The AYDA Gold Award winners will represent Malaysia in a competition against those in other Asian regions for the Asia Young Designer of The Year title next year. As part of the main prize, the winners have the opportunity to attend a three-week programme at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design in 2024.
Chen Lee Siong, Nippon Paint Malaysia’s general manager of group trade user business, expressed his pride in Lim and Tew, saying: “Their achievements inspire our commitment to providing a platform for successful talents in the design field.”
Lim and Tew also conveyed their gratitude to Nippon Paint for offering platforms like AYDA that provide them with unique opportunities for design-skills enhancement and industry networking with the AYDA community.
“I have learnt a lot throughout my AYDA journey. I hope that the knowledge and skills I gained during this competition will prepare me to compete at the next level,” Lim shared.
For her winning entry, she envisioned transforming Sungai Petani, Kedah into an inspiring place, breathing new life into the historical settlement and creating a living riverine museum that actively engages residents and visitors with the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of the area.
Similarly, Tew said: “I am happy to be able to share my ideas with the AYDA community. I hope this project will captivate the judges in the next stage, which will take place in Chennai, India, next year.”
Her award-winning design project on EV charging goes beyond conventional charging solutions, providing an exceptional user experience for electric-vehicle owners. Her project proposes revamping the conventional EV charging station into an inviting and sustainable roadside oasis, redefining the charging experience as an enjoyable aspect of the overall journey.
Under the theme “Converge: Championing Purposeful Designs”, AYDA participants were encouraged to push boundaries of innovation to combine personal design interests with worthy causes. The end goal was to build beacons of hope for needy communities while promoting the development of humanity.
“While many designs have strong commercial purposes and play pivotal roles in economic development, AYDA uniquely centres on fostering good design that goes beyond – encompassing an essential part in community development and addressing the needs of under-represented communities,” Chen said.
Since 2008, the AYDA Awards have created an impactful platform for young architects and interior designers. This year, the awards received over 1,490 submissions for both the Architectural and Interior Design categories from 52 colleges and universities across Malaysia.
In collaboration with IJM Land Bhd, Nippon Paint will continue to expand this robust community to nurture budding architects and interior designers across Asia.
For more information, follow the AYDA Facebook page or click here.