Kuala Lumpur, 3 March 2025 – The Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) successfully organized the Furniture Design Awards (FDA) 2025, held at the World Trade Center Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) and MITEC Kuala Lumpur. This prestigious competition attracted 335 entries from public and private higher education institutions, companies, and individual designers nationwide.
After a rigorous screening and evaluation process since November 2024, representatives from the School of The Arts (SOTA), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) achieved outstanding success. Wong Lilie, a student from Product Design, SOTA USM, was crowned the 1st Prize Winner with her unique design, the "Leviosa Chair." This victory earned her a trophy, a certificate of achievement, and a cash prize of RM5,000 in recognition of her innovative design excellence.
Furthermore, this success also highlighted the achievement of Ts. Dr. Siti Suhaily Surip, a lecturer in Product Design, SOTA USM, who received the Best Mentor Award for her outstanding guidance to students. She was honored with a certificate of achievement and a cash prize of RM2,000 in appreciation of her dedication and expertise in nurturing young talents in the furniture design industry.
Additionally, Ts. Hafeezur Rahmaan played a crucial role as a mentor by guiding three more students to the finals of this competition, namely Lee Sung Yun, Tan Keth Wen, and Zulhelmi Naim B. Mohamad Sharif, further showcasing SOTA USM's excellence in innovative design.
This achievement reflects SOTA USM's commitment to producing talented young designers capable of competing at both national and international levels. May this success continue to inspire future generations to explore their potential in the design and creative industries.
