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MEDIA RELEASE

 SP MAD School Reimagines Creative Education for a New Creative Industry

SINGAPORE, 11 MARCH 2026 - As creative industries are reshaped by AI, new technologies, and business models, the Singapore Polytechnic Media, Arts & Design (MAD) School is redefining how creative talent is developed for the future.

At NEXUS: MAD Grad Experience and Concert 2026, MAD School will present how it is preparing students and graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing creative landscape—through deep industry partnerships, industry‑linked facilities and bold creative experimentation with artificial intelligence.

Industry Partnerships That Reflect a Changing Creative Economy

To ensure graduates remain relevant and adaptable, MAD School is strengthening its alignment with industry through new strategic partnerships that reflect where the creative sector is heading.

MAD School will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Design Business Chamber Singapore (DBCS) to promote transdisciplinary thinking across design, business and strategy. Beyond student learning, the partnership will extend to Continuing Education & Training (CET) Courses, jointly equipping adult learners in the creative sector with critical business and strategic capabilities needed in today’s economy.

Recognising the rise of new content formats and platforms, MAD School will also partner COL Group International, the world’s largest microdrama content hub. This collaboration will allow students to explore emerging forms of short‑form, mobile‑first storytelling and examine how content creation is evolving globally.

Extending its international outlook, MAD School will also sign an MOU with Mass C&G, a leading creative agency in South Korea. Through overseas projects, learning journeys and student exchanges, the partnership will provide students with exposure to global branding and advertising practices, strengthening their understanding of how creative work operates across different cultural and market contexts.

For students aspiring to careers in interactive entertainment, MAD School will sign an MOU with the Singapore Games Association (SGGA). Through mentoring and authentic learning opportunities, students will gain deeper exposure to industry practices and career pathways within the games ecosystem.

New Collaborative Facilities with Industry for Real‑World Creative Practice

Alongside partnerships, MAD School is launching two new facilities designed to mirror professional creative environments and workflows.The Riot Factory, developed with Mediacorp’s Bloomr.SG, is a new content production space for podcasts, vodcasts and live streaming. It reflects the growing demand for creators who can ideate, produce and distribute content across platforms with speed and agility. 

MAD School is also launching an Immersive Games Studio in collaboration with So Drama!, enabling students to co‑create immersive games and interactive experiences with industry practitioners. The studio supports experimentation at the intersection of storytelling, technology and experience design.

Expanding Creative Possibilities with AI

MAD School is also pushing creative boundaries by experimenting with how artificial intelligence can augment student creativity. While AI will not replace craft, it is increasingly embraced as a creative partner, opening up new ways of ideating, prototyping and producing work across creative disciplines.

One such project is Clock-off Club, a short‑form hybrid‑media sitcom developed through an AI‑integrated workflow that builds on students’ existing creative skills and ideas. Guided by strong human intent, AI was used to extend research insights, enhance visual and animation development, and enable cross‑disciplinary collaboration – demonstrating how AI can amplify craft, storytelling and transdisciplinary practice rather than replace them.

“The students’ work is a strong example of human creativity amplified by AI. What stood out to us was their clear understanding of the problem statement and their ability to translate that insight into a purposeful, well-executed concept. AI did not replace their thinking — it strengthened it, enabling faster visualisation, prototyping and iteration. The result demonstrates not just efficiency, but thoughtful collaboration between human ingenuity and technology to achieve a compelling outcome,” said Mr Lee Hung Sheng, Head, Audience & Partnerships, Mediacorp.

“At SP’s Media, Arts & Design School, we don’t design programmes in isolation; we develop them with industry leaders. That means our students aren’t just learning about the latest trends; they are experiencing them. But keeping pace isn’t enough. The media, arts & design landscape constantly shifts, and so do we. The school consistently updates our facilities and brings in collaborators who share our belief that our students deserve nothing less than the best. When our graduates enter the workforce, we want them to hit the ground running, not playing catch-up,” said Mr Mark Lu, Director, SP’s Media, Arts & Design School.

Annexe A - Industry partners’ quotes Singapore Polytechnic’s Media, Arts & Design (MAD) School

Annexe B - Description of Immersive Games Studio & The Riot Factory