ASEAN-China Design Convergence Summit

Representatives from Multiple Countries Gather in Kuala Lumpur to Promote Design and Technological Innovation Exchange

From May 9 to 11, 2025, the ASEAN-China Design Convergence, organized by Design Asia Collective and the Asia Design Week, was successfully held at Sunway College in Malaysia. The summit received strong support from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) and was co-supported in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), the Malaysia Design Council (MRM), the Malaysian Graphic Design Association (MREGA), and Sunway College.

Representatives from Multiple Institutions Attend and Jointly Launch a New Phase of Collaboration

On the morning of May 9, the opening ceremony of the summit was grandly held at the Jeffrey Cheah Hall of Sunway College. Prof. Teo Ee Sing, Executive Director of Sunway College, delivered a welcome address, extending sincere greetings and a warm welcome to guests from China and ASEAN countries.

主办方代表与嘉宾合影(左起)：Lim Teng Ngiom, Amirul Fadhli Che Ismail, Azmi Abdullah, Li Sheng

Focusing on Cutting-Edge Topics and Exploring Paths of Integration

The summit centered on key topics such as the integration of artificial intelligence and design, the application of digital art in public spaces, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in industrial design. Design representatives from various ASEAN countries and China were invited to deliver keynote speeches and participate in roundtable discussions. The main topics included:

• Innovative Practices of AI in Product Design and User Interaction

• Digital Art and Urban Public Space Design

• Fashion and Industrial Design: Trends in Sustainability

• China–ASEAN Design Language and Cultural Synergy

Participation from Multiple Countries: Advancing the Institutionalization of China–ASEAN Design Exchange

The summit welcomed representatives from design organizations and academic experts from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, and Macau. Key speakers included:

• Dato’ Lewré Lew, renowned footwear designer and founder of luxury bespoke brand Lewré Bespoke

• Audrey Lim, contemporary batik artist and the first Malaysian winner of the Arte Laguna International Art Prize (Italy)

• Karson Wong, President of the Macau Product Design Association (MOPDA)

• Yang Siong Yao, Founder and Art Director of 1983ASIA, Executive Director of the Shenzhen Graphic Design Association (SGDA)

• Ritchie Ned Hansel, President of the Indonesian Graphic Designers Association (ADGI)

• Kamarul Izam, President of the Malaysian Graphic Design Association (mREGA)

• Praseuth Banchongphakdy, Laos national design icon and founder of Blue Grass Design Group

• Jeand Pua and Jehcob Tan of FrameMotion, a digital media advertising solutions provider known for crafting immersive experiences

• Siam Attariya, Member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) and Creative Director of Thai design firm Pink Blue Black & Orange

• Wei Xin, Chinese engineer and sculptor, known for participating in over 30 major public art, urban branding, and transportation space design projects in China, including Beijing Daxing International Airport

• Hu Xiao, Chairman of the International eXperience Design Committee (IXDC)

• Kaiyi Wong, product designer whose submission for the Synthesis Design Convergence competition was also on display

• Kit Woo, the Malaysian fashion designer known for his contemporary approach and play on silhouettes

On May 9, a total of nine outstanding designers from Malaysia, Indonesia, and China delivered engaging presentations, receiving enthusiastic responses from the audience.

A Brilliant Gathering: Cross-Border Design Convergence Showcases Asia’s New Wave of Creative Power

The "ASEAN-China Design Convergence Competition" Excellent Works Exhibition, launched during the summit, became a major highlight of the event. The exhibition showcased over 100 curated works from universities and design institutions across China and the ASEAN region. Rich and diverse in content, the exhibition covered cutting-edge fields such as product innovation, digital art, visual communication, and spatial design, offering a comprehensive display of the creative vitality and interdisciplinary thinking of Asia’s new generation of designers.

Notably, the design summit also attracted renowned creative designers from South Korea, Dubai, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, as well as outstanding faculty and student representatives from China’s top eight art academies, and heads of design departments from multiple Malaysian universities. Following their visit to the exhibition, many international guests gave high praise to the originality and cultural depth of the works on display. This impressive lineup of international participants demonstrates the broad influence and academic appeal of the summit and exhibition in the design field—both across Asia and globally.

Facilitating Regional Collaboration: Building a Creative Bridge between ASEAN and China

During the closing networking session of the conference, representatives from several national design institutions engaged in meaningful exchanges on regional design development and collaboration opportunities. A senior representative from the Malaysia Design Council (Majlis Rekabentuk Malaysia, MRM) expressed strong support for the vision of Asia Design Week (ADW) and the Design Asia Collective (DAC) in fostering ASEAN-China design convergence. The council also conveyed its interest in establishing long-term collaboration, particularly in the areas of joint exhibitions, project-based partnerships, and talent exchange.