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A problem halved...
 Problem solving is not about becoming the next MacGyver , loads of jobs out there need you to solve all kinds of problems, think creatively and use your own initiative. Everyone talks about teamwork being important but being able to work on your own is equally important. Sometimes you just need to rely on your own thoughts, ideas and abilities... and find the best way to fulfil the task in front of you.
Iyvone Khoo is one talented individual who says that creative thinking and problem solving are the two most important skills needed in the world of work. So what does she do? The question should be, ‘what doesn’t she do?’
Iyvone has worked as a set designer, graphic designer, storyboard artist, video editor for Nickelodeon, MTV Asia, Numberjacks on CBeebies, director on documentaries for The Buddhist Society and Al Jazeera channel as well as producer of a wonderful little puppet show too.
Ah, and laser sculptures of course. Iyvone’s latest work is as an artist and tutor for the Wellcome Trust funded project, Lenses and Lasers where she runs art workshops to create models of nerve cells and tumour cells from recycled plastic bottles and help students to produce laser installations. So it’s not just scientists that have to deal with science.
Iyvone was born in Singapore and graduated from The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts as a graphic designer. In no time, she took on the role of a laser show designer for clients such as Nike, Nokia and Heineken, and caught the set design bug. She studied Theatre Set Design at RADA (Royal Academy Of Dramatic Arts, London) which led to her working as assistant costume and set designer on fringe theatre productions such as Joe Orton’s ‘Ruffian on the Stair’ and Caryl Churchill’s ‘Cloud Nine’.
‘My job is a progressive one and I use so many skills other than problem solving,’ says Iyvone. ‘I use everything from computer skills to draw and design my sculptures, to project management, communication and observation skills. For commercial work, I work in a team, but sometimes I work on my own personal projects... it’s important to be able to do both. And of course I need to use my imagination a lot!’
 As for computer skills, just because a report says that IT skills are not valued as much as others, it doesn’t mean you can get by without them. Your job may even mean having to learn advanced programs. Iyvone is trained in a variety of computer software programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Freehand, Final Cut Pro and Shake. She also has a certificate in digital compositing which is a technique where you put together (or overlap) a range of images to make a final image. ‘The more I can learn, however difficult, the better the resulting film will be,’ says Iyvone. ‘Knowing what skills you have and which you need is crucial.’
Iyvone has chosen her artistic career path, finding out which skills she needs and how to train herself in them in order to produce the best possible work, as well as shine in future jobs. Under the art group, ‘Ob Square’, Iyvone has created laser sculptures, installations and video art. With her natural flair for these art forms, she wanted to do more and set off to study digital film making at Northwest Vista College (NVC), USA. Get out the map, now. Singapore... to London... to USA... woo-hoo!
But travelling isn’t the only perk well-rounded individuals with good transferable skills can look forward to. How about some grants (money!) and sparkly awards to place on the ol’ mantelpiece? Iyvone’s debut film ‘MIKA’ won her a first place in the fiction category and a scholarship at NVC where she completed her studies as an Avid Editor and in 2006, she was awarded funding from the Skillset Open Door Awards, to direct her second short film ‘Knock Knock’. She has even tackled potentially sensitive religious subjects with ease, such as her short documentary, ‘I am a Samanera’ following a group of 9-18 year old boys becoming novice monks in a Thai temple in Wimbledon. Iyvone tell us, ‘Producing that documentary meant I had to research the subject matter fully and be respectful, truthful, humble, ask permission and respect the wishes of all involved.’
We asked Iyvone whether there was a particular example where she had to solve a problem which she was really proud of. ‘Problems are good, they make us think, and one example is our UV powder problem,’ says Iyvone. ‘We use a lot of fine powder pigments that react with UV light and need to be mixed with emulsion glaze to paint it easily onto canvas. Unfortunately we needed to paint it onto 3D sculptures and the stuff doesn’t attach to other surfaces that well.’
 Tricky situation, eh? Not if you can think creatively. Iyvone and her team needed something to bind the pigment and make it stick to ANY material. They found a gel, similar to silicone, usually used for preparing canvases. They mixed it with the glaze and pigments, and it worked! Not only did it seal the pigments in and make it waterproof, it didn’t affect the pigments’ properties either.
‘By solving this problem, we have found so many other uses for this new gel mixture... as a colour coat, binding agent, to create texture... and we’ve created so much more that would have been impossible otherwise.’
Whoa... so the impossible really can be made possible? Of course... a little creative problem-solving goes a long way.
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