THE Golden Pin Design Award recently featured the 2025 Design Perspectives x Golden Pin Salon Kuala Lumpur (KL) across two artistic venues in KL, organised by the Taiwan Design Research Institute in collaboration with Tsubaki Studio to foster design dialogue in the city.
Focusing on design at the confluence of technological advancements and tradition for the future, the provision of artificial intelligence is heavily examined in how it could help enhance rather than replace human creativity and cultural context in their dialogue, with this year’s theme showcasing designers creating meaningful innovations that honour cultural heritage while embracing future possibilities.
It was initially established by Taiwan’s Golden Pin Design Award in 2015 to encourage award winners and notable designers to continue sharing their design philosophy and professional experiences. In their press statement, they stated that the Salon has toured more than 21 Asian cities, including Shanghai, Macau, KL, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Taipei, with more than 100 of Asia’s most renowned design experts having participated in the international design exchange.
The organisation aims to promote the Golden Pin Design Award among Asian designers, beyond just inspiration and networking opportunities.
The Spatial Design Session, with the theme Something Old and Something New: Giving Places New Life, and the Visual Communication Design Session, under the theme From Inner Worlds to Visual Art: Translating Imagination into Digital Assets, were held on two separate days, Monday (April 28) and Tuesday (April 29).
The first session explored how spatial design could honour the cultural memory of buildings while repurposing them into contemporary destination spaces — creating environments that feel both familiar and enhanced through technology and aesthetics. This was examined through the growing trend in Malaysia’s urban landscape, with historical structures being thoughtfully reimagined for modern use.
The invited speakers were TKCA Architects director Ar. Rien Tan, with extensive international experience in Osaka, Taipei, and New York, and a recipient of an award from Taiwan’s Golden Pin. Blu Water co-founder and chief executive designer, IDr Lai Sew Hong, also an award-winning interior design firm owner in KL with more than 30 years of experience, was also present.
Meanwhile, the second session delved into how artists and designers incorporate digital tools in their creative processes, exploring how technology has opened new avenues for artistic expression and revolutionised how art is created, shared, and experienced. Graphic designer Magdalene Wong and TEDx speaker, as well as Experiential Design Team (EDT) co-founder and creative tech director, Fariz Hanapiah, discussed how digital innovations can translate imagination into impactful visual communication while maintaining authentic human connection.
Additionally, Taiwanese designers brought vibrancy to the salon events, offering fresh international perspectives to the discussions and collaborations. Their unique creativity and innovative ideas enriched the dialogue and fostered cross-cultural exchanges at the events.
The invited speakers were Q-LAB Architects director Borden Tseng, with architecture degrees from the United States and 14 years of study, and Local Remote founder and creative director Brian Liu, whose branding studio balances strategy and design to build culturally resonant brands.
There was also a special offer for attendees — any work could be submitted for the Golden Pin Design Award with 10 free submission codes given to lucky attendees at the event. Registration for the award is open until June 24, 2024.
Entries for commercially available products, published communication design projects, completed spatial designs, and integrated design works from designers and companies worldwide are welcome to participate. For detailed registration information, visit https://goldenpin.org.tw/goldenpin/en/participate/golden-pin-design-award, and for any award inquiries, email gpaward@tdri.org.tw.
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