KUALA LUMPUR: Although 2021 has been a challenging period for all involved in the interior design industry, the Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID) has brought together two panels of judges for their annual Malaysian Interior Design Awards (Reka Awards).

Held in conjunction with its tenth anniversary, the Reka Awards 2021 is set to culminate in the most memorable occasion where the most innovative and creative interior design projects will be showcased, recognised and honoured. 

The event will also serve to energise the institute in its effort to steer the Interior Design profession to greater heights and success in the name of design and professional excellence. As such, judges from both the local and international scenes are coming together to help elevate the industry further. The judges for the Design Excellence category are as follows:

Chief judge Ronnie Choong is the founder of Innovative Space Dimension Sdn Bhd and past president of MIID. He was recognised for his contribution to the interior design industry as a recipient of the MSID Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 and the International Federation of Interior Designers Fellowship Award.

Kezia Karin is the founder of one of the leading design houses in Indonesia, Kezia Karin Studio. She employs a multidisciplinary approach to her designs that is driven by endless curiosity whilst standing by the belief that design will always evolve to encompass all aspects of the interiors to exceed notions of trends and styles.

Hailing from Thailand, Anon Pairot is the founder of Anon Pairot Design Studios. Anon is the creative driving force focusing on developing many associated brands such as Planet 2001 Co Ltd, Kalser Porzlaine Gmbh (Germany), Lamptitude, Kenkoon, Plato and Kun. His creativity has been awarded and displayed at an international level. He was also honoured by Thailand’s Fine Arts Department for the award of Silpa Bhirasri as the best designer for the year 2008-2009.

Establishing his prominent Hong Kong-based award-winning practice Panorama Design in 2003, Horace Pan has gained prominence in Interior Architecture and Branding Solutions, and has garnered over 150 international design awards and honours including Germany’s iF Design Awards and Red Dots Awards, IIDA Global Excellence Awards and IDA Design Awards from the US, Japan’s JCD Design Awards Best 100, Taiwan’s TID Design Award and UK’s FX Design Awards to name a few.

Kathleen P Obcemea, based in Manila, Philippines, is the founder and Principal interior designer of KPO Beyond Designs Co. As the creative mind behind the brand, her intuitive aesthetic has launched her to distinction as one of Manila’s most distinguished interior designers for residential, commercial, and hospitality projects.

Meanwhile, the judges for the Industrial Excellence category include the following:

Chief judge Anura Hashim’s portfolios with YJA Interiors Kuala Lumpur include the design of hospitals, banks, office spaces, houses and show units. As a MIID founding member, Anura served as the chairlady of Students’ Saturday from 2004-2016 and remains passionate about promoting the event to design enthusiasts.

Datuk Prof Tajuddin Ismail is a reputable artist worthy of respect and recognition for his amazing abstract art. He is an alumnus of the art and design fraternity in Malaysia, Los Angeles and New York. He has participated in more than 150 solo and group exhibitions around the world. He has also served as a professor of Fine Art and Interior Design at UITM and Sunway University, and is a co-founder of TJ FINE ART Gallery, KL

Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week founder Andrew Tan has become a recognised icon of Malaysia’s fashion industry. He constantly gives pivotal advice and consultation to homegrown designers to help them be digitally equipped professionals. He has represented the country as part of the British Commonwealth Fashion Council and currently heads the program Design to Sustain, an initiative supporting sustainable and ethical fashion creation.

Sulaiman Arshad is the director of Majlis Rekabentuk Malaysia (MRM), a non-profit agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry supervision. He helms the nation’s think tank that advises and consults on the evolution and developments of innovative designs towards international standards among Malaysians. He is a multi-award winner with vast experience in advertising, graphic design, branding and packaging design and entrepreneurship development.

As the vice president of the Malaysia Green Building Council, Serina Hijjas’ work has long been environmentally focused. She is one of the creative directors at Hijjas Architects & Planners and is known for changing the building landscape of architecture through buildings that are responsive, energy-conscious and bold. Her formative years
exposed her to energy efficiency and sustainable design, culminating in projects like the Heriot-Watt University green campus, Celcom Tower interconnective offices, and EPIC waste training centre. Her energy-conscious and holistic approach has led to multiple award-winning buildings.

With over 27 years of experience in USA, Qatar, Ireland, Vietnam and Malaysian construction industries, Oliver Roche is the founder of Real Project Management Sdn Bhd and RPM Schedulers Sdn Bhd.
He sits as chairman of the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is on the Board of Directors for the Irish Chamber of Commerce, Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the submissions for the Reka Awards 2021 are still open. The closing date has been extended to Nov 30, 2021. Further information is obtainable at https://miid.org.my/miid-reka-awards-2021.

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