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Striving to be a “jack of all trades,” SP Alumni Arman Bin Aman enjoys the challenge of learning new skills and solving problems by examining them from different perspectives.

How SP shaped his way of thinking

Arman’s fascination with architectural elements and a desire to nurture his creative skills led him to apply for Singapore Polytechnic’s (SP) Diploma in Interior Design. The course was the ideal platform for exploring different design styles and enhancing user experiences. It allowed him to showcase his creativity without the traditional constraints of architecture.

When reminiscing about his time in SP, Arman highlights two lecturers, Mr Liang Lit How and current Architecture & the Built Environment (ABE) Senior Director Mr Faris Akbar who have left a lasting impression on him. Mr Liang would emphasise how staying professional despite the pressure from client interactions would help shape one’s career. Mr Faris often shared design philosophies, giving students a broader understanding of how things work while pushing them to think outside the figurative box.

In one of the SP modules, Arman applied this deconstructed way of thinking when tasked to design an innovative sports store. “I focused on including user experiences in the shop. A key part of the design was a running track, where customers can try out the shoes and run within the shop.” This creative approach garnered praise from his lecturers, and Arman has since incorporated this way of thinking into both his personal and professional lives.

The sky’s the limit

Post-graduation, Arman embarked on a six-year venture in the private sector. George Santayana’s quote, “only the dead have seen the end of war,” inspired him to explore different career opportunities before jumping straight into jobs within the interior design industry.

How he interprets and applies this quote to his career is to “always pursue new things in life, where the only time you end this process is when you pass on.”

With this guiding principle, he tried out various industries, from event management to scuba diving instruction. “During those 6 years, I learnt many skills, from customer management, event management, how to train others in safety procedures, managing a store, and many more people skills.” This particular set of skills would later prove to be very useful for his career after his move to the public sector.

Finding stability in architectural regulation

In his late 20s, the lack of long-term career progression opportunities that resulted from industry-hopping started to gnaw at him. He decided to take the leap and exit the private sector, by joining the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

Initially, Arman’s department was very versatile, dealing with multiple different projects at the time. “There was a broad range of tasks to cover, so the work was different day to day. I am used to doing things which are not fixed, so learning on the job was nothing new to me and this ability to be versatile helped me navigate my new roles better.”

Now 12 years in, he has worked on various projects at BCA and his unique skillset honed in the private sector helped immensely. “One of the key skills I carried over from the private sector are my social skills, which help me interact with management confidently and present my ideas to various stakeholders.”

Bridging academia and industry

Today, Arman oversees BCA’s collaboration study with SP on granite fines—a by-product of quarrying— with the aim of finding sustainable uses for this material. This project showcases the potential for academia-industry partnerships in addressing real-world challenges and advancing industry trends.

He also recommends that all businesses and statutory boards tap into the research potential of SP students. With the everchanging needs of every industry, he explains how many businesses stand to benefit from highly-trained students with the relevant skills to increase productivity and reduce costs in the workplace.

One example is how quickly SP students grasp Robotic Processes Automation (RPA) skills and apply them to their work. “By getting exposure to RPA during their school years, these graduates require less training when they later enter the workforce. Companies can benefit from lower training costs and graduates also benefit by being able to secure a job faster.”

Never Stop Learning

To future SP alumni, Arman advocates a commitment to continuous learning. “Stay humble, recognise the value in every individual’s knowledge, and seize different opportunities for growth.”

In a world where change is constant, Arman’s philosophy of being a “jack of all trades” reminds us that versatility is a valuable asset, and the pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong endeavour.

Arman Bin Aman
Executive Manager, Building and Construction Authority
Diploma in Interior Design, 2005