S’pore student, 19, overcomes self-doubt, crafts her way to gold medal at international competition

We've all walked past hundreds of store displays in our lives.

While most would be eyeing the luxury handbag or watch on display, 19-year-old Victoria Cheong would instead be hooked on unpacking what it takes to create its surrounding visual display.

Not only does she know the inner workings of what it takes to build a display, Cheong also has what it takes to design a medal-worthy one.

The final-year Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) student won a gold medal at the 47th WorldSkills Competition (WSC) 2024 in Lyon, France with her “Under the Sea” themed display.

This makes her Singapore’s first-ever gold medallist in the international competition's Visual Merchandising category.

The path to success was not an easy one. From working with a new material just months prior to the competition, and having to overcome self-doubt, Cheong faced many challenges.

Mothership had the chance to talk to the student on how she worked her way up to the highs of the podium.

The makings of a Champion

Cheong met us at a workshop in the School of Design and Media at NYP.

The final-year student is set to graduate this year with a Diploma in Experiential Product and Interior Design.

Equipment hung on the walls of the workshop, with large work benches providing ample space for its students to work.

Dressed in red overalls,  Cheong looked right at home in the space, and I was curious to know how she chose to enter this world.

"The reason I joined design in the first place is because I like building stuff. It's fun."

While Cheong is bubbly and cheerful upon first impression, it is when she is crafting that she exudes the most confidence.

"This is a jigsaw," she explained, guiding the power tool easily through the plywood.

From her confidence, I thought she'd been working with the material for years.

However, Cheong had only in fact just started using the material for window displays five months earlier.

She had previously practiced with another material — foam boards — for the Singapore round of the WorldSkills competition, where she placed first.

With that, Cheong secured a spot at the international round, but was told that the material she was familiar with would not be available there.

To prepare for the international round's different demands, training ramped up to a high of "eight hours a day, seven days a week".

And how does one prepare for a visual merchandising competition?

Cheong explained:

"Our teachers would come up with different themes for us to practice. For example, they [would] say: design a window display for the brand Dior, and the [feature] product, a pair of sunglasses. Mandatory colours and props will also be stated in the brief."

"Surprise" props may also be added to the mix.

Then, it's up to Cheong's creativity.

Main source of inspiration: animals

Cheong always starts each project with the desire "to make something for fun", which is often a challenge.

"I'll try to work backwards. I realised that it's because of that, that I always try to make an animal. [...] It's the wow factor."

Wow indeed — as her practice displays across the workshop attest.

She shows us a two-metre long wooden dinosaur, a plywood recreation of the logo from the Lion King musical, a fish skeleton, and other cut-outs of various animal elements.

Apart from ideation, there is also a physical aspect to the craft.

The displays, which can sometimes be taller or bigger than her, are all handled by Cheong alone.

Cheong acknowledged how the work can take a toll on one's body at times, regardless if its a training session or at a high level event.

"My body [was] very sore. When we're back at the hotel, I'd just sleep", she added with a laugh as she reflected on the hectic four-day competition.

Nonetheless, her passion for design, which stems back to her secondary school days, is what carries her through days when exhaustion kicks in.

D&T piqued her interest in design

Cheong's interest in design was honed during her time in secondary school, where she wanted to "get out of the classroom" and have a more hands-on experience, opting to take Design and Technology (D&T) as one of her subjects.

Tasked to design a lamp out of an assortment of materials, Cheong was drawn to wood, but was sure that it wouldn't be able to be shaped into the spiral shape she wanted due to its rigidity.

However, her teacher shared that it was possible: By soaking the material in water for a day, before shaping it.

Recounting the amazement she felt when the "impossible" had been done, she looks back on that project as a turning point that has led her to where she is today.

And yes, Cheong still has the lamp.

The winning display

At the 47th WSC in Lyon, Visual Merchandising competitors were tasked to create two window displays for marine-based perfume and cosmetics brand Thalgo, and provide their design rationale.

The 22-hour competition spanned four days, from Sep. 10 to 14, 2024.

Mandatory props were given, along with a range of optional products to be used in the display.

The theme for the competition this year was focused on "marine biology and beauty".

Upon hearing the theme, Cheong was shocked.

"At first I thought it [would have something to] do with the Olympics [since] we're in France. When I heard it was under the sea...I was like, sh*t. I've only practiced a sea-themed [display] once."

Undaunted, Cheong decided to undertake the challenge head on, diving deep into research and ideation.

The most challenging aspect of the competition? Translating her vision from sketches into reality.

"The construction is [the] hard part. We [usually] sketch first, and draw on illustrator. [But] because it's supposed to be a 3D prop, I don't really know how the construction [will turn out] in real life."

Cheong's final display comprised of two pink sea horses, with teal standings showcasing the brand's products.

Cheong gave her all despite not having high hopes for the results, thinking that competitors from either China and Hong Kong, the front runners, would take the top spot.

As it turns out, Cheong could too.

Three of the works presented at this year's competition were deemed worthy of a gold medal each, for Singapore, China, and Hong Kong.

"I felt happy because I thought China [would] win first, then Hong Kong or Taiwan," shared Cheong.

"[When they called my name] I was like, my work is as good as China's and Hong Kong's. I'm very honored,"

Wayne Oh, one of Victoria's lecturers in NYP, expressed his joy at her achievement.

Oh was also present at Lyon, as the competition's Chief Expert for the Visual Merchandising skills category.

He attributed Cheong's win to her ability to "tell a great story surrounding the theme and brand" with a display that was "simple yet elegant".

"Victoria came up with an impactful tagline that fit perfectly with the brand's marine skincare line and her ocean-themed display: 'SAVE THE OCEAN. It’s Now or Never.'"

"Best of Nation"

On the whole, the 35-strong Singapore contingent excelled, taking home a haul of two gold, four silver and two bronze medals.

11 Medallions for Excellence were also attained.

Having scored the highest number of points amongst the Singapore contingent, Cheong was also awarded "Best of Nation".

"I was surprised. I've never heard of [the award] before. I didn't think much of it until a volunteer called me up again, and [I realised]: Oh, I'd won the award."

A journey of ups and downs

There were times when Cheong wanted to give up, especially when she felt that her hard work did not translate to results.

"Every time I [create] a window display, I'll show my other WorldSkills friends and ask them [...] to say the truth. Sometimes, they'll say it's really ugly. I was nearing the competition, and I [couldn't] even do a nice display."

"I didn't want to go and embarrass myself, so I was thinking of giving up," she said.

However, Cheong emphasised that the experience has taught her the importance of having a positive mindset, and credits the support of her family, lecturers, and fellow competitors.

Recognising the immense growth Cheong has shown over the past year, Oh expressed his pride and shared that he "couldn't be happier with her performance".

"When she first started training for WorldSkills 2024 over a year ago, she didn't take her training sessions seriously and was constantly making the same mistakes in her works", he shared.

Recognising Cheong's strengths, the coaches decided to "tap on her playful and bubbly nature" and encouraged her to turn her quirky ideas into reality, which allowed her to gain confidence in both herself and her capabilities in the months leading up to the competition.

"I'm very proud of her for this victory and more importantly, the resilience she displayed during the arduous four-day competition. [...] She remained calm and composed even in the face of challenges and setbacks when putting her display together."

Only the beginning

Cheong is currently on internship with Kingsmen Creatives Ltd as part of her final year requirements, and is already looking to what lies ahead.

She dreams of working with luxury brands such as Hermes or Louis Vuitton.

"These brands are very known for window display because they like to do window displays with quirky storylines. And I feel like that's my style, quirky."

The next time you're window shopping, take a closer look at the window displays you see — one of them might just be Cheong's.

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Top image by Natalie Ong and @nypsdm/Instagram