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Marcus Tan, Senior Web Design Instructor at DesignHub Academy

Marcus Tan

Senior Web Design Instructor & Curriculum Developer

DesignHub Academy Pte Ltd

“The best portfolios aren’t built from templates. They’re built from understanding who you are as a designer and showing that clearly through your work.”

— Marcus Tan

With 12 years in web design and digital product development, Marcus brings real-world experience directly into the classroom. He’s worked with over 80 startups and regional companies—translating industry insights into practical, hands-on teaching that actually prepares students for design careers.

His approach is straightforward: don’t teach design theory in isolation. Teach it alongside the tools and processes that matter. That’s why his portfolio creation workshops at Cyberport Singapore focus on building distinctly authentic websites, not churning out template clones.

Professional Journey

From design agency to classroom leadership

2012

Graphic Design Agency

Started as a graphic designer at a Singapore creative agency, discovering the importance of translating print design into digital interfaces.

2015

UX/UI Designer & Developer

Transitioned into UX/UI design and web development, contributing to fintech platforms, e-commerce solutions, and government digital projects.

2018

DesignHub Academy Instructor

Joined DesignHub Academy and developed a unique curriculum bridging design theory with practical portfolio creation—filling a gap he saw in design education.

Today

Cyberport Mentor & Senior Instructor

Mentors over 450 students through portfolio workshops at Cyberport Singapore. Known for combining design principles with clean HTML5 and modern CSS in real-world scenarios.

Background & Expertise

Education, skills, and areas of focus

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Information Design from Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Focused on visual communication, user experience, and digital design systems.

Web Design & Development

Expert in responsive HTML5, modern CSS (Grid and Flexbox), and practical web design. Specializes in teaching clean, semantic code alongside design principles.

Industry Experience

12 years working with startups, fintech companies, and e-commerce platforms. Collaborated with 80+ regional and local businesses on digital product design.

Teaching Impact

Guided 450+ students through portfolio creation workshops. Developed a unique methodology that bridges design theory and real-world application at Cyberport Singapore.

Design Philosophy

Believes authentic portfolios showcase individual design thinking, not template conformity. Emphasizes practical skills that matter for design careers today.

Teaching Style

Approachable and hands-on. Combines design principles with code, real-world challenges, and iterative feedback. Students appreciate the balance between theory and practical application.

What Marcus Teaches

Core focus areas and workshop themes

Portfolio Site Creation Workshop

The centerpiece of Marcus’s teaching—helping designers build distinctive portfolio websites that represent their actual work and thinking.

  • Defining your design point of view
  • Information architecture for portfolio sites
  • Responsive design fundamentals with real code
  • Modern CSS techniques (Flexbox, custom properties)
  • Case study presentation and storytelling
  • Performance optimization and SEO basics

Web Design Courses

Multi-week programs covering design principles, user experience, and the code that brings designs to life.

  • Design fundamentals and visual hierarchy
  • User interface design principles
  • Interactive design and animation concepts
  • HTML5 semantics and accessibility
  • CSS Grid and Flexbox layouts
  • Design systems and component thinking

Teaching Approach

How Marcus combines theory with real-world practice

1

Design Thinking First

Start with questions, not tools. What’s your design philosophy? Who are you designing for? What story does your work tell? Code follows clarity.

2

Hands-On Coding

You’ll write actual HTML and CSS—not use website builders. Understanding the underlying code gives you control and separates your work from templates.

3

Real Project Feedback

Iterative critique grounded in actual design and code standards. You’ll learn why decisions matter, not just what’s trendy.

4

Industry Context

Every workshop includes real examples from his 12 years of work with startups and digital product teams. Theory connects to what actually happens in design jobs.

Featured Articles

Deep dives into web design, portfolio creation, and practical skills

Responsive Web Design Fundamentals

Understanding media queries, flexible grids, and how to design for every screen size without relying on frameworks.

Read Article

Building Your Design Portfolio Site

Step-by-step guidance on creating a portfolio that tells your design story and showcases your actual thinking—not just your best work.

Read Article

User Interface Design Principles

How to design interfaces that feel intuitive. Covering hierarchy, consistency, feedback, and the principles that make good UI work.

Read Article

Interactive Design & Animation Workshop

Bringing websites to life with purposeful animation. From CSS transitions to JavaScript interactions that enhance user experience.

Read Article

Want to Learn Web Design?

Marcus teaches portfolio creation workshops and web design courses through DesignHub Academy at Cyberport Singapore. Get in touch to find out about upcoming sessions or schedule a consultation.