Taking creativity to the next level
GROWING up, IACT College student Rose Quek always wanted to join the creative communication industry. However, due to generally negative perceptions of the industry, her parents didn’t quite agree with her career choice.
“My parents said studying mass communication or graphic design would not bring in good income and was a waste of time because it was not even a proper career path.
“They said choosing such a career was not as good as choosing a career like law or engineering,” Quek shares.
A Diploma in Mass Communication graduate, Quek has run many public relations campaigns and events throughout her time in IACT College.
One of these events was the Kuala Lumpur Alta Moda Fashion Show in 2018, a prominent event in the local high fashion scene. Her team was tasked to run the runway show and host VIPs such as Datuk Jimmy Choo.
“Looking at how far I’ve come and what I have achieved, I often think, ‘Are we not as good as those in the typical professional courses?’ No, we are just as good as them but on a different platform,” Quek shares.
“For me, there are three reasons why being a creative specialist makes us not less than any other professional jobs, but maybe more.
“Firstly, we work closely with the media, so in other words, we decide what to offer to media users. Just like how doctors cure sickness, we craft stories that incite certain emotions and help make the world a better place. We can change perceptions and offer a different worldview with the wide and far-reaching influence of media.
“See, it goes beyond just taking pictures or illustrating images. It is the idea behind it and how it is packaged nicely in different formats. How many people can do that?
“Secondly, we come up with innovative and creative ideas. As creative communication specialists, we are trained to see the world from a different perspective every time. We learn to take different approaches to address the same topics.
“We also draw insights by meeting new people, exploring unchartered waters and presenting them to the world via different platforms, be it films, television programmes, writing or events. We technically serve as the glue that draws people closer and connects the world.
“Lastly, we are always open to new challenges. That’s the way forward. It is this kind of adrenaline rush that we face almost every day. For example, not everyone can run a meaningful event, let alone crisis management – one requires special training and this is where we come in. We are the creative problem solvers. It is because of our quick-witted thinking that we are able to come up with solutions.
“You see, we offer creative solutions to all the ‘professional fields’ like healthcare, law, engineering, education and business. Without communicators like us, no one would be able to understand how these fields function. We are the ones who connect the public to their professional services.
“With that being said, a creative specialist is more, not less, so don’t ever see your dream to pursue this career as anything less than that.”
IACT College offers degree, diploma and foundation programmes in event communication, mass communication, professional communication film, broadcasting, advertising, marketing, graphic design and media studies.
Students interested to learn more about the programme can drop by IACT College’s campus in Petaling Jaya any day of the week between 10am and 5pm.
■ For more details on IACT College, call 03-7932 1936 or log on to www.iact.edu.my