Raja Sharil Azhar bin Raja Abdillah has been working with SUTS since 2010. Graduated from UiTM in 1998 with B.A Design (Graphic) with specialization in Illustration and graduated from the same university in 2008 with M.A Visual Communication. During his undergraduate years, he was heavily influenced by conceptual art philosophy from the likes of Marcel Duchamp and during the completion of his M.A, his major readings was in the theory of visual literacy and visual semiotics. He uses both theories heavily in his teachings. All in all, his strength would be in design (and art) theories and how they relate to other socio-cultural environments.
As a graphic designer, he is heavily influenced by David Carson’s design direction with experimental, rules-breaking typography works.
Currently doing PhD with Swinburne University of Technology, with research entitled “Freelance design jobs as potential catalyst in initiating and elevating entrepreneurial intention among design students” (2nd year) in which he is looking into the phenomenon of design students’ engagement in freelance design jobs and how this engagement may potentially propel the students’ interest in becoming entrepreneurs, rather than being employed; a state he strongly suggests for his students’ career choice. He believes that designers should strive on working by themselves through innovative design projects as this will robustly contribute to a richer design culture; and design culture will give birth to higher civilization.
He is also interested in drawing, sketching and sketch-noting; an outlet he believes will generate a fluid idea development of any kind.
