Diploma Convocation of LASALLE College of the Arts

I'm mighty proud and honoured to join the Diploma Convocation of LASALLE College of the Arts this morning.

LASALLE has nurtured generations of artists, designers, creative thinkers, who bring imagination, courage and fresh perspectives to Singapore and beyond.

Although I'm not quite an artist, musician nor creative director, I've spent much of my life seeing how design, creativity and the arts can transform lives and communities.

Here are some extracts of my sharing this morning (for the full sharing, check out the posted video here).

"Many people think of the arts as something separate from everyday life. They see arts as a 'nice to have'. But I know that in my life in the public service and in the charities that I have helped build as a volunteer, design has always mattered.

It is not just about how something looks, but how people experience it. Take something as ordinary as the CDC Vouchers, developed by my CDC colleagues and I, and different Ministries. Behind that simple voucher is months of thinking about residents' needs, merchants' needs, the national objectives behind such a scheme, communications, how to make it accessible, how to improve the experience of using both the digital and printed versions of the voucher. So from my experience, good design makes good policy work better."

"At Central Singapore CDC where I serve as Mayor, two initiatives are especially close to my heart — The Purple Symphony, which we also started from scratch, Singapore's largest inclusive orchestra comprising more than 100 musicians with and without special needs. It's in its 12th year now.

And The Purple Parade, which LASALLE has fully and faithfully supported for many, many years — thank you so much.

This is the parade where we convene 15,000 people physically and 35,000 online, our annual movement where we call for inclusion in society and celebrate abilities rather than being fixated on disabilities… Through music, performance and creativity, the Purple Parade has helped many Singaporeans see inclusion differently.

These experiences have convinced me that arts and design do far more than entertain. They shape attitudes. They build bridges. And they help define who we are as a society. They are the soul of our society."

"Whatever You Do, Improve the Human Experience!

Some of you will become designers — of fashion, graphics and homes. Some musicians. Some performers. Some filmmakers. Some educators. Some entrepreneurs. Some of you may eventually work outside the creative industries altogether. That is perfectly fine.

Know that your diploma is not a box that confines you. It is a way of seeing the world.

Whatever your profession, your work is ultimately about improving the human experience.

A well-designed hospital can reduce anxiety.

A thoughtfully planned home can strengthen family relationships.

A song can comfort someone during difficult times, can heal, can move nations — check out our National Day Parade songs.

And a play, a musical, can challenge prejudice and mindsets.

A documentary can change public opinion, shape policies.

A children's book can spark curiosity.

A public artwork can give a community a sense of identity.

What a boring society and life we would be, without arts and design."

"AI Changes the Tools, Not the Purpose

Let me next talk about the elephant in the room. I know many of you are thinking about Artificial Intelligence.

Some of you may even wonder whether you are graduating into the wrong profession for such a time as this.

AI can of course now generate images, write marketing plans, compose music, edit or create videos, design logos and even write speeches. That is remarkable.

But every major technological breakthrough has changed creative work without replacing creativity itself.

Photography did not end painting. Television did not end theatre. Streaming did not end live performances. Technology changes the tools. It does not replace the human search for meaning, the human touch.

The World Economic Forum continues to identify creativity among the most important skills for the future workforce.

Here in Singapore, studies have also shown that creative thinking is increasingly needed not just in the creative industries, but across industries — not only in the arts, but in business, healthcare, engineering and public service. That must encourage us.

Your skills are NOT irrelevant.

You are worthy and NO LESS.

So let's use AI, but don't let AI use us."

"Singapore Needs Creative Citizens

Singapore has built excellent infrastructure — airports, schools, institutions — and a strong economy.

But cities are remembered not only for their buildings. They are remembered for their culture. Their stories. Their music. Their public spaces. Their creativity.

Artists, designers and performers help a nation understand itself."

"Three Thoughts. Allow me to leave you with three thoughts — related to 3 Cs.

First, CONTINUOUS LEARNING. In this time and age where knowledge shelf life, product shelf life, is so short, graduation cannot be the end of education.

Remain curious. Read widely. Travel. Observe people. Listen carefully. Every experience adds another layer to your creativity.

Second, stay CURIOUS. Children ask endless questions because they are genuinely interested in the world. Childlikeness. Growing older should not mean becoming less curious. Keep asking "Why?" Keep asking "What if?" Curiosity is often where creativity begins.

And the third C, learn to COLLABORATE. Few meaningful things are achieved alone.

There's an African saying that goes like this — If you want to travel fast, go alone. You have no encumbrances, you don't have to consider other people's feelings, you don't have to worry about chemistry.

But if you want to go further, and far, especially with purpose, then you must go together with others, who are like-minded. Synergy means 1 plus 1 can be 3 or even more!

The future belongs to people who can work across disciplines — artists with engineers, designers with healthcare professionals, musicians with educators, creatives with technologists. Some of the best ideas emerge when different worlds meet."

"Final Reflection. Whether you compose music, design spaces, create performances, illustrate stories or build entirely new creative ventures or platforms, never lose sight of the why — why you create.

The world certainly needs innovation. But even more, it needs meaning and purpose. It needs hope. It needs compassion. And it needs people who are willing to use their talents, their gifts, their experiences, in the service of something larger than themselves. That, I believe, is the true purpose of arts and design…

Continue creating generously. Serve a cause greater than yourself.

And remember that, in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and technology, your greatest masterpiece will always be your humanity.

May your work and who you are enrich the soul of Singapore, inspire the world, and leave every place you touch a little better than you found it.

May God bless each one of you. Thank you & Congratulations."