Millenia Walk has transformed into a vibrant, whimsical playground under its The Season Aglow celebrations, a joyful space designed to spark wonder and connection. At the heart of this year’s festivities is Dreams of Santa Paws, an imaginative installation created by Roy Wang, Founder & Creative Director at FACTORY, an award-winning multidisciplinary art and design studio with a presence in Singapore, Malaysia, and Shenzhen. 

Known for his playful yet emotionally grounded approach to design, Roy has built a distinctive visual language shaped by a lifetime of artistic curiosity, earning multiple accolades across branding, identity, and publication design. With Dreams of Santa Paws, he brings to Millenia Walk a world that is warm, magical, and rooted in everyday joy, a reflection of the mall’s commitment to supporting local talent and creating meaningful community spaces.

Our team spoke with Roy Wang to learn about his inspirations, creative process, and the heart behind the delightful installation that now lights up Millenia Walk. Read on to find out more. 

Interview with Roy Wang, Founder & Creative Director at FACTORY

1) You’ve been immersed in fine art since the age of three. How has that early exposure shaped your unique visual language and approach to multidisciplinary design?

Roy Wang: I grew up creating with no boundaries. My dad worked in the era of advertising when everything was created by hand, and creativity felt tactile, and I observed all of these as a child. Practising art was not about technique or mastery, it was simply my way of making sense of the world, and that sense of curiosity never left me. Today, whether I am designing a brand, a space, or an object, I approach each project with that same openness and play. To me, multidisciplinary work is really about finding joy in letting different mediums speak to one another in a cross contextualisation way, and allowing creativity to feel human.

2) What inspired the whimsical characters and neon-lit elements in the “Dreams of Santa Paws” Merry-Go-Round, and how do they reflect your artistic philosophy?

Roy Wang: The installation draws from everyday happiness. A cat playing in oversized flowers. A goose dancing. A girl sipping bubble tea. These little moments are universal and simple yet they are what we often rush past. By illuminating them in neon light, which I feel has a powerful and unspoken attractiveness, I wanted to elevate the ordinary into something that feels magical.

In my work, I always hope to create worlds that feel playful but meaningful. I believe art does not need to be intimidating. It can be warm, familiar, and still deeply moving. Dreams of Santa Paws is a good example of that philosophy in action.

3) How do you approach storytelling in interactive installations like this, where art, design, and audience experience intersect?

Roy Wang: For me, storytelling does not begin with the artwork. It begins with the person experiencing it. I imagine how someone might walk into the space, what catches their eye first, and what might surprise them along the way. I think about how a moment of interaction can create a memory, and most importantly, make someone feel.

4) Millenia Walk emphasises bringing the local community together. How did you incorporate the theme of connection and joy into this installation?

Roy Wang: Millenia Walk has a strong belief in the art of everyday living. It is a place built on human connection. I wanted the installation to embody that spirit by creating a space where people gather to experience joy together.

The light installations I designed are meant to greet you back. They invite you to pause with the people you love. Families can sit together beneath the Meowly-Go-Round with its animated paw, friends can take photos, and even someone on their own can find a moment of peace sitting on the beanbag and soaking in the colours. The installation becomes a shared emotional space, not just something to look at.

5) What were the most exciting or challenging aspects of translating your creative vision into a large-scale, public-facing installation?

Roy Wang: The most exciting part is seeing people interact with something that once existed only in my sketches. The challenge is that every design decision must consider safety, accessibility, and durability, without losing the heart of the piece. For this, I have to thank our wonderful build partners PICO, who really are the architects that helped realise my vision.

Balancing imagination with practicality is a huge part of public art. But when the lights came on and I saw the first smiles from visitors, every challenge felt worthwhile.

6) How do you hope “Dreams of Santa Paws” impacts visitors, and what does this project mean for your journey as an emerging Singaporean artist and designer?

Roy Wang: I hope visitors feel a moment of warmth. I hope they forget their hurry, even briefly, and simply enjoy being present. If someone looks up at the lights and smiles to themselves, that is the best outcome for me.

As a Singaporean artist and designer, this project is meaningful because it shows that there is room here for creativity that is playful, emotional, and deeply human. I am grateful to Millenia Walk for believing in that vision and giving me this platform to create something that brings people together.

Plan Your Visit:

• Dreams of Santa Paws Merry-Go-Round Operating Hours:

  • Thursday–Friday: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

  • Saturday–Sunday: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Location: The Great Hall, Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039596

• Exclusive Festive Rewards:

  • Spend $80: Complimentary parking rebate (worth $3.90)

  • Spend $1,200: Exclusive Christmas delights from Conrad Singapore Marina Bay or Patisserie G’s log cake

  • Spend $3,800: Limited-edition Meowly collectible art piece in collaboration with FACTORY (soft matte white, embossed floral motifs, serial-numbered)

• Additional Programmes:

  • Storytelling Sessions by Anyhow Play Play: 13–14 Dec, 4:00 pm & 6:00 pm, The Great Hall (45-min sessions, $10 refundable deposit)

  • Crane Living Winter Atelier Pop-Up: Until 31 Dec, 10:00 am – 10:00 pm, #01-27

  • Sound of Art Exhibition – “The Space Between”: 13 Dec – 18 Jan, South Galleria

• Service Desk & Enquiries: +65 6883 1122

• Website: www.milleniawalk.com

Dreams of Santa Paws brings Millenia Walk’s festive vision to life, blending local creativity, immersive storytelling, and joyful experiences that invite visitors to pause, reconnect, and appreciate the small wonders of the season. Through playful neon scenes and human-centred design, Roy Wang transforms the mall into a luminous dreamscape, a warm reminder of the magic that unfolds when imagination meets community.

Discover more and plan your visit: www.milleniawalk.com