Tew (left) and Lim are Gold Award winners of the 2023 Asia Young Designer Awards (Ayda). They will be attending a three-week programme at Harvard Graduate School of Design at Harvard University in the United States next year.
Winners to represent Malaysia against 15 other countries for Asia Young Designer title
NIPPON Paint has announced the Architectural and Interior Design Gold Award winners of the 2023 Asia Young Designer Awards (Ayda).
Lim Jeng Ying from Universiti Malaya won the Architectural Gold Award, while Jesslyn Tew Chien Yeen from INTI International University & Colleges won the Interior Design Gold Award.
The Ayda Gold Award winners will represent Malaysia in a competition against 15 other countries 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 Graduate School of Design at Harvard University next year.
Other participating countries include Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkiye and Vietnam.
Nippon Paint Malaysia general manager of group trade user business Chen Lee Siong said, “We are proud of the 2023 Ayda Gold Award winners. Their achievements inspire our commitment to provide a platform for successful talents in the design field.
“We believe that their success will leave a lasting impact on the design industry and contribute significantly to the progress of our nation.”
Lim said she had learned a lot throughout her Ayda journey.
In her project, she envisions transforming Sungai Petani, Kedah, into a place that breathes new life into its 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.
“I hope that the knowledge and skills I gained during this competition will prepare me to compete at the next level.”
Interior Design category winner Tew is optimistic about the electric vehicle (EV) industry with her project on integrated EV charging station.
Her award-winning design goes beyond conventional charging solutions; it provides an exceptional user experience for EV owners.
Her project envisions revamping the conventional EV charging station into an inviting and sustainable roadside oasis, redefining the charging experience as a positive and enjoyable aspect of the overall journey.
She 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.”
Based on the theme “Converge: Championing Purposeful Designs”, Ayda participants were encouraged to push their innovation boundaries to explore the possibilities of combining personal design interest with causes worth fighting for.
Chen said, “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 need of under-represented communities.”
Ayda’s chief judges – Assoc Prof Ar Sarly Arde Sarkum for the Architectural category and Dr Ooi Boon Seong for the Interior Design category – were grateful to Nippon Paint for offering a good platform for young designers to refine their skills in the design industry.
They said: “This year’s winners, Lim and Tew, exhibit thoughtful designs with human touch, practicality and comprehensiveness.”
They said that Ayda was a great initiative by Nippon Paint that helps young talents build confidence and raise the standard of education.
IJM Land Bhd chief operating officer Datuk Tony Ling Thou Lung said, “As a steadfast supporter of Ayda, we remain dedicated to fostering and nurturing the visionary talents that are shaping the future of our built environment.
“This next generation of designers and architects not only aligns with our values but also showcases an exceptional ability to leverage innovation for sustainable design and pushing industry boundaries.”
This year, Ayda Awards received over 1,490 submissions for both categories from 52 colleges and universities across Malaysia.
As part of the Ayda initiative, Nippon Paint organised three “Cakaplah” sessions and invited professional leaders and Ayda alumni to share their insights with Ayda students.
Finalists had the opportunity to engage in one-on-one coaching sessions with the judges.
Nippon Paint, in collaboration with IJM Land Bhd, will continue to expand this robust design community to nurture budding architects and interior designers across Asia.
