Dear DDA’s Graduating Class of 2026,

It is with great pride that I congratulate you all who are graduating this year. This year’s Graduate Show marks the 11th anniversary of THEi’s quest to produce creative talents. The Department of Design and Architecture plays an important part of THEi especially in our journey to become a University of Applied Science. As designers and form makers, we are actively engaged in the physical making of our living environments.

With advancement in digital technology and other changing societal conditions, the possibilities of design are really infinite. It is, however, easy to get lost amidst limitless options, and it is therefore all the more important we remain anchored and grounded to things concrete in the contemporary world, whether they are traditions and cultures, materials and techniques, or human relationships. Through education, we attempt to provide you with this metaphorical track that allows you to remain in the right direction that takes you to your ultimate goals, noting that these goals may not be something static, but something that morphs into shape as your lives and careers progress through time.

At the same time, we invite all of you to take active roles in laying the tracks that direct the future of DDA and THEi. We invite you to reflect upon what are our solids foundations and how these foundations may let us build creative and meaningful communities and scenarios. We would love to see you come back, from time to time, to initiate and engage in fruitful dialogues. We wish you all the success in your future careers, and hope you remain delightfully curious as you mature.

Yours sincerely,

Yin-Lun Chan

Head, Department of Design and Architecture