KUCHING – Lim Siang Yi, a multimedia design student at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, excelled at the recent grand finale of the Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) National Championship 2024, clinching 8th place on the national stage.
Prior to the grand finale, both Siang Yi and Melody Lim Chia Chia, another multimedia design student, secured spots in the National Top 30 through their sheer talent and dedication, under the guidance and mentorship of their Design Lecturer Eunice Law Mei Yuan.
The grand finale, which took place at the Imperial Lexis Kuala Lumpur on 25 May 2024, marked the culmination of their incredible journey through several stages of the championship.
Organised by the Creative Cloud Community (CCC), the prestigious event was not just about creating impactful posters; it served as a springboard for the students’ design careers. This year, the theme was “Sustainability”, with EcoKnights as the client.
In the first round, over 1,000 students nationwide competed in crafting a compelling poster using only Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign, centred on the topic of “Sustainable Lifestyle”. Participants exercised their time management skills, having to balance and manage their time effectively over two weeks – juggling classes, assignments and the competition.
A group photo of the Top 30 finalists of the ACP National Championship 2024. (Photo credit: Eunice Law Mei Yuan)
This led the duo to a live test in the competition’s second round, held at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation in Kuala Lumpur on 27 April 2024. In this round, participants were presented with the challenge of creating a creative poster on the spot, with the theme of “Save Water, Save Earth”.
The entire live test was conducted without internet access, adding a layer of difficulty and demanding that students rely solely on their design knowledge, software expertise and prior preparation – a true test of their creative problem-solving skills under pressure.
Both Siang Yi and Melody rose to the occasion and showcased their design thinking and software mastery within the tight eight-hour timeframe.
Adding to the challenge of Round 2, all participants who made it to the National Top 30 had to successfully complete the Adobe Certification test. This additional hurdle ensured that these top contenders not only possessed exceptional design skills but also had a deep understanding of the software that fuels their creativity.
“While we did not clinch a spot in the Top 3 and the chance to represent Malaysia in the USA, the competition served as a profound learning experience for both my students and myself. It was a testament to the power of stepping beyond the classroom, textbooks and assignments,” said Law.
She described the journey with the CCC’s ACP National Championship as an eye-opener for herself and her students.
“It solidified the importance of encouraging design students to embrace such opportunities. While trophies are coveted, the true rewards lie in the growth, exposure and experience that propel them towards becoming exceptional designers,” she remarked.
(From left) Melody Lim Chia Chia, Eunice Law Mei Yuan and Lim Siang Yi at the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation for the second round of the competition. (Photo credit: Eunice Law Mei Yuan)
An added layer of prestige to the championship was the esteemed judging panel. Round 1 saw the works evaluated by design luminaries Hans Lee (Cheil Malaysia), Jarrod Reginald (Chariot Agency) and Nik Radzi (Naga DDB Tribal Malaysia).
In Round 2, the participants had the honour of their works being judged by industry veterans Bert Monroy (Bert Monroy INC), John Bell (NextNow Digital LLC) and Shawnn Lai (Regional Creative Lead at Lazada Group).
“Having their work assessed by such a distinguished group of design experts is an incredible opportunity for any aspiring creative,” said Law.
Visit https://www.swinburne.edu.my/courses/design to explore the design programs offered by Swinburne Sarawak.
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram page (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk), TikTok page (@swinburnesarawak) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).