President of Icograda inspires Sunway DAD students

Sunway’s Department of Art and Design (DAD) students recently met Leimei Julia Chiu, President of Icograda, world body for professional communication design and visual communication, enriching them with creative ideas and sharing her knowledge during a business and design talk in Sunway University. Ms Chiu who is also the Executive Director of the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP) and Professor in the Department of Visual Communication Design at Musashino Art University, Japan was intrigued by the passion of Sunway’s budding talents. The Business and Design talk was organised by wREGA, Graphic Design Association of Malaysia. Through wREGA, the students were fortunate enough to meet Julia as well as other graphic designers in the industry.

Leimei Julia Chiu, President of Icograda presenting a speech to the Sunway DAD students.

Julia may have been dressed in a simple grey blouse and a white shawl but the picture she painted to these students was colourful and enriching. She began the session by asking students to collaborate with committee members of wREGA, who were also graphic designers in the world today to discuss some of the challenges that Graphic Designers in Malaysia face. 19 year old Ibrahim Bin Noor Hisham, shared how Malaysia is lacking in the field of design due to a lack of inspiration. “If we look towards the West, they have Walt Disney and Warner Bros but in Malaysia we do not have an accredited company to look up to. We have been taught to become Engineers, Doctors and Lawyers but you never hear anyone encouraging you to become a graphic designer. I feel Malaysia needs to inspire artists or designers.”

wREGA members and Sunway DAD students in preparation for their presentation.

Nguyen Cao Minh, Louise, an International student from Vietnam said it is tough exercising freedom of designing in the graphic design sector. He added, people always thought that more opportunities come to those who enter the Science stream in school. “They tend to think that being a Graphic designer is not a reputable profession,” he said.

Ms Chiu continued her presentation by advising students to focus on the bigger picture. She shared some inspirational projects done by students all around the world that had a different take in the world of designing. Some projects used a unique approach that incorporated designs into products to support communities and the environment. These projects have created and impacted the lives of people who use them especially in education, shelter, health, water, energy and in the transportation sector. The projects have been recognised and awarded for their practicality, impact and creativity that changed the lives of people.

Ms Chiu lends an attentive ear to Nguyen Cao Minh, Louise during his presentation.

Koh Li Ming, member of wREGA and practicing graphic designer addressed some of the student’s concern at the end of the talk. He said, “Your earnings will double or even triple as you grow with experience in this career. With the right initiative and resources you will be exposed to a new environment that will foster learning and practice.”

Also present from wREGA were Michael Goh, President; Tan Guat Ling, Honorary Secretary; Zachary Ong, Deputy Secretary and wREGA members Asri Ahmad and Razif Nasruddin.