Who is the founder of First Media Design School (FMDS) and what were its founding principles?

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FMDS was formerly known as Coleman Creative Design School. It was acquired by Mark Phooi, Group CEO and Founder of First Media Group of Companies, in January 2006. Mark is currently FMDS’ CEO and Principal and is overall in charge of its local and overseas operation.

The founding principles of FMDS are very much a result of the lack of industry-based teaching by mainstream design schools in Singapore. Designers’ slow integration into the industry are often due to misunderstood career concepts, little or no design management knowledge and lack of studio operational understanding that will inevitably hamper designers’ career prospects.

First Media (FM) is Singapore’s largest design communication group. It is highly respected by many competitors in the local market for its leadership vision and achievements in the design circle. FM is also the only design group to have won the Enterprise 50 Startup award in 2005.

FM specializes in integrated marketing communications (IMC) consulting services which covers branding, retail and corporate design, advertising, interactive design, event management, contract publishing, software programming and design education services.

It has more than 10 design companies based in Singapore and another 10 spread across the various Asian markets in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Shanghai, Taichung, Manila and Jakarta.

Mark is a trained designer with a Masters degree in Design from the University of New South Wales. He is a serial entrepreneur, having set up more than 20 design studios in Singapore and trained and nurtured more than 50 business partners in his 20 years of design business experience. He was also formerly the Honorary Secretary of the Designers Association Singapore (DAS). A popular spokesperson for the design industry, Mark is regularly featured on TV and radio talk shows as well as local dailies for his insight and achievements in the design industry.

In September 2006, Mark was awarded the Rotary & ASME Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2006. This prestigious award is supported by IE Singapore, SPRING Singapore and the Economic Development Board of Singapore.

FMDS and FM believe that design is a catalyst for change. As a change agent, it transforms and shapes ideas, minds, hence bettering individuals’ lives. Design also serves as a key differentiator in our personal branding and thought processes.

FMDS aims to instill such thought processes, transcend it beyond the classroom theories and prepare FMDS’ designers for the ‘real’ industry challenges.

FMDS graduates are industry-ready. They have what it takes (knowledge and experience) to assume a designer’s role with minimum job orientation. As a practitioner in the design industry, we (FM) know what is best for our students. We prepare them for a career in the real world. Students will possess a clear and sound understanding of working in a design studio prior to their graduation.