Pixie Tan

MA Arts Pedagogy and Practice

2024

Pixie is an art director and educator from Singapore. She firmly believes in the power of people and collaborations, and designs experiences that capture and share the collective wisdom of those who encounter it.

As an art director, she has created experiences for organisations and initiatives including the Asian Civilisation Museum, Both Sides Now and the National Youth Council. Pixie is a founding volunteer of Don’t Mind If, a ground-up initiative designed with the hopes of uplifting, celebrating and advancing the local communications design industry, community and profession.

She is currently the Designer in Residence at LASALLE College of the Arts' School of Fashion, where she works with the students from the Diploma in Creative Direction for Fashion.

https://www.pixietan.com

hello@pixietan.com

Work

Teaching philosophy and research interests

My teaching philosophy, shaped by my roles as an art director, artist and educator, emphasises fluidity and adaptability. I see myself as a facilitator, tailoring lessons to suit each class's unique needs. Balancing structure with empathy, I create a supportive environment where students feel valued and respected.

Education, for me, is a liberating force, empowering students to critically engage with the world and envision new possibilities. I advocate for experiential learning, exposing students to diverse cultural practices and real-world scenarios.

Assessment goes beyond outcomes to focus on the journey of learning. Through research and reflection, students document their growth, acknowledging the value of both successes and failures.

My approach to teaching is rooted in continuous evolution. By embracing fluidity and adaptability, I aim to cultivate a generation of students who are active participants in shaping their own futures.

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Thesis abstract

Stories from Our Wardrobe: Developing 21st century competencies through storytelling, zines and exhibition-making

My thesis revisits Stories from Our Wardrobe, an action-research initiative addressing the challenges inherent in facilitating student collaborations and fostering design exploration among diploma design students.

Employing storytelling, zines and exhibition-making, the research aimed to cultivate the student outcomes outlined in the Ministry of Education's framework of 21st-century competencies: active contributors, self-directed learners and confident individuals. I proposed classroom conditions that promote mutual learning, adaptability, collaboration and exploration.

Drawing from a diverse source of qualitative data from student surveys, interviews and reflections, my research advocates for a shift towards engaged pedagogy in design education. This paradigm values personal narratives as integral to the learning experience and encourages educators to embrace their role as facilitators.

Work experience

Aug 2022 – present
LASALLE College of the Arts
Designer in residence

Aug 2019 – Aug 2022
LASALLE College of the Arts
Part-time lecturer

Apr 2019 – Apr 2021
The Merry Men Works
Art director

Jun 2016 – present
Self-employed
Freelance art director

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