From Cartoons to Career

Introducing the powerhouse, Nabilah Abdul Rahman – the digital virtuoso behind Asia Digital Engineering (ADE). As a Digital Content Designer, she seamlessly fuses creativity with technical brilliance, setting the stage on fire. Discover more as she steps into the spotlight in this month’s Hot Seat!

1. Three fun facts about you.. go!

• My father is an electrical engineer and my mother was an English teacher; which is interesting because I currently create engineering related learning content at work.

• My childhood hobby was drawing so maybe I predicted my career path decades ago

• I learned to juggle as a party trick and I have to say, it’s a neat little trick to break the ice.

2. How did your childhood shape your professional journey?

Growing up was all about cartoons; I mean everyone loved (and still do) them! I’d say it’s from cartoons and animations that I learned about visual narratives, which ultimately laid the foundation in what I do today.

Coupled with a fascination with planes – there’s something so beautiful about the technicalities of how something big in design is able to take off into the sky – and working in the aviation industry, I’m living the best of both worlds merging both interests.

3. What does a digital content designer do?

My Allstar journey actually started off in the aviation engineering department managing aircraft data before transitioning into an instructional designer under ADE’s Digital Learning team.

Now as a designer, I use digital content creation as a way to enhance the learning experience for others. Planes and engineering are complex topics and we need to find an approach to make the information accessible and enjoyable for learners. In short, I experiment blending creativity into technology to articulate concepts.

4. How do you go above and beyond in your role?

Having a solid foundation in technological expertise and getting certified were crucial for my break into the field. Being certified as an instructional designer and technologist ensures I have a thorough grasp of the latest industry trends, standards and practices.

Aside from the technicalities, I’ve also been cultivating different skill sets like graphic design and multimedia production. I’m a sucker for the creative process of designing; there’s a uniquely rewarding feeling in bringing an idea to life, especially when it’s your very own!

5. What’s your approach to brainstorming and ideation?

I’d say through gathering diverse perspectives. It’s important to cultivate an environment that embraces creativity and pushes ideas to their full potential.

I also frequently conduct brainstorming sessions to incorporate input from team members with various skills and viewpoints. It really helps you think outside the box and gain insight from different points of view. This also ensures that our digital content is not only innovative but also well-rounded, catering to a broader audience.

6. How do you find the balance between creating content that resonates with the older and younger audiences?

The challenge is to produce engaging content that can cater to a diverse audience. It’s tricky but bridging this gap is what makes it a fun challenge.

We start off by identifying the preferences and expectations of each demographic. A thorough audience analysis must be conducted while keeping the ADDIE (Analyse, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate) model in mind to identify common interests and preferences.

With the ever-changing developments today, utilising a mix of traditional and modern elements in content creation has really helped in finding a middle-ground. Additionally, keeping up to date with the current trends is crucial to stay relevant.

7. What’s a piece of advice to other aspiring tech talents?

Stay curious, continuously expand your knowledge and keep up with industry trends. You have to be ready to evolve with the dynamic digital landscape. But at the end of it all, your passion will always be the driving force of your dreams so always find ways to fuel that passion.

8. Last question, any travel plans for 2024?

I’m looking forward to performing Umrah with my husband and our two kids! I also plan to tick off another travel goal of mine to visit Kyoto and reconnect with long-lost relatives on my father’s side.