Lessons in Design: From Student Days to Designer of the Year - Ar. Alan Tay
The President’s Design Award (P*DA) celebrates visionary design that drives meaningful social and spatial transformation alongside technological innovation. In 2025, one of our distinguished alumni, Ar. Alan Tay (Class of 2000), received the prestigious recognition as Designer of the Year.
In this feature, we explore Alan’s reflections as he shares candid insights from his formative years studying Architecture at NUS, his evolved perspective as a practising architect, and his unique observations upon returning to his alma mater as a reviewer. His perspective—seeing education not as a discrete chapter but as foundational DNA—perhaps best captures what makes Alan’s journey from student to Designer of the Year so compelling. His story reminds us that the most profound lessons often aren’t found in any single moment, but in the accumulation of experiences, relationships, and the courage to forge one’s own path—insights we hope will inspire both current students and aspiring architects in their own design journeys.
ALAN TAY SHARES HIS INSIGHTS WITH A BA (ARCH) YEAR 4 STUDENT AS AN INVITED EXTERNAL REVIEWER AT HIS ALMA MATER IN 2025.
Studio Culture: Then and Now
What was studio culture like during your time, and how does it compare with what you observe now?
“It was completely different,” Alan reflects. “Studio culture for us meant literally living in the studio—24/7, especially near submissions. Sometimes we’d even skip lectures because we were so immersed in our work. But it wasn’t about heavy workloads; we were self-propelled, motivated by pure passion. And honestly? It was fun.”
“Today’s students have more tools and access to information, and they’re more empowered in many ways. But I notice they don’t spend as much time physically in the studio anymore.”
Memories That Shape
Can you share a vivid memory from your NUS days?
“The grand stairs at the foyer. Everyone thinks of them as the perfect spot for faculty photos, but for us, those stairs were where real life happened—where we cried, had deep conversations, and worked through our thoughts. They hold so much memory.”
Alan credits three professors as particularly influential: Ann Gerondelis, Dr. Guksum Baydar Nalbantoglu, and Dr. Joseph Lim. “They shaped not just how I think about design, but how I approach the profession itself.”
Beyond the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis that affected internships, what other challenges did you face as a student?
His response is refreshingly candid: “Best time of my life. I was pursuing a dream.” For Alan, even significant disruptions like the financial crisis couldn’t overshadow the joy of studying something he was passionate about.
The Entrepreneurial Leap
Tell us about your transition to practice.
“I took the road less traveled,” Alan admits. “Three of my classmates and I set up our own practice even before graduation, collaborating with alumni architects working on various projects in Singapore. We didn’t have the luxury of learning within an established firm—it was a steep learning curve with plenty of roadblocks.”
Even more than twenty years later, he acknowledges the ongoing challenge: “Balancing the demands of growing a practice while maintaining design rigor—it’s still difficult, even after two decades in business.”
Evolution of Architectural Education
What’s changed most in architectural education since your time?
“The Department now has many more practising adjuncts, which brings real-world perspective directly into the classroom. Students have access to better tools and more information than we ever did.”
Alan observes broader generational shifts too: “The industry adapts—it’s definitely a generational thing, from Gen X to Millennials to Gen Z. Each brings different expectations and approaches.”
ALAN TAY RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT*S DESIGN AWARD (P*DA) FROM PRESIDENT THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM AS ONE OF THE P*DA 2025 DESIGNERS OF THE YEAR
Beyond the Buzzwords
How do you view the current emphasis on sustainability and social impact?
Alan’s response cuts through the rhetoric: “Any self-respecting practice pursuing architecture has been critically engaging with these issues long before they became buzzwords. The difference is that these concerns have become more urgent and trendy, so even corporate practices now embrace them for branding or compliance.”
Wisdom for the Next Generation
What advice would you give current students?
Alan’s formula is deceptively simple: “Passion. Grit. Charm.”
He elaborates: “Read widely and deeply—use AI critically, but don’t let it replace deep thinking. Travel whenever you can. Find a mentor who challenges you.”
How should students approach critique and failure?
“Engage with critique,” he emphasises. “See it as critical dialogue that sharpens your thinking and makes you smarter. As for failure—it’s natural to feel sad and defeated. We’re human, not machines. Accept it, but don’t let it fester. Move on quickly.”
Any advice for your younger self?
“No idea. I think I needed to experience everything exactly as it happened.”
Full Circle
Which project or moment best reflects the values you learned at NUS?
“I don’t think it’s about one particular moment or project,” Alan reflects thoughtfully. “Who I am today was largely shaped by growing up in Singapore and my time at NUS. It’s woven into everything I do.”
Read more about the President’s Design Award (P*DA) 2025 recipients here.