Meet Raymond Tan who is a nurturer at heart - both in the classroom and at home!
Teaching for him isn’t just about delivering content. It is guiding, nurturing, and growing all roll into one. Outside of work, Raymond brings the same heart and dedication to nurturing his teenage son, finding joy in every moment of their journey together. Come read on to find out what else is in store for Raymond!
1. Hi Raymond, can you tell us a bit about your professional background?
Hello! I’m Raymond Tan from Digital Innovation & Design. I constantly asked myself this question: How can we make our daily life easier? This simple yet powerful question sparked my passion for product design, leading me to pursue it both as a degree and a career. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with various organisations, gaining professional experience in creating human-centered solutions. Eventually, my journey brought me to the education sector, where I found deep purpose in sharing and imparting my knowledge and skills with the next generation of designers.
To further explore my interest in Service Design, I moved to London to pursue a master’s degree in service design at the University of the Arts London, London College of Communication. It was an incredible experience! Learning with passionate, like-minded individuals fueled my passion to blend professional practice with education and I hope to continue this meaningful journey at NUS-ISS.
2. What courses or modules do you teach at NUS-ISS?
Rather than simply teaching, I see myself as a facilitator in guiding our students and organisations to learn by doing, adopting the Service Design mindset to innovate, making positive and impactful changes within their organisations to facilitate new ways of doing and accelerating digital transformation.
3. What made you decide to teach at NUS-ISS?
I've always enjoyed sharing knowledge with people that I work with, and found it particularly rewarding to empower young designers with the skills and mindsets to unlock their creativity and continue to grow. Having taught at other institutes of higher learning, I realised that the focus on professional development for working adults increasingly resonated with me. Teaching at NUS-ISS provides me an exceptional opportunity to blend industry experience with academic rigour to make a tangible difference for professionals across various disciplines. Being part of this distinctive environment is truly invaluable, and I feel privileged to contribute to such a dynamic community.
4. What’s the best part of your work?
Joining NUS-ISS is an amazing opportunity to connect with driven professionals, team up with global organisations, and thrive in a world-class institution that is shaping the future.
5. How do you stay updated with the latest in the industry?
One approach I value most is the opportunity to learn with learners and organisations tackling their organisational challenges. This helps me stay current with the latest practices and opens up opportunities to co-create new interventions and promote the cross-pollination of knowledge and ideas across different sectors.
6. The Burning Question - Got any studying tips to help students excel in their academic performance?
Be passionate about learning from others!
7. What are your favorite activities outside of work?
I like spending quiet time and meaningful moments checking in with myself to reflect and recharge.
8. What's something about you that not many people know - like a hobby or talent?
If I had to name a current hobby, it might be parenthood. I truly enjoy every bit of this journey shaping, guiding, and nurturing my son. It is also one of the constant learning and growth for me. Every day brings new discoveries, fresh perspectives, and moments that remind me how much joy and meaning there is in growing together.
The father-son duo enjoying a 'growling' good time with the dinosaurs!
Clicking their glasses for more good meals and overseas adventures!