Tan Chee Hui
Managing Director, Archizen Creative, 2008
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Creative Multimedia
The current web design and motion graphics industry is very competitive nowadays. Therefore, when we work, we have to always go the extra mile to provide the best services and quality for our clients.
03 November 2008
Multi-talented in Multimedia
Written by Christine Chan
Tan Chee Hui is a whiz in multimedia and cyberspace technology and design. Christine Chan speaks to this 25-year old go-getter and how his independent spirit led him to chart a path for himself.
The Malaysia International Fashion Week 2007, Christmas with Estee Lauder 2007, Royal Relocations, Sin Tai Hing and Tattle Life are just some of the major projects secured by Archizen Creative, a company that specializes in branding, web design, web development, motion graphics and interactive multimedia, masterminded by Tan Chee Hui, alumnus of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.
Archizen Creative was the company behind Estee Lauder’s Beautiful Skin Solution 2007 feature on the web. The design of the website allowed users to do a skin test online and print the skin analysis results.
The application was so popular and successful, it was even designed so that it could be placed at all of Estee Lauder’s counters to provide a more detailed skin analysis to customers.
A holder of Limkokwing University’s Advanced Diploma of Multimedia, Chee Hui proves himself a multi-talented expert of multimedia as he bagged first prize for the Best in Motion Picture competition during Creative Commons Malaysia 2006, hosted by the Multimedia Development Corporation. The 30-second motion picture montage revolved around the topic of how Creative Commons in Malaysia can change someone’s life.
Limkokwing University made me more open-minded as a person as I interacted and communicated with many students from a wide variety of cultures. Classes were highly beneficial as they provided not just theoretical basis but also improved my presentation skills
Chee Hui has fond memories of his time at campus, which was then located in Taman Mayang. He cheerfully describes Limkokwing University as a ‘vibrant’ university where he met most of his best friends.
“Limkokwing University made me more open-minded as a person as I interacted and communicated with many students from a wide variety of cultures. Classes were highly beneficial as they provided not just theoretical basis but also improved my presentation skills,” Chee Hui explained.
He kick-started his career by joining a company called Fireworks Solution as a multimedia designer for a year. After a year, Chee Hui decided to freelance for another year in order to secure and build more contacts.
“I had simply arrived at a point whereby I needed more creative freedom and a chance to pursue my very own passion by determining the work I do for myself, without being controlled by others,” Chee Hui explained.
In 2007, Chee Hui drove his independent spirit into the creation of Archizen Creative. The company name was derived from the word ‘anarchy’ – representing the independent and willful determination to offer the highest standards to clients – and ‘zen’, which represents the peace of mind that the company can offer to clients by providing them with only the best services.
Archizen, which at the time of interview was working on the Christmas 2008 look of the Estee Lauder website as well as a one-stop online food junction, Makanlah.com, have proven that they can create websites filled with colours, vibrancy and interactivity.
“The current web design and motion graphics industry is very competitive nowadays. Therefore, when we work, we have to always go the extra mile to provide the best services and quality for our clients.”
Chee Hui explains that like every other business starting up, Archizen Creative had to struggle to get to where it is today. Securing contacts was the most difficult task to be undertook as the initial database that any company starts out with is always never enough.
“Trust builds with time, and securing a major account like Estee Lauder sets a benchmark for our services in the eyes of others. Like many other new companies, we grew through word-of-mouth,” he said.
One must have the determination and willingness to work hard and learn. Never expect things to come to you, and do not adopt a spoon-feed attitude or blame lecturers when you lack certain skills or knowledge
Chee Hui is also a strong believer in the power of knowledge and of self-learning. Starting his career as a multimedia design expert by designing his own websites at the age of 14, Chee Hui confesses to be an ardent bookworm who devours anything imaginable ranging from magazines to books about psychology and spirituality.
Chee Hui recalls an advice that Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato Lim Kok Wing told him once upon a time about the importance of reading. Because it can take an entire lifetime for someone to write a book, reading many books is like going through the work of many lives.
“One must have the determination and willingness to work hard and learn. Never expect things to come to you, and do not adopt a spoon-feed attitude or blame lecturers when you lack certain skills or knowledge,” he advised.
Chee Hui’s current ambitions involve expanding his company and travelling around the world. Viewing success as finding true peace of mind and being happy, we ask Chee Hui about what his personal definition of failure is.
“I’ve never thought about it!” he said, with a smile across his face.
