KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF), South-East Asia’s largest and leading export-oriented furniture trade show, celebrated Malaysia’s finest emerging furniture designers at its MIFF 2026 Award Ceremony on March 6, with winning designs cited as prime examples of outstanding innovation and creativity.
Held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), the awards, comprising MIFF’s flagship FDC (Furniture Design Competition) and two exhibitor prizes – the BPA (Best Presentation Award) and FEA (Furniture Excellence Award) – recognise creative excellence in exhibitors and emerging talent at the region’s most global furniture trade show.
Since launching in 2010, the MIFF FDC has emerged as a platform that unveils and nurtures young, talented designers looking to shape Malaysia’s furniture design ecosystem.
MIFF FDC 2026 is instrumental in enhancing industry collaboration and highlighting the creative spirit of design. The awards were presented by Plantations and Commodities Ministry’s deputy secretary general, Datuk Razali Mohamad, before an international audience of furniture manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, industry influencers and media.
The main MIFF FDC 2026 award went to Jessica Antonius of Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), who received RM5,000 for ROEL.
The second prize of RM3,000 was presented to Doo Jade Qi of the Malaysian Institute of Art, for her GLORB, while the RM2,000 third prize was awarded to Teh Jian Yin of The One Academy Penang for REKA REKA SERIES.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Prathiin Saravanamuthu received a Special Mention Award for STACKABLOCK.
MIFF FDC 2026 challenges designers under 40 to create bedroom furniture for children aged five to nine years, that balances imagination with practicality.
Themed “Playful. Practical. Purposeful: Furniture for Generation Alpha”, the winning designs featured a blend of functionality and originality sought after by generation Alpha and their Millennial parents.
Ten finalists from an initial 20 were selected by a regional judging panel led by interior designer Dr Eric Leong.
The 10 then faced on-site and social media public votes – a first for the event – to determine the three main winners.
Judging criteria included creativity, functionality, ergonomics, safety, sustainability and presentation.
A total of 138 entries from 37 design institutions and private firms competed for top honours.
The Best Mentor Award of RM2,000 went to Ooi Aik Khong from APU.
APU also claimed a second consecutive Best Institution Award.
The MIFF 2026 Best Presentation Award went to Chuanheng Furniture Products Sdn Bhd.
Foshan Linsy Home Co, Ltd took second place, and Zhin Sheng Furniture Sdn Bhd, third.
ELK-Desa Furniture Products Sdn Bhd received the Informa Better Stands, while xOrdinary received the Special Mention Award.
MIFF 2026’s top Furniture Excellence Award, the Platinum Award, went to Eastern Decorator Sdn Bhd, while Luxury Sleep Products Sdn Bhd took the Gold Award and Instyle Sofa Sdn Bhd, the Silver Award.
The Judges’ Commendation Award in the Household and Office categories were presented to Best-Beteck Furniture Sdn Bhd and Heshan Zonman Furniture Limited.
The entries, in a category that encourages aesthetic, creative and visionary designs, were judged by a panel led by Zilahi Imre of Fast Forward Editorial SRL, Romania.
MIFF general manager Kelie Lim said: “MIFF has been at the forefront of ensuring the sustainable growth of Malaysian furniture for more than 30 years, and we will continue to nurture more emerging talent to ensure there is no lack of exceptional designers bold enough to envision a brighter future for the industry.”
Now into its 32nd edition, MIFF 2026 was launched in Mitec and the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) and ran from March 4-7.
Its ‘1 Fair, 2 Venues, 17 Halls’ concept spanned a total exhibition space of 100,000 sq m, assembling close to 700 exhibitors and 20,000 buyers from 140 countries and regions.
