Shower of awards to KBU International College

Receiving international awards and recognitions are not something new to KBU International College’s School of Design. As such, students from the School made headlines again by being recognised as the recipients of the Asia Pacific Designer Federation’s Design Star Award, under the IAI Design Awards.

“We are indeed very proud of our students’ achievement for bagging this prestigious award as it is a grand achievement given to the most reputable and renowned designers in the various fields of international design,” said School of Design Head Siow Yin Yoong.

“What makes this even more special would be the fact that Wong Kwan Theng and Chua Chia Hui, are the only Malaysians who have managed to grab the awards,” she added.

The award presentation ceremony took place at Central Academy of Fine Arts, recently. The students’ works were displayed at the Bird’s Nest Stadium Centre together with the design works’ of other professionals.

Wong, who has just graduated from KBU said: “At KBU, our lecturers always encourage us to participate in competitions in order to broaden our horizon and keep abreast with the constant changes that are revolving around the design industry”

Wong, who was inspired by the structure of human ‘lungs’ to re-design an abandoned 6- storey building, used the elements of green technology in his design.

“I spent a total of 6 months to re-design the building, while retaining the old-styled exterior of the building,” said Wong.

Wong, who has breathing problems since young, said: ‘One day, as I was travelling in the bus I realised how bad was the smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. That triggered the creative energy in me to design an air filtration system for the building.

He says that the building which comes with different functions for each floor provides good air quality to the public. Another winner, Chua, who was inspired by the concept of ‘breaking out of the pupa”, designed a building to aid the prisoners to be a better person upon their release.

The building comes with a gym, a gallery, a shelter room, a resource center, defense classes and a counselling area- all devoted to mould the prisoners to be fit for the society, after their release.

Among others, the building comes with natural lighting and heat-resistant glass, to acknowledge the importance of green technology.

School of Design Deputy Head Chua Huwi Huwi, said: “I am indeed proud to see our students who have emerged as the only Malaysians to bag this award. Not only that, it also shows that our students are trained to compete with professionals and are of top notch”

KBU’s School of Design cultivates top and award-winning designers through its industry-based teaching and learning. These include collaborative projects such as BROS bottle design, new product design for Stainless Steel Industries and Ralph Lauren’s The Big Pony Collection. Plus, the school is equipped with everything a design student needs. The facilities include spacious studio space, advanced computer hardware and software, printing studio, 3D workshops and a range of state-of-the-art equipments.

The School also holds an excellent track record of clinching numerous accolades such as Maybank’s #MakeityourM2U competition, IAI Design Awards, MIFF Design Award and MIID Reka Awards 2014, among others.

KBU’s School of Design offers BA (Hons) Interior Architecture & Design (3+0), BA (Hons) Graphic Design, BA (Hons) Furniture & Product Design, Foundation in Art & Design, Diploma in Interior Design and Diploma in Interactive Design.

For further details, please contact KBU International College, Bandar Utama, at Tel: 03-77273200 or Fax: 03-77272733 or email: [email protected] or visit our website: www.kbu.edu.my. You can also join us at http://facebook.com/kbuinternational .