Showcasing the best
WITH so many brilliant designs, “Full Moon” proved to be a fitting theme for this year’s KBU International College graduation showcase.
The theme signified how their learning experience has shaped them to be well-rounded individuals. As the moon waxes to its roundest and brightest form, so a student’s educational journey comes full circle when they graduate.
Held for the 12th year, KBU principal Dr Chee Choong Kooi said that the annual exhibition serves as a hunting ground for potential employers looking to hire their award-winning students.
In many instances, he said, KBU students were employed on the spot by industry leaders.
“This shows that KBU students are of high calibre and talented in their field,” Dr Chee added.
The showcase, called ‘Sequence 15’, presented the final year projects of graduates in the degrees of graphic design, interior architecture and design and furniture and product design.
Phases of the moon lit up, gradually building to a full moon, as KBU chief executive Tan Sri Teo Chiang Liang launched the showcase last Friday at a shopping centre. Malaysian Furniture Council (MFC) president Chua Chun Chai was guest of honour at the ceremony.
Chua said he was glad that KBU has created a platform where industry players can search for talents.
“The Malaysian furniture industry is an export industry. Annually, we export about RM8bil to the world.
“We need more talent and we would like to encourage more local designers to take part in the industry,” Chua said.
Thought-provoking artworks, architectural space solutions, as well as smart product and furniture designs lined the event space.
This graduation showcase included the first batch of graduates from the Furniture and Product Design programme. One of the graduates, Daniel Chua Yong Ho showcased an asymetrical table that combined fun and function. Specially designed for young adults, a lot of consideration was given to make the design highly functional.
He said that one of the most important things he learnt in the course was how to design a product with the user in mind.
A graphic design graduate, Phoebe Voon Zhing Zhing said that designers must strike a balance between personal and industrial projects. She said that the artwork has to deliver a message that people will understand.
Showcasing a poster on the topic of cause and effect, she said she found inspiration in the kitchen and mixed various liquids to create the visual she wanted.
The programmes from the School of Design are conducted at KBU in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University. Seven KBU graduates will be awarded with first class honours degrees in the upcoming Nottingham Trent University graduation ceremony.
This graduating class of 2015 has also made their college proud by garnering numerous awards.