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These collaborations with experts from other fields are opportunities to break down silos, Liu said. She noted that scientists, engineers, designers and material makers often do important work in parallel, but not together. \u201cThe real magic happens when these disciplines start to intersect, such as when a biologist teams up with a furniture designer. That\u2019s when new possibilities open up not just for better design, but also for more meaningful, scalable change.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Liu had always been creative, so the path felt natural. \u201cI told myself that if I could get into Central Saint Martins \u2013 one of the most competitive schools for fashion and design \u2013 that would be my sign,\u201d she said. After achieving that goal, \u201ceverything clicked into place\u201d. \u201cThe clarity of doing something I loved and was good at became an engine, and I found myself naturally drawn to working with people, building ideas, and getting things off the ground. That creative momentum has been fuelling me since.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Attending Central Saint Martins felt like \u201cswimming through water \u2013 easy, natural, and even joyful\u201d, compared with \u201cswimming through peanut butter\u201d as she navigated Singapore\u2019s structured academic system. Wastd reflects that creative energy and has gained momentum since its launch in 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n One of its most ambitious projects is Bildable by Wastd, an online platform and design tool that lets anyone \u2013 from interior designers to homemakers \u2013 try creating a material from waste. \u201cEven designers or brands that don’t have waste to upcycle or aren\u2019t ready to take on a full, closed-loop project can still access distinct, sustainable materials independently,\u201d Liu said.<\/span><\/p>\n Realising that many circular ideas fail to take off because people are unsure how to use the resulting materials, Liu began developing a collection of in-house products to spark ideas. These include the Do-All Serving Platter, made with Galaxsea, a recycled-plastic material, and the Egg Vase, which incorporates glass waste. Wastd also plans to launch the Hero Furniture range later this year.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nFINDING HER PATH<\/span><\/h2>\n