ABOUT RDW
ABOUT RDW
First launched by MIID (Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers) in 2017, REKA Design Week
began as a platform for the design community to exchange ideas, celebrate creativity,
and showcase innovation through exhibitions, conferences, and industry collaborations.
Over the years, REKA Design Week has gradually evolved beyond a conventional design event
into a broader creative and cultural movement. What was once centred around industry-focused
programmes has expanded into a more immersive city-wide experience that connects design
with art, culture, craft, retail, architecture, and community-driven initiatives.
In 2025, the introduction of satellite events opened the festival to the wider public through
installations, open studios, exhibitions, talks, workshops, and interactive experiences
across different creative spaces. The initiative encouraged visitors to rediscover the city through design while fostering stronger connections between creatives, businesses, and communities.
As REKA Design Week 2026 unfolds under this year’s theme, “Designing Dignity”, the festival
continues its journey towards positioning Malaysia as a recognised creative and design destination
within the region and beyond — where design is not only seen, but experienced through the way we
live, connect, and care.
2025 FEATURED ARTIST
Jefr Studio
REKA Design Week 2025 is proud to feature Jefr Studio as the featured artist of the year. Jefr is a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Kuala Lumpur (and partly in Warsaw), known for his evolving abstract-experimental style that traces its roots back to graffiti. His large-scale murals decorate city landmarks like Hyatt Centric City Centre KL, LANE 23, and REXKL, while his work also spans digital content, limited-edition merch, and brand collaborations — always with a recognisable signature style, as witnessed on the .
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His art is deeply informed by context, with colour palettes, shapes, and surroundings shaping how his pieces connect with their spaces. Motivated by authenticity and creativity, he continues to expand his practice through diverse projects while advocating for more public spaces where art can be shared and experienced.
CREATIVE PRODUCERS
THE COMMITTEE
IDr Patrick Chin
RDW Organising Chairman
MIID Council Member 2024-2026
Dr. Tennyson Chia
RDW Co-Chair
MIID Council Member 2024-2026
IDr Christine Rowland
RDW Committee
MIID Council Member 2024-2026
IDr Wong Pei San
RDW Committee
MIID Council Member 2024-2026
IDr Fakhul Zaman Mohd Yusoff
RDW Committee
MIID Council Member 2024-2026
Ar. IDr Nur Safuraa Abdul Razak
RDW Committee
MIID Council Member 2024-2026
IDr Yassir Jamain
RDW Committee
MIID Council Member 2024-2026
Mike Saw
RDW Committee
MIID Associate Member
WHOS AND WHATS
We'd like to take the opportunity to address the talented individuals for their contribution to the celebration of REKA Design Week 2025. From artists to designers and specialists from different industries and geographic location, they have each in their own way, contributed to the creative field and sharing their experience with us through their involvement in this event.
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Four creative producers & industry partners
A collaboration between industry players and creatives that pushes boundaries and ignites creative thinking, showcasing unique and unconventional ways that material, products or services can be applied, especially through art and design.
Aidatul Kushairi is an accomplished practitioner and educator in interior architecture, with over 20 years of combined professional and academic experience.
After graduating with a Diploma in Interior Design, she began her career in 1997 under the mentorship of renowned Malaysian architect Dato’ Ar. Ken Yeang, prior to the economic recession of 1998–1999. She continued to build resilience and expertise in the industry by working with firms such as Radius GSA and Arc Radius Sdn Bhd. Following the completion of her Degree in Interior Architecture, she further expanded her portfolio by collaborating with several established interior design and architectural firms across Malaysia.
She later took on leadership roles as Studio Manager and Assistant Director, and co-founded her own practice, The Square One Design, in partnership with an established interior designer. Among her notable contributions, she and her partner were involved in delivering interior design works for projects under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, including the Sports Complex in Mont Kiara.
Driven by a strong interest in sustainable design, Aidatul pursued a master’s degree in architecture (Sustainable) in University Malaya (UM), focusing her research on indoor human comfort in hospital ward design. Her work has been published in the Journal of Building Performance by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). She is currently pursuing her PhD with the same university, continuing her research in hospital design and built environment performance.
Aidatul has been working as a lecturer at Taylor’s University for the past 10 years within the School of Architecture, Building and Design. She teaches in the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Interior Architecture programme and holds additional academic leadership roles as Stream Coordinator and Co-Programme Director.
Culture and Heritage
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Four creative producers & industry partners
A collaboration between industry players and creatives that pushes boundaries and ignites creative thinking, showcasing unique and unconventional ways that material, products or services can be applied, especially through art and design.
Dion Vercoe is a LAM-registered interior designer and a Principal of Palladio Interiors Sdn Bhd, an award-winning design consultancy based in Kuala Lumpur. With three decades of experience across Malaysia and throughout Asia, he is celebrated for creating spaces that unite technical precision with a strong sense of narrative and storytelling. His designs evoke immersive experiences that engage emotion, culture, and function in harmony. Educated in New Zealand and grounded in constructability and spatial logic, Dion’s leadership has guided Palladio Interiors to deliver acclaimed residential and commercial projects recognized by MIID REKA, FIABCI, and various Asia Property Awards.
Creative Producer | Living
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Four creative producers & industry partners
A collaboration between industry players and creatives that pushes boundaries and ignites creative thinking, showcasing unique and unconventional ways that material, products or services can be applied, especially through art and design.
IDr Lee Tao Ken, a Curtin University Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture graduate, has practiced since 2000 as founder or cofounder of several companies. With over 20 years leading complex global projects, he focuses on real estate development, working closely with project and marketing teams to provide one-stop service from design concept to digital content. He has completed over 500 digital content and design projects across scales—from large developments to simple commercials—and is committed to delivering quality, cost-effective solutions.
Creative Producer | Living
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Four creative producers & industry partners
A collaboration between industry players and creatives that pushes boundaries and ignites creative thinking, showcasing unique and unconventional ways that material, products or services can be applied, especially through art and design.
Effendy Nadzri is the co-founder of EndoKL, a multidisciplinary design collective rooted in the Malaysian soul — creating thoughtful, timeless, and highly personalised spaces. Started his career in 2006 as a draughtsman
His fascination with design started young while traveling with his family and staying in different hotels across the region. He became obsessed with how spaces could completely change moods, memories, and experiences — the quiet magic of good interior design.
Today, he believes the best design education comes from traveling, observing cultures, and eating good food.
Co-Producer | Living
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Four creative producers & industry partners
A collaboration between industry players and creatives that pushes boundaries and ignites creative thinking, showcasing unique and unconventional ways that material, products or services can be applied, especially through art and design.
IDr Swofinty Yik, the principal of Swofinty Design, is a research- and design-based interior design practice. Since its inception, he has worked across Asia and amassed accolades in the way of press, awards, and conferences.
Swofinty is both a pragmatist and an imagineer; to him, design is a process in which ideas are developed through the amalgam of research and tests, driven by imagination and curiosity. He learned the art of contemporary design, and management continued to provide him with a worldwide perspective on design at a greater level while cultivating and embracing the nuances and complexities of design.
He was awarded the scholarship in interior architecture and is an honours degree graduate of Curtin University. He was a tutor who has held visiting panels at various universities.
Creative Producer | Community
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Four creative producers & industry partners
A collaboration between industry players and creatives that pushes boundaries and ignites creative thinking, showcasing unique and unconventional ways that material, products or services can be applied, especially through art and design.
Ar. IDr Esmonde Yap is an award-winning Malaysian architect, PAM Council Member, and co-founder of Spatial Factors Architects.
A distinction graduate of the University of New South Wales, Australia, he began with SA Architects (2015–2020), leading climateresponsive projects such as Menara Hap Seng 3 and Gamuda Quayside Mall.
His portfolio spans urban pavilions, adaptive reuse, civic spaces, and public installations, earning the MIID Emerging Designer Award 2024, multiple MIID REKA Design Excellence Awards, APSDA Design Awards, PAM–Archidex Curated Booth Gold Award, multiple ILAM Iconic Insta Sculpture Awards, and winning entries for PAM–MBSJ, MBI and MPKj Architectural Design Competitions.
Internationally featured in Design Diffusion (Milan), he has spoken at the Union International of Architects (UIA) International Forum, International Congress of Young Architects and Designers (ICYAC) in Moscow, and Kuala Lumpur Architectural Festival (KLAF) DATUM: PAM-LAM.
He represents Malaysia in ARCASIA’s Committee of Young Architects, chairs PAM’s Emerging Architects Committee and convenes PAM Design Lecture Series 2026 while teaching Master of Architecture Design Studio at University Malaya.
Creative Producer | Sustainability
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Four creative producers & industry partners
A collaboration between industry players and creatives that pushes boundaries and ignites creative thinking, showcasing unique and unconventional ways that material, products or services can be applied, especially through art and design.
Educator, multidisciplinary professional, pianist, certified trainer and philanthropist with three decades of experience in the design industry and award-winning projects. Founding partner and Director of Ruang Studio Sdn Bhd. Experienced in design, project management and property development from GDP Architects and Sime Darby Property Berhad.
Passionately involved in philanthropy, she is the Chairman of Persatuan Wanita Kedah di Kuala Lumpur & Selangor and served as ngo advisor in past years. She focuses on reaching out and empowering the urban poor and disadvantaged communities in Malaysia. Standing on pillars of “Creative & Built Environment, Business Management & Societal Impact”, she believes that an architect’s achievement is not just in designing spaces, but in placing them within a sustainable environment that fosters thriving, healthy communities and ecosystems that endure.
“Architecting Ecosystems — Designing with purpose, Serving with humility.” – Ts. AO
Programme Liaison
THE COMMITTEE
IDr Tay Eiling
RDW Chairman
MIID Honorary Secretary 2024-2026
IDr Fakhul Zaman
RDW Co-Chairman
MIID Council Member 2024-2026
IDr Patrick Chin
RDW Committee
MIID Honorary Treasurer 2024-2026
IDr Christine Rowland
RDW Committee
MIID Council Member 2024-2026
IDr Yassir Jamain
RDW Committee
MIID Council Member 2024-2026
Dr. Tennyson Chia
RDW Committee
MIID Council Member 2024-2026
Graduating with a Master’s in Design from Tokyo University of the Arts, with studies at Politecnico di Milano, she began her career at h concept, collaborating with companies and production areas to create innovative products. Her work spans consulting, branding, product planning, design, manufacturing, distribution, and sales.
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Since 2016, she has been a part-time lecturer at the Department of Design, Tokyo University of the Arts, and in 2024 launched a project to enhance design education for children.
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Lulu was born in 1987 in Nagoya, Japan. In 2015, after a long journey, she arrived in Mexico with little money left. Instead of paying for a hotel stay, she offered to paint a mural in exchange for a bed. As she continued creating murals this way, she realized how much joy painting brought her.
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After returning to Japan, she started career as a painter in 2016. Every year, she paints murals in schools, hospitals, orphanages, and facilities for the handicapped children to make children happy with her paintings all over the world.
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In August 2023, the MIID Sabah Sub-Committee came to life, marking an exciting new chapter for interior design in East Malaysia.
Within just four months, they successfully hosted the very first MIID REKA Sabah Conference on 27 January 2024, officially kicking off the REKA Sabah initiative with great energy and vision.
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Nazura Rahime is a creativepreneur, producer, curator, and placemaker with over two decades of experience. As co-founder of Manggis, she brings expertise in creative management, content production, and leadership, supported by a Bachelor’s in Digital Media from Multimedia University and a Diploma in Producing from the New York Film Academy.
Renowned for her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to nurturing talent, she has led initiatives such as "Jalan Negara Kita," which transformed a Kuala Lumpur alley into a vibrant cultural hub for art and music. Her work reflects a strong dedication to fostering creativity, community engagement, and cultural development.
Jalan Negara Kita
OUTLET is a curated marketplace and creative platform connecting audiences with artists, creatives and makers. Initiated by Elina, Dana and Fareez, what started as a passion project quickly became a hub for discovery, collaboration and community. Through their platform, they aim to make art accessible and to bring everyday art to everyday spaces.
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Besides the artisan market during the RDW Art & Design Showcase, OUTLET is also the curator for the 10 PANO featured artists in partnership with MOFO and DULUX.
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Dana is also the guest judge for RDW 2025's art competition organised by MOFI.
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Born in Osaka in 1977, he spent nearly two decades at Osaka Designer College (1999–2017), where he contributed to curriculum development, student guidance, and industry collaborations. Though specializing in illustration, he also managed the Special Makeup Department and founded the Figure Sculpture Department in 2015, reflecting his passion for interdisciplinary creativity.
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Since 2017, he has been with Skeleton Crew Studio Inc., overseeing management, XR and app development, interactive content, and web projects. He also co-founded the art event UNKNOWN ASIA in 2015, manages the indie game event BitSummit and its student game jam.
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Takeshi is a guest judge for RDW 2025's art competition organised by MOFI.
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Dr. Kody Kato is the founder of the Office for Design Evolution (ODE), an architecture studio focused on Zero Carbon buildings through an interdisciplinary framework that he coined as Creative Engineering. His approach reimagines the design process as an evolutionary approach, which combines architecture, material science, biology, engineering, and the environment to enhance the way we live, work, and experience space.
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Dr. Kato’s hybrid design philosophy led to a London Design Award for Beyond Surface, the Top 20 International A’ Design Awards by Arch Daily, the Best Prize for the 28th International Space Architecture Competition in Seoul, and the Merit Award for Japan’s Shinkenchiku Residential Design Competition, among others. His work and philosophy have been archived as part of the British Encyclopedia and the permanent collection at the Singapore National Library.
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Adeline Chong is the curator behind Snackfood, a concept store and creative studio. With a background in Advertising and Art History, her storytelling journey spans theatre, film, and curatorial work in the US. Combining curiosity and strategy, she turned Snackfood into a canvas for exploring meaning through design, transforming retail into storytelling and human connection.
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A visual and sound designer based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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As the creative director of Harum Kasturi Studio, iwaz's folio expands from creative endeavours to corporate solution provider.
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Recognized as a contemporary photographer, Tanes Jitsawart (TJ) is recognised for his event, press coverage, and travel documentary captured in professional and high-quality images. Some of his notable works include the documented northern road trip by Amazing Thailand and he often collaborates with camera brands such as Fujifilm, Sigma and Leica. Through these roles, Jitsawart combines his creative abilities behind the camera with production and editorial skills to deliver content across various media.
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With a heart for storytelling, Winnie began her design journey in 2017 through animation and freelance work after graduating with a Diploma from Saito University College. Her passion for interior design animation earned a full scholarship to pursue a Bachelor in Interior Architecture at Limkokwing University, where they also served as a part-time lecturer at Point College, inspiring young creatives.
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She later founded Be-Inner Design, a studio dedicated to narrative-driven spaces, and have received recognitions including the MIID Emerging Designer 2024, ECRL Train Competition winner, and Qanvast Best Commercial Award.
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AACE is an impact-driven NGO empowering disabled and disadvantaged communities through creative education and sustainable enterprise. Through art, training, and platforms like The Vacademy and Goods for Good, it nurtures talent and fosters independence. Its CSR collaborations and recycled innovations promote responsible consumption, with showcases and partnerships including L’Occitane, Matrix Concepts, and the KL Art Book Fair.
About Edmund:
Trained as an interior architect, Edmund Low has worked on F&B and commercial projects before venturing into creative entrepreneurship. He co-founded B’Nottee and contributed to Sama Sama Perak and Pride of Perak. As AACE’s co-founder, he bridges creativity, sustainability, and community through purposeful design.
About Javson:
Founded in 2021 by Javson Lee, Edmund Low, and a group of creatives and parents, AACE was built on the belief that creativity can drive real change. With Javson’s experience in branding, media, and over a decade in Europe as a creative director, and Edmund’s path from interior architecture to cultural and design entrepreneurship, AACE reflects their vision to merge art, charity, and sustainability into lasting impact.Title 01
Sham Abu Bakar, a Master of Arts graduate from UiTM (2004), is a textile artist and educator specializing in batik and Shibori techniques. He began teaching at the Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA) in 1996 and has exhibited internationally, including in Finland and at Malaysia’s National Art Gallery. His works have been collected by Bank Negara Malaysia and featured in numerous exhibitions. Recognized for his contributions to textile art, he received the ASEAN Selection Award 2016 from SACICT in Bangkok.
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His recent works explore blue-and-white Shibori on cotton voile, using Japanese Arashi techniques to create layered wall hangings that evoke calmness and serenity through the use of indigo dyes.
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With a heart for storytelling, Winnie began her design journey in 2017 through animation and freelance work after graduating with a Diploma from Saito University College. Her passion for interior design animation earned a full scholarship to pursue a Bachelor in Interior Architecture at Limkokwing University, where they also served as a part-time lecturer at Point College, inspiring young creatives.
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She later founded Be-Inner Design, a studio dedicated to narrative-driven spaces, and have received recognitions including the MIID Emerging Designer 2024, ECRL Train Competition winner, and Qanvast Best Commercial Award.
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NotQuite is the studio and alter-ego of a multidisciplinary designer, Andrew Gooi who treats creativity as a life practice. Not one thing, never still—Creative Director, Brand Conceptualizer, Illustrator, Stylist, Food Designer, and international Pop-Up Dining Chef—working fluidly across mediums and sensibilities. With a track record of building award-winning brands from zero, his work is about giving shape, voice, and attitude to ideas that don’t yet know what they want to be. Influenced by food culture, cinema, music, and lived places, projects unfold like layered narratives—crafted while floating between Bali, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong.
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