E-PORTFOLIO BA (HON) IN INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE ARC62604 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE WENDY JONG KAI-WEN 0338340
TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY LAKESIDE CAMPUS
PROJECT 1 PROJECT 1 - ACTS, RULES & BY-LAWS [GROUP ASSIGNMENT] ARCHITECT’S ACT & RULES CONDITIONS OF ENGAGEMENT (COE) OF AN INTERIOR DESIGNER ARCHITECTS ACT PART THREE, SUBRULE 29(3) GROUP MEMBER WENDY JONG PRISCILLIA THAM TAN JUN HONG
FORUM PROJECT 2 - FORUM SUMMARY 01 ARCHITECT’S
ACT: LIABILITIES UNLICENSED FREELANCE DESIGNERS
OF
02
DO ALL BUILDINGS NEED TO INCLUDE DISABLED-FRIENDLY SPACES?
03
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON MALAYSIA’S FIRE SAFETY BASED ON UBBL?
Wendy Jong Kai-Wen
0338340
Forum 1: Architect’s Act Topic: Liabilities of Unlicensed Freelance Designers
Graduate interior designer stands to benefit from freelance works as the gig economy is growing rapidly. This allows a more flexible and independent working style. However, the majority of freelance designers are unregistered due to the fact that one must have at least two years of working experience and passed the examination to be recognized as an Interior Designer. At this point, unlicensed freelance designers might address some restrictions under Architect’s Act Part Va Act 27A in the industry. In case of any unfortunate legal liabilities happened, one might need to take the full responsibility and huge risk on court when he or she is not bound with organizations. Upon learning the Architect’s Act, being a licensed interior designer ensures one had fulfilled the standards and requirement in the industry. This could potentially lead to greater and better job opportunities in the industry because of the fact that clients or employers will prioritize licensed interior designer in the project that needs professional advice and knowledge in safety and standard guidelines requirement. The license or certificate shows a certain level of ability of an Interior Designer which present a more reliable and trust image. In my opinion, it is better to obtain the licensed interior designer title for protection purpose and continue to work as a registered freelance interior designer in future. Besides that, one can also consider forming a sole proprietor or partnership practice where they can sign contract and agreement under LAM laws with clients. This looks a lot more trustworthy than being an unlicensed freelance designer.
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Wendy Jong Kai-Wen
0338340
Wendy Jong Kai-Wen
0338340
Forum 2: The Disable (MS1184)
Forum 3: Fire Regulations for Buildings
Topic: Do all buildings need to include disabled-friendly spaces?
Topic: What is your opinion on Malaysia’s Fire Safety based on UBBL?
Upon learning the MS1184:2002 Code of Practice on Access for Disabled Persons to Public Buildings, I understand that this standard commit to improve quality living among people with disabilities and helping them to achieve their full development potential into the mainstream activities of society. The basic requirements for elements of buildings and related facilities should be considered by every designer such as disabled parking, disabled toilet, lift, and etc. Disabled-friendly spaces are encouraged to provide a comfort and functional design to a specific user group where limitation and regulation are applied. Disable-friendly spaces are compulsory for each building as everyone should have fair to enjoy all the facilities and services. In my opinion, it is better to create spaces that are readily accessed and used by everyone regardless size ability, age, or disability. The idea of “Building for Everyone” is providing a more flexible and better-quality design approach. The application of Universal Design Thinking recognizes all the difference of us and accommodate them through integration at design stages, it is adapting people’s changing needs over time in a more effective way. Although it might cost more work and expenses, I believe it may improve the whole building design for everyone in the future.
Upon learning UBBL part VII and part VIII, the regulations set out the basic requirements of fire safety to be observed in the design and construction of buildings. Passive and active fire protection systems are very important systems that included fire prevention, fire detection, evacuation, and firefighting. As such, by-laws are very important as a guideline to followed like the fire exit route, emergency staircase, access points for fire fighters to access the space and many more. In my opinion, I think passive fire protection is very useful that keeping the fire from spreading and provide more time for people to escape from the building. Provision of compartmentation in buildings such as fire doors and firewalls are important to protect and resist fire, and avoid the spread of smoke through the building, Furthermore, it also helps firefighter to better control and extinguish fires because compartmentation blocks the fire to spread easily to another compartment. In conclusion, fire safety is very important in any building to ensure the safety of occupant and the protection of the building. Designer should study regulations in depth to find the most efficient and suitable passive fire protection to ensure the design layout of the premises in compliance with current building regulations in order to reduce the destruction caused by fire. (215 words)
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PROJECT 3 FORMATION OF DESIGN PRACTICE [INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT] NARRATIVE SPREAD SETTING UP A DESIGN PRACTICE WE ARE REQUIRED TO PLAN, ORGANIZE AND FORM OUR OWN ENVISION OF DESIGN PRACTICE WITH A REALISTIC APPROACH.
PROFESIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEEK
ARC62604: Interior Architecture Professional Practice
Wendy Jong Kai-Wen 0338340
Professional Development Week (PDW) 2021 Date: 17th May – 21st May (Week 8) Reflection Report Professional development week is a week-long event featuring industry experts engaging with final year students through online workshops and career webinar. Throughout the week, I have attended 6 talks based on my interest: 1) "Keynote Address - 10 Quick Tips That Will Help Graduates Get Hired During the COVID-19 Pandemic” by En. Farid Basir. As a final year student, I am experiencing panic and uncertain when it comes to my employment as I will be graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this talk, Mr. Farid shared his advice as a recruiter and hiring manager that will help graduates get hired during this pandemic. The most important and basic tip is to stay focus on the industries that are hiring, and it is okay to apply jobs outside your industry of choice. While waiting to get hired, it is also a great opportunity to learn new skills through online platform. You may also consult the university career service centre or talent corporation to explore more in the industry. During job application, do always update LinkedIn profile and polish your resume to capture employer’s eyes. Due to the pandemic situation, most of the interviews would be conducted online, it is better to learn these online communication tools and present yourself well through these platforms. You may also explore an internship opportunity first or considering the gig economy. Last but not least, always be persistent and patient when addressing challenges in your career life. 2) “Getting Ready for the Real World: Financial Literacy for Fresh Graduates” by CIMB. I am very interested on this topic as we are entering the adult working life and I think financial literacy is really important. The first thing that I learned about financial literacy are salary, expenses, and budgeting. Salary as the core income is very important in our career life, as a fresh graduate, we need to be realistic based on our value when stepping into career. With a proper number of salaries, we have to identify our fixed and variable expenses. We need to do adjustment and slash out the unnecessary expenses for more important things. As a young adult, we also need to understand the tax submission and do our tax planning wisely. Financial planning or budgeting can refer to the rule 50/30/20; 50% on needs, 30% on investment or saving, and 20% on wants. With the financial knowledge, we should have a positive mindset and attitude on planning our lifestyle and expectation. Setting long and short-term goal and create value in future career are priceless actions. In conclusion, with financial knowledge and right attitude, you get the power to plan ahead for yourself. It is not how much you earn but how you manage what you earn! 3) “Portfolio Preparation (Architectural Design) & Job Interviews" by Jafri Merican Architects. Portfolio is a very important tool for an interior designer or architect when applying a job. It is very important to have a simple but professional image for employer to notice your works. As Mr. Jafri advised, it is good to show your thinking process and design development of your selected project in the portfolio. Besides that, a short explanation is important to provide information for the readers and to balance with the graphic design. He also shared the architect work culture and the increasing number of gig economy in the industry. During this pandemic and rapidly developing network environment, a more flexible working routine is introduced by self-employed architect, freelancers, and independent contractors working on single project or task only.
4) “Transformation of the Malaysian Construction Industry” by CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD (CIDB). I have always been curious on how the construction industry in Malaysia was and evaluating the working opportunity for an interior architecture to participate. I learned about the construction industry transformation programme (CITP), several construction technologies such as Industrialised building system, Building Information Modelling (BIM), ICT transformation and digitalizing construction. Centralized Information Management System (CIMS) is also designed to promote efficiency and effectiveness through integrated ICT platform. The future of Malaysia construction industry is moving towards manufacturing with significant usage of technology, machineries, and equipment, changing manpower profile and digitalizing construction sector under National Construction Policy 2030. 5) “Rock Your Profile: How to Build Your Network & Advance Your Career using LinkedIn”. Create a LinkedIn profile is like a “work social network”. LinkedIn provides a professional network connection on the internet where users are able to gain the latest industry news, job recommendations and professional information of a company. It has great resources for jobseekers because when recruiters Google your name, it will appear the LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn also makes connection easier by contacting professional people and maintaining the current information within the network. Expanding network on the internet is nothing different in the real world, this creates larger opportunities to reach out people that might help you in future. In my opinion, I think LinkedIn is specialized for Business industry and a great tool to improve business development such as finding potential employees and looking different industry news. 6) “Public Relations in the Industry” Forum. I gained a brief insight about Public Relations (PR) professional which create corporate reputation and relationship building with the community. There are 4 roles of PR which is communication technician, problem-solving mediator, communication facilitator, and PR counsellor. The core PR role serve on corporate communication output, and the expansion of PR influencing to enhance dominance by developing programmes. Reputation PR role works in shaping and providing strategic support in positioning corporate reputation. The knowledge, skills and abilities of PR should have a 3A approach in professionalism which are Awareness, Advocacy, and Action. In my perspective, I think PR is a very dynamic operation on engagement and participative culture through public communication.
Overall, the workshops are very helpful as it gave me a preview of the industry and I could prepare myself effectively for my future career. In my opinion, it is a very good opportunity for final year students to participate in an engaging week to explore their future careers and areas of interest. I really appreciate the effort of every speaker who shared their professional knowledge, working experience, skills and career paths which helps me to further understand the working environment. I believe the workshops had increased my graduate quality and employability skills in the industry.
PROJECT 4 STANDARD, SCORING AND BUILDING BY-LAW [INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT] TECHNICAL SPREAD HIGHLIGHTING PERTINENT POINTS INTO DESIGN PROJECT TRANSLATING REGULATORY, LEGISLATIVE, AND TECHNICAL PROVISION INTO AN INFORMATIVE GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION WITH DIMENSIONS, DRAWINGS AND MATERIAL WHERE NECESSARY.
THANK YOU!