Ray Chong

What does a career in experiential design really involve? For Ray Chong, it’s a blend of strategy, creativity and technology. As a designer at FIELD, a creative design and innovation studio, Ray crafts both physical and digital experiences – whether prototyping with AI tools or assisting the creative direction on major projects, he’s always pushing boundaries. Here, he shares how he navigated graduation as an international student and built a career that spans specific disciplines.

What I do

How would you describe what you do as an Experiential Designer?
As an Experiential designer in a design innovation studio, my work is all about shaping how people engage with physical spaces and digital products in more intuitive and expressive ways, with the help of recent advancements in tech. A big part of my role involves assisting in creative direction on projects — whether that’s guiding the overarching narrative, or building compelling slide decks for pitches and creative check-ins.

On a more visual level, I help steer the art direction across projects, collaborating closely with our team to craft and curate cohesive and captivating visuals. Lately, I’ve also been immersed in digital product development, focusing on designing intuitive UI and UX journeys that align beautifully with the overall experience. For me, it’s all about blending strategy, creativity and technology to craft experiences that surprise, inspire, and leave a lasting impression.

What are the main influences and inspirations behind your work?
My work often uses technologies that look to the far future, but my biggest influences come from the everyday experiences of being human. I’ve always been fascinated by how we navigate life — how we connect with each other, find meaning, and deal with challenges. For me, technology isn’t just about innovation; it’s about finding ways to make us more human, not less. I think the key is designing with emotion and empathy at the core, so the tools we create help bring people closer together.

I really enjoy artwork about tech that isn’t overly concerned with scale or complexity, but strikes a wonderfully down-to-earth tone. Maya Man, an artist focused on contemporary identity culture on the internet is a huge inspiration. Her work uses code and technology always in a distinctly relatable and human way.

Would you say you need any specific training for what you do?
Most of what I do has been learned on the job, largely through seeking out opportunities to experiment with different tools and technologies. The key is to have an open mind and recognise that your ideas and your ability to visualise them are the most important assets as a designer. While formal training can certainly help, I think the real growth comes from being resourceful, directing and applying yourself, and always keeping an eye out for new tools and techniques that can enhance your work.

A big part of it is also about staying curious. I’ve found that keeping up with what the creative field is experimenting with next — like new technology or emerging trends — is critical. Whether it's exploring something controversial like generative AI or something as simple and delightful as “calm technology”, being truly interested in the future of design is essential.

What’s been your favourite project to work on from the past year, and why?
My favourite project in the last year was helping to bring to life and weave the storytelling around Sky, a public art experience that we exhibited in Times Square in New York. I loved the experience of working in a tight, talented team and the satisfaction of seeing it light up a world away in such an iconic space!

What does a normal day-to-day usually look like for you?
A typical day is pretty dynamic. For example, one hour I might be diving into a Figma document with an innovations strategist to brainstorm ideas for reimagining retail spaces for a client. In the next hour, I could be on a call with creative developers, discussing how to align the UI of a digital product we’re working on with the overall experiential journey, all while making sure we’re mindful of computing power usage. It’s this kind of variety that keeps things exciting and every day different. On the best days, we’ll wrap things up by visiting a new exhibition for some inspiration and fresh ideas.

How I got here

What was your journey like when you were first starting out?
The journey in the beginning was quite difficult. I felt a lot of uncertainty, especially because of my situation as an international resident in London. It always seemed like the clock was ticking, and I was constantly aware that at any moment, I could be forced to leave the country.

When you graduate, you don’t have much beyond your portfolio and your wits, but I leaned heavily on the preparation I had done as a student. I made it a point to save and organise lists of institutions, studios and people I could approach right after graduation. I knew that I’d probably be overwhelmed right away, so having clear steps to follow was both practical and reassuring.

It was definitely scary, knowing I was responsible for my future in a country that wasn’t my own. But looking back, I feel that I prepared as best as I could which made all the difference when it came time to take the next steps.

How did you go about landing your first few jobs?
It was definitely a combination of being a self-starter and building genuine relationships. I made a point of reaching out to people I admired and being open about what I wanted to do. Having genuine interest in what you do is so contagious and it gets people excited about you too!

It’s easy to get caught up in thinking you need to be perfect or have everything figured out, but sometimes, just being a human being is the most important thing. I think people appreciate authenticity – so don’t be a robot. Be funny, be cool, be kind and always pay it forward. You might surprise yourself by how far that approach can take you.

What has been your biggest challenge along the way?
My biggest challenge was definitely finding my feet in the industry, especially because I didn’t fit neatly into one category like graphic design or creative development. I had to accept that I needed to take ownership of my own path, leaning into the self-actualisation that university helped spark and putting in the work to try things out instead of waiting for opportunities to come to me.

It was about staying alert and keeping my eyes open while going through the motions – realising what I was good at as I went along. It's not always a linear journey, but the more I embraced the process and let myself experiment, the more I discovered where I could add value.

How important are social media and self-promotion to your work?
Social media isn’t a huge focus for me, but I’ve always found that personal conversations are the most important way I connect with others. I’m a big listener as well as a big talker, and I genuinely enjoy discussing everything related to my work. When people sense your passion and hear about the ideas you're excited about, that’s where real connections are built.

What are three things that you’ve found useful to your work or career, and why?
First, it’s simply showing up to things. Whenever I’ve pushed myself to attend an event or exhibition opening, even when I felt tired or unsure, it’s turned out to be worth it. Those moments often lead to unexpected conversations, new insights, or connections with incredible people. Just being present can open doors you didn’t even know existed.

Second, I’ve learned the importance of setting bigger goals. It’s easy to get caught up in the details of a singular project and forget your career is more than this one moment. Taking time to reflect on the bigger picture alongside the day-to-day helps me stay motivated and also reminds me to be kinder to myself. It’s a balancing act, but when you get it right, it can really fuel your growth.

Finally, I have to mention the @fbeinghumble Instagram account, run by Stefanie Sword-Williams. It’s packed with advice on self-promotion and visibility, which has been so helpful for me. For anyone who’s ever been called “quiet” or felt unsure about advocating for themselves, it’s a powerful reminder to own your achievements and take yourself seriously.

Have there been any job boards you would recommend to get into your sector?
Creativeapplications.net has a helpful job board with opportunities from very niche companies in creative tech, they’re also a great directory of individual practitioners and studios to arrange coffee chats with!

What have been your greatest learnings with making money and supporting yourself as a creative?
My greatest learning has been the importance of staying informed about your worth. There are websites that can help you estimate this, but it’s just as important to understand the profiles of different companies and discuss it with others in your field. Remember as well that the numbers change over time. It feels awkward or intrusive sometimes but you need that knowledge to learn how to properly value your work, just remember to be polite.

Advice

What’s the best career-related advice you’ve ever received?
From a uni lecturer, a piece of advice that really changed my own life: “Make what you want to do!” Especially for uni students who are just starting out, if there’s a field you’re incredibly passionate about, start creating the work for it. Don’t gate keep your own dreams by convincing yourself they won’t work out before you even try.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into a similar role?
My biggest piece of advice is to start by making. Whatever it is you’re passionate about, turning your ideas into something tangible is the best way to help people understand your vision. In creative technology, there are so many pathways to explore—you don’t have to be a coder or a 3D designer to thrive. I know amazing people who’ve built careers in innovation forecasting, creative strategy, or even art directing AI-driven projects.

The key is to experiment and find the areas that excite you most. Be proud of what you create, no matter how small it might seem at first, and share it with others. Start conversations with people in the field to learn how they’ve navigated their own paths. You’ll find that many are willing to share their experiences, and those connections can be so inspiring and insightful as you figure out your own direction.