NP News

Five years after graduating from Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), Cherie Phua is living her dream as an Experience Designer at EY wavespace, Ernst & Young’s innovation hub where she helps organisations in their transformation success. Yet it feels like just yesterday she was racing to meet project deadlines and soaking up critiques from her lecturers.

Today, Cherie mentors five budding designers from NP’s School of Design & Environment (DE) and serves as a guest industry critic for modules like Design Communication, offering students the same grounded and constructive feedback she once valued.

As an industry mentor, Cherie sees herself as a bridge between the classroom and the real world, bringing field experience to help students gain clarity and confidence in their design journey. “Returning to NP feels like a full circle moment and it’s my way of giving back to the community that shaped me and encouraging students to think boldly and stay curious,” she shares.

Her motivation to mentor stems from her own time as a student. During her internship, she was guided by a nurturing mentor who not only helped her explore educational pathways beyond polytechnic but also showed her how to tailor her portfolio to resonate with hiring managers. “That experience showed me firsthand how powerful mentorship can be, not just in building skills, but in building confidence. It’s a big part of why I’m passionate about mentoring today,” Cherie reflects.

In fact, Cherie is also the youngest alumnus that DE has invited to join its year-long Industry Mentors Network programme to guide students in exploring pathways towards their aspirations.

"At DE, we take pride in our tight-knit alumni community, many of whom return to inspire our students. Cherie’s journey has been remarkable, and to now have her onboard as our youngest alumni mentor speaks volumes about her growth and her commitment to giving back. She is a shining example of what our students can achieve," shared Mr Leon Pey, Director of NP’s School of Design & Environment.

Cherie Phua (right) conducts face-to-face meet-up sessions with her mentee

The five design students under Cherie’s guidance participating in a learning journey to EY Wavespace

Choosing NP and Finding Her Path

As a wide-eyed 16-year-old, Cherie chose NP despite a long commute because of the vibrant energy of the campus which drew her in during one of her visits. With a budding interest in design, she made the decision to apply for the Diploma in Product Design & Innovation (renamed Diploma in Design) through the Early Admissions Exercise (EAE), an aptitude-based pathway that allows students to secure a place in their chosen course before the ‘O’ levels.

With no prior art or design background, Cherie admits she was unsure if she belonged. But her EAE interview left a lasting impression — the watm and encouragement of the lecturers made her feel that NP was a place where she could receive the guidance and support to truly grow. And grow she did. In her first year, Cherie worked on a packaging design project that not only sparked her love for design but also won awards, an early affirmation that passion and perseverance could take her far.

Cherie (middle) with her package design that won her awards at the Singapore Packaging Star Award in 2018 as well as the Asia Star Awards, which recognises outstanding packaging designs across the Asia-Pacific region

When she graduated back in 2020, Cherie envisioned herself earning a degree in industrial design and working at a creative agency within ten years. Five years on, she’s already living that dream. At EY wavespace, she now holds a hybrid role spanning business operations, strategy, and experience design — blending creativity with strategic thinking.

The technical knowledge I gained at NP gave me the tools to build on, but more importantly, NP nurtured a mindset of exploration and resilience, qualities that continue to guide me in my career today,” she says.

Having the opportunity to contribute to NP is something Cherie is deeply grateful for. “Returning to my alma mater to give back has always been a goal of mine. I want to support students the way I was supported, encouraging them to experiment, question, and push boundaries,” she shares.

And now, she’s doing just that, showing others how to navigate their journey with courage and confidence.