PENANG, 12 March 2013 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) clinched the third place title in the Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF 2013) which was held at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur recently.

Unity Table designed by Emmy Kong Pek Kei, a second year student from the School of Arts (SoA), won the first prize of RM10,000. This unique table inspired by the top, a traditional Malaysian game, was designed using a combination of rattan, glass and steel.

“This table saves space, easy to carry and is also sustainable, in line with USM aspiration as a Sustainable Campus,” said Emmy at a special press conference which was chaired by the Dean of the SoA, Associate Professor Mohamad Omar Bidin, after the win.

Meanwhile, the Ketupat Table designed by Priscilla Lok Ai Fang won third prize in the same competition. Design and structure of this multi-layered table complemented one another. This table looks like a piece of traditional Malaysian rice cake (ketupat).

Another product is the Drum Chair, a creation by Liow Heng Yee, a second year student of SoA, that combines a variety of materials such as rattan, rubber wood, and microfiber fabric.

According to Omar, the three USM students were among the 10 finalists in the competition which was attended by 193 students from various local universities with the theme “A Tribute to the Shapes and Colours of Malaysia”.

 

"The School of Arts has always emphasise on the practical aspect of learning besides the theoretical aspects whereby students are taught the proper technics of drawing as part of the process of developing a product design," added Omar.

Also present were the Chairman of the SoA Product Design, Mr. Hafeezur Rahmaan Mohd Yassin. - Text: Nor Rafizah Md Zain/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa/Translation: Yong Check Yoon