleasing with a concept in mind. I do what my mind tells me, what my heart enjoys.”

Si Ping shares about her latest piece for Celine Jessandra, the founder of Celine Jessandra School of Performing Arts, who asked her to create a design to represent the performing arts school.

“When Celine first approached me, she already had a rough idea and concept in mind. As the designer, it was my job to visualise her idea and make it happen through my expertise. The concept is inspired by the vibrant Broadway musical scene, except pumping it into the Asian performing arts scene.”

Her Art Movement

Si Ping’s colourful masterpieces have attained international recognition. Last year, Si Ping was invited by Tiger Beer to take part in movement called Tiger Translate. Together with 150 other top artists in the region, Si Ping joined the movement to support Asia’s young artistic generation.

”To be part of a group of creatives who are mostly already working in the design industry and have much more experience than me, I would say it has been a great honour.”

Si Ping chose to do this piece on the theme “Rise” for her Tiger Translate piece. She shares her creative direction, “I wanted to see Chinatown from a helicopter view, so I climbed the highest housing estate and saw a breathtaking sight below me. The scene inspired me to imagine a giant leaning over the rooftops of the suburb and casting a shadow over the people of Chinatown. I immediately desired to shoot the scene. When I see an idea that has potential, I have to get it done.”

Her Personal Works

Si Ping designs not only for clients, but also for herself.

UrbanWire’s favourite is a reflective piece from Si Ping is entitled Illustrate your world.

Illustrate Your World came to me like a screaming alarm clock going off in my brain. I could see three giants in my head overlooking the small suburbs of Chinatown at night. I wanted to make it happen, even if it took me 6 months to complete everything”

Recognition & Rewards

As the design industry grows; more designers are getting accolades for their hard work.

“Most of the design professionals I’ve met have mentioned the importance of awards and how far they can take you in the industry. Receiving an award is like having 34,957,192,873,498,223 people telling you that they love your work.”

59-second interview with Si Ping

UW: Tell us more about yourself in just 59 seconds starting… NOW!

Si Ping: I drink 5 times more than an average person.
I have a twin sister. She’s 16 minutes younger than me.
She’s creative with numbers.
I’m too lazy to sleep.
I own 17 pairs of glasses.
I like wearing glasses and dismantling them.
My favourite games are jigsaw puzzles.
I almost studied interior design because I wanted to live in a tree house.
My interest in design started after I found out it is biologically impossible to be a
sabre-toothed tiger!
I’m a different person when I’m at work.
I’ve been a Feminist from young.

UW: And that was 59-seconds with the talented Si Ping!

Want to showcase your talent? Simply create an original artwork in response to the theme “Energy” to TigerTranslate.

Images used from Pixel Pastry with permission from Lim Si Ping.