Now

![My final project Stille got honored as a Student Runner-Up in the Service Design category of the Core 77 2020 Design Awards!]()

My final project Stille got honored as a Student Runner-Up in the Service Design category of the Core 77 2020 Design Awards!

**Updates 20 July 20:** New essays on [CIID learnings](/ciid-learnings), [design thinking (](/design-thinking-rename)urgh) and[ leadership in problem-solving](/how-to-lead-in-problem-solving-1).

Surprise: my final project got honoured as the Student Runner-Up, Service Design in the 2020 Core 77 Design awards!

Work

I’m an Assistant Vice President in the Customer Experience (CX) division, Singapore Economic Development Board (“EDB”). It’s a lovely team, working on different projects: I’m working on multiple workstreams at this point.

I’m part of a team looking at Digital WorkPlace tools, especially around Microsoft Teams and its app ecosystem: our objective is to reduce employee fatigue and increase productivity. We had tapped on design research that I did in March.

I’m still part of a team looking at economic opportunities for Singapore post-Covid. Much of the work is confidential, so I’ll not say anything here.

Side Projects

I’m working with IDP ‘17 alum Yee Mun on a project: it is called “Story Terminal”, and is exploring how to connect people through audio stories. We did a pilot trial with 3 friends & acquaintances of ours, using a private Instagram account; right now we’re in the middle of pivoting.

I’m also doing Scott Young’s Rapid Learner course, which I’m doing with Free Code Camp’s courses on basic Javascript & web development. [Update 12 July: I’m currently doing the Udemy Complete Javascript course, which I find suits me better than Free Code Camp.]

Mulling Over (Update 20 July 20)

Substack – super interesting premise of a new platform.

Lisp – I’ve been reading about LISP for a while on Paul Graham’s essays, and thinking about learning this. I’m also reading SICP (see below)

Opportunities in aging – still mulling on this, especially after helping an elderly neighbour on polling day.

Opportunities in digital Dhamma/dharma – recently had an email exchange on a Buddhist app idea, which is for-profit. Reignited my thoughts about my “vision”.

Other Stuff (Update 20 July 20)

Reading
Antifragile – I re-read this book all the time, and I still feel that it’s one of the most mind-blowing books that changed the way I look at the world.
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (SICP) – starting this, given all that I’ve read about it.
How to be a hacker
Teach yourself Programming in Ten Years

Meditating
30+ mins a day.

Working out
Starting Strength Linear Progression. Current weights: Squat 210lb (94.75kgs). Am off hand exercises for a couple of weeks, as I was having pains on the back of my hands.

Updated as of 20 July 2020