The MIFF Furniture Design Competition (MIFF FDC) is an annual event organised in conjunction with the Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) to celebrate the creative spirit of design and to uncover young talents to support Malaysia’s thriving furniture industry. Just recently, the MIFF FDC 2020 with the theme ‘Kids Wonderland’ unveiled its winners. Entering its eleventh year, this competition offers the best platform for emerging designers to showcase their innovative ideas before a global audience of furniture manufacturers, retailers, industry influencers and media.

The theme called for whimsical furniture which creates a fun and creative environment that lets kids’ imagination soar, and submissions were judged based on creativity and aesthetic, functionality, marketability and presentation. Among the winners, Lim Joe Yi, a student from The One Academy’s School of Interior Architecture & Design, won the Second Prize with her convertible and fun design named “Amigo”.

The talented designer came up with a versatile and sustainable design for children and adults to tackle the issue of furniture waste. Furniture for kids are often tossed away or recycled when the kids outgrow them, as the childish look of kids’ furniture clashes with the overall interior ambience and also takes up valuable space in the house.

“‘Amigo’ is developed to solve the issue of kids’ furniture waste due to children’s growth. With this idea of turning a kids’ furniture into a lifetime companion, “Amigo” is a two-piece modular furniture designed to be sustainable for long-term usage, accompanying them from young to adult, in hopes of reducing furniture waste. Designed for kids and adults of different age groups, the piece serves as a fun rocking chair, mini lounge chair, study table and chair set, side table, laptop table, storage and ottoman stool,” explained Joe Yi of the inspiration behind her winning design.

“From initial sketches to the final presentation board, my lecturers guided me throughout the process to make sure I’m on the right track. The material and construction classes that I studied also helped a lot in providing me the knowledge for furniture functions and materials,” she added on the help and encouragement she received during the process.

The impact of global pandemic has transformed our daily lives in the long run. It has redefined the way we work, spend leisure time and socialise, as most of it will be done in the comforts of our own home. As new challenges create new design opportunities, the furniture industry shall see growth.

[The One Academy of Communication Design was established in 1991 with the aim of promoting the region as the world’s center of creative reference. Strategically located in the thriving creative hub of Bandar Sunway, Selangor, with a branch in Georgetown, Penang, The One Academy is today a top notch leading international institute in art, design and creative multimedia, renowned with graduates who steer successful careers in creative capitals worldwide. The courses offered are Digital Media Design, Digital Animation with Game Development, Film Visual Effects, Illustration, Movie & Game Art, Advertising & Graphic Design, Interior Design, Paris Fashion Design & Pattern Making and Fine Arts.]