KUALA LUMPUR: KBU International College collaborated with Central Academy of Fine Arts Beijing (CAFA) to host a design conference entitled `Emerging Asian Identities’ recently.
The conference showcased inspiring and well-known speakers including Pusaka founder Eddin Khoo, Badan Warisan executive director Elizabeth Cardosa, Leo Burnett Malaysia executive creative director Eric Cruz and Professor Xiao Yong from CAFA Beijing.
“The design conference was organised for the first time in KBU to highlight the latest trends in designs and its relation to cultural identities. We like to start talking about things being designed in Asia, not just made here,” said School of Design deputy head Dr Debbie Gan.
She added the conference embarked on a distinctly contemporary exploration of designs and its cultural identities with the hope it would pave way for students to learn from the experts’ creative approaches.
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 bottles design, new product design for Stainless Steel Industries and Ralph Lauren’s The Big Pony Collection.
In recent years, KBU design students clinched numerous awards, including Philips Lightover Challenge, MIFF Furniture Design Competition, Hyundai Rev-Up InterCollege Competition, Malaysian Society of Interior Design Awards, Asia Pacific Designers Awards and International Design Awards.
The School also swept all awards under the Nippon Paint Young Designer Competition for the Interior Architecture category.
KBU’s School of Design also 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.