KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus was abuzz with vibrant activity as industry leaders, educators, practitioners and students gathered to celebrate innovative and creative design at Good Design Week (GDW) 2024 from 9 to 11 December 2024.
GDW 2024, hosted by Swinburne Sarawak in collaboration with esteemed partners, embarked on an inspiring journey under the theme “Designing with Tomorrow”. Building on the success of past renditions in 2019 and 2023, this year’s event set the stage for an innovative exploration of how design shapes our future.
The event aimed to extend the dialogue to encompass a broader spectrum of design’s vast potential to innovate, transform and lead society towards a sustainable, inclusive and technologically advanced future. It was dedicated to uncovering and celebrating the intersection of design innovation and its impact on our daily lives and the environment.
GDW 2024 marked a significant step towards embracing the transformative role of design in addressing the challenges of the future, ensuring a legacy of innovation, sustainability, and cultural enrichment for generations to come.
The event kicked off with GradX 2024, a two-day exhibition showcasing the creative talents of final-year students from Swinburne Sarawak’s Multimedia Design, Graphic Design and Management & Digital Media programs.
YB Datuk Snowdan Lawan (left) explores a student’s project, inspired by Pua Kumbu.
The exhibition provided a platform for students to share their work with the public, connect with industry professionals and build their networks. It also allowed attendees, including faculty members, family, friends and members of the community, to appreciate the dedication behind each project, while offering students valuable feedback to enhance their craft.
On Day 2 of GDW 2024, in addition to enjoying the GradX exhibition, participants delved into an array of creative and innovative products on display and for sale at the university’s Borneo Atrium. The university’s industry partners – creative and cultural entrepreneurs such as Alune Enterprise, Elly Loe Handcrafts, Made.Kyoot, Natural Remedy, Nutonuto, Oh Dainty, Omok.co, Oudi+Ee’s Bits and Bobs, Petupieng (by Hilton Moore), Sarawak Society for the Deaf (SSD), SongPrettyBell, Sunny Bouquet and ThemuQ – shared their insights with the participants.
The final day of the event featured academic paper presentations and eye-opening keynote sessions delivered by experts of design and architecture from Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.
A keynote session delivered by an industry expert.
The official launching of GDW 2024 on 11 December 2024 was officiated by YB Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts.
At the ceremony, he also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Swinburne Sarawak and Goethe-Institut Malaysia as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Swinburne Sarawak and the Sarawak Influencers Council (SIC).
Signing the MoA on behalf of Goethe-Institut Malaysia was its Director, Ms Anna Viegel, while Ir Professor Sim Kwan Yong, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic), signed on behalf of Swinburne Sarawak. The signing of the MoA with Goethe-Institut Malaysia signified the recognition of Swinburne Sarawak’s design programs and its award-winning staff and students.
Through this MoA, Goethe-Institut Malaysia will be contributing a research grant totalling RM60,000 to be distributed over three years. The grant will be used to generate research and production work in short animation, interactive stories, digital comics and illustrated books. The funding will be awarded to eligible Swinburne student applicants as micro-grants to produce creative outcomes. The selected creative outcomes will then be showcased through screenings, exhibitions and publications, facilitated by further external partnerships, both nationally and internationally.
In addition, the signing of the MoU with SIC marked a significant collaboration aimed at promoting innovative education and the creation of integrated internship pathways, joint industry-linked projects and collaborative course development in digital marketing. Signing on behalf of SIC was President Mr Jeremy Yaw while Professor Sim signed on behalf of Swinburne Sarawak.
YB Datuk Snowdan Lawan (third left) witnesses the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Swinburne Sarawak and Goethe-Institut Malaysia at the GDW 2024 launching ceremony.
Together, SIC and Swinburne Sarawak aim to empower students and influencers through shared resources, mentorship and entrepreneurial opportunities, ultimately driving positive change and growth in our community. This partnership exemplifies the spirit of innovation and cooperation, paving the way for a future rich in opportunities for Swinburne Sarawak’s students, influencers and the broader Sarawakian community.
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram page (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk), TikTok page (@swinburnesarawak) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).