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The One Academy's Hall of Fame 2026 brought together students, lecturers, alumni and industry guests for an inspiring celebration of creativity, innovation and artistic achievement. This year's event highlighted the exceptional talent and dedication of students across diverse creative disciplines. The event featured an impressive exhibition showcase, transforming the venue into a vibrant gallery of outstanding student work. From graphic design and illustration to animation, digital media, interior architecture, and other creative fields, visitors explored projects that reflected months of research, experimentation and craftsmanship. Each exhibit demonstrated not only technical excellence but also the originality and passion that define our creative community. The highlight of the evening was the prestigious Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony, where outstanding student projects across all majors were recognised for their excellence in concept, execution and innovation. As recipients took to the stage, the ceremony served as both a recognition of their achievements and an inspiration for aspiring creatives, exemplifying the academy's commitment to nurturing creative thinkers and future industry leaders. The event kept the audience on the edge of their seats as the winners were announced. The Best of the Best Idea award was presented to ‘Briefly Speaking’ by Hii Xin Hui in the Self-Promotion category, while the Best of the Best Craft award went to ‘The Last Alkonost’ in the Animated Short Film category. Adding to the celebratory atmosphere, members of the Music Club delivered a series of live performances that energized the audience throughout the evening. Their performances created memorable moments between award presentations and exhibition visits, showcasing another dimension of the academy's vibrant student culture. More than an awards presentation, Hall of Fame 2026 served as a platform to celebrate the creative journey of every student. It reflected the countless hours of dedication, collaboration, and perseverance invested in bringing ideas to life while providing opportunities for meaningful connections between students, educators, alumni and industry professionals. As the event concluded, Hall of Fame 2026 reaffirmed The One Academy's commitment to fostering creative excellence and empowering the next generation of designers, artists and innovators. The remarkable works on display and the achievements celebrated throughout the evening stand as a testament to the academy's vision of inspiring creativity that makes a lasting impact.

The London-based D&AD Awards are widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious accolades in advertising and graphic design. In the winners’ announcement on 30 June 2026, only two submissions from Malaysia received awards in this highly competitive international competition. A team of four students from the Diploma in Visual Communication Design programme – Sun Jia Yang, Amy Ding Zi Yi, Arviola Poa and Puteri Nur Mysarah Iskandar – won one of the most prestigious honours, the “Wood Pencil”, at the international D&AD New Blood Awards. The award recognises outstanding work by students and emerging creatives in design, advertising, illustration, animation, digital, branding, product design, and related creative disciplines. This latest achievement marks another milestone for The One Academy, bringing a total of eight awards won in the five years we have participated in the D&AD New Blood Awards, underscoring our academy’s consistent success on the international creative stage. Participating in the competition was both an exciting and meaningful experience for the team. The journey was far from easy, as many of their proposed ideas were rejected during critique sessions with their lecturers. “However, thanks to the guidance of our lecturers and our team’s determination to never give up, we eventually brought home the Wood Pencil. Winning this award made me realise that all the hard work, rejection and constant refinement were worth it,” said Sun. Their winning submission, “Send Me Shifts”, was awarded as one of the best works of the year in its category. The team responded to a creative brief by giffgaff and The Big Issue to develop a solution addressing how mobile connectivity and data can be used as a force for social good to support people experiencing digital exclusion. Participants were challenged to create innovative ideas that help disadvantaged people access opportunities while using connectivity as a tool for education, employment and financial inclusion. “Our idea is simple but powerful. There are around one million NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) in the UK. At the same time, many gig job opportunities are available online. Through our research, we discovered that some people owned smartphones but couldn't afford mobile data. So, we came up with a tagged SIM card that delivers gig job opportunities via SMS without requiring mobile data or Wi-Fi,” Sun explained. Reflecting on their experience, the team shared that The One Academy has trained them to think more critically and empathetically as designers. They learned to prioritise solving real problems over creating work that merely looks visually appealing, and to let go of ideas they personally favoured if those ideas did not effectively address the client's objectives. “If you put in the effort, do proper research, stay curious, and never give up, you’ll eventually develop ideas that genuinely solve problems. A great idea is important, but strong execution is what brings that idea to life. Don't be afraid to experiment, learn new techniques, enjoy the learning process, and keep improving with every project,” he concluded.

The nation’s largest secondary school art competition, the Malaysia Top 10 Outstanding Young Artists Awards (MT10), has made a comeback – bigger and bolder than ever! Offering lucrative scholarships from The One Academy and cash prizes, this highly anticipated annual competition attracts thousands of aspiring young artists eager to showcase their talents and compete among their creative peers. Now in its 29th year, MT10 once again collaborated with The Walt Disney Company, featuring Disney•Pixar's Toy Story 5 as this year's competition theme. The drawing prompt, "A Toy's Promise," invited participants to revisit their childhood and illustrate the role toys have played in their journey of growing up, as well as the cherished memories they share. Through their artwork, contestants explored the unseen bond between a toy and its owner. Held from May onwards, this national-level drawing competition, open to secondary school students aged 14 to 18, was conducted across 13 locations in eight states. The competition culminated in the Grand Finale and Awards Ceremony on 26 July at The One Academy's main campus in Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya. For nearly three decades, MT10 has served as a launchpad for aspiring creatives, empowering young talents to pursue their artistic dreams. Since its inception, the competition has awarded more than RM21.7 million in scholarships and cash prizes to outstanding students nationwide. The prestigious "Best of the Best" Gold Award was presented to Lim Hong Ze from Johor, who took home a RM90,000 scholarship from The One Academy and a RM3,000 cash prize. The Silver Award went to Chong Zi Xuan from Perak, who received a RM70,000 scholarship and a RM2,000 cash prize, while the Bronze Award was presented to Law Sin Yow from Kuala Lumpur, who was awarded a RM50,000 scholarship and a RM1,000 cash prize. The 10 Young Artists Awards winners were Zeti Nurhumaira Harumi binti Mohamad Zulkeflee (Melaka), Liew Chui Ying (Johor), Janice Sim Yan Sze (Johor), Chong Kai En (Perak), Aqilah binti Zulkarnain (Sabah), Siew Hou Yim (Johor), Keira Chan Ik Xin (Sarawak), Liew Jae Ning (Selangor), Serenne Chan Su Xin (Johor), and Khor Ruyvi (Penang). Each of them received a RM30,000 scholarship from The One Academy and a RM500 cash prize in recognition of their achievement. The recipients of the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Top 10 Young Artists awards also received exclusive Toy Story 5 merchandise. Beyond the top awards, another 27 participants walked away with the Encouragement Prize, each receiving a RM8,000 scholarship, while 50 participants were presented with the Jury's Special Selection Prize, each awarded a RM5,000 scholarship. Students, families and teachers also immersed themselves in the Creative Art Exploration at The One Academy’s Bandar Sunway campus, where they explored the vibrant learning environment, inspiring student artworks, interactive installations, 3D animation showcases, live digital art demonstrations, fashion showcases, fine art exhibitions, creative seminars, and much more.

ESMOD Kuala Lumpur is collaborating with Nuwa Pierre, a luxury jade jewellery brand, on an exciting jewellery design project tailored for the Malaysian market. During a workshop conducted by the brand's representatives on campus, students were introduced to the fascinating world of jade, exploring its cultural significance, the characteristics of its two main varieties – jadeite and nephrite – and their applications in contemporary jewellery design. To inspire the creative process, students had the rare opportunity to examine an exclusive selection of jade samples up close, ranging from raw stones to exquisitely polished pieces, including a remarkable jade specimen valued at USD10,000. This hands-on experience allowed them to appreciate the material's natural beauty, craftsmanship and design potential. As part of the upcoming semester's industry project, Nuwa Pierre will provide authentic jade materials for Year 3 students to conceptualise, design and create original jewellery and accessories. Selected designs will be professionally produced and may be commercialised, giving students invaluable exposure to the complete design journey – from concept development and material exploration to production and the marketplace. By collaborating directly with an established luxury jewellery brand, students gain first-hand insight into industry expectations while developing designs that balance creativity, craftsmanship and commercial viability. This partnership exemplifies ESMOD Kuala Lumpur's commitment to bridging creative education with professional practice, empowering students with authentic industry experience before they graduate.

The HONOR Talents Global Design Awards is a competition that focuses on art design, experiential product design, and new forms of design expression. It aims to nurture creative talent while bringing innovative design ideas closer to real-world applications, serving as a global platform for young creators and showcasing how art and technology can blend seamlessly. The 2025 edition attracted 978 submissions from students and independent designers across Southeast Asia. From this highly competitive pool, 33 talented artists from Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia were named winners, with the results announced between January 12 and 31, 2026. Among the many impressive participants, eight of our students emerged as winners, demonstrating the strength of their creativity and design thinking on an international stage. Ch’ng Jie Xun won the Grand Prize for her work, ‘Glitches of the Rainforest’, receiving an HONOR Magic8 Pro smartphone. Second Prize winners Natania Joylynn Wu, Chow Wen Xuen, and Lam Xin Qi were each awarded an HONOR 400 Pro smartphone for their respective works – ‘The Beautiful Indonesia’, ‘Thundering Drums, Leaping Lions’, and ‘Rhythm of Roots’. Ng Ying Hui received the Third Prize for ‘夜影・自映’ (Night Shadows • Self-Reflection). earning an HONOR Pad V9. Meanwhile, the Special Award (Judges’ Choice Award) recipients – Abhay Singh Manhas, Sia Xing En, and Liz Yee Tian Yen – were each presented with an HONOR Watch 5 for their works ‘Solaris Ark’, ‘Pond of Renewal’, and ‘Solar Panels in Artic’. Participants explored four key conceptual directions: Cultural Prosperity, Renewal of Life, Genesis, and Youth Convergence, submitting works across multiple categories including themes, watches, HONOR Pad creations, accessories, and art & technology. Winning the HONOR Talents Global Design Awards offers far more than recognition. Award recipients gain valuable opportunities that can help shape their creative careers – having their works developed into actual HONOR products, international exhibition exposure, meaningful industry exchange through the HONOR Talents “Youth Empowerment” training camp, and rare opportunities to interact with leading voices in the international design industry. These achievements reflect not only the students’ creativity and dedication, but also the spirit of innovation that the platform champions – where art and technology come together to shape meaningful and inspiring possibilities for the future. These young creators represent the next generation of designers who will transform ideas into experiences and imagination into innovation.

The Malaysia Interior Designers Association (MIID), the representative body of Malaysia’s interior design industry, has announced the winners of the MIID REKA Awards 2025. Held in conjunction with the MIID Annual Ball & Awards Night 2025, it celebrates excellence across the profession, including the highly anticipated Student Works Category. This prestigious category recognises promising interior design students who demonstrate exceptional creativity, innovation, and design competence, highlighting the next generation of industry talent. Participating students were required to submit interior design projects developed as part of their academic coursework. Entries were evaluated based on concept and originality, spatial planning, material and finishes selection, and overall presentation. The judging panel, nominated and approved by the MIID Council, consists of established design professionals and industry leaders from the fields of interior architecture and related disciplines. The One Academy’s degree and diploma students from the School of Interior Architecture and Design emerged as winners. Students Geng Li Yuan and Lee Ruo Ling secured the Silver and Bronze Awards, respectively, while Wong Jie Ming received the Honorable Mention Award. Silver Award winner Geng Li Yuan’s project, ‘From Bean To Cup’, is a thoughtfully designed community-based hotel concept that seamlessly blends the art of coffee-making with hospitality. Rooted in the idea that coffee brings people together through shared warmth and connection, the project translates this concept into an immersive spatial journey. The design itself was a masterpiece, combining warm tones with exquisite patterns elegantly expressed through tiles, upholstery, and drapery. Consisting of a deluxe loft suite design, all-day dining area, coffee bar and a rooftop community area, Geng successfully created a cohesive and continuous design narrative, resulting in a truly remarkable and memorable project. Lee Ruo Ling, however, secured the Bronze Award with her project, ‘Rimba di Kota’. The project is a Journal Hotel design that blends ecological awareness with local culture and city life. Responding to wildlife such as monkeys and civets that often wander into dense city areas, the project introduces a Ceiling-Top Animal Tunnel System to allow safe wildlife movement, alongside a Water Pipe Ceiling Cooling System for passive ventilation. This project made a strong statement about humanity living in harmony with wildlife, blending luxury with nature. Lee created a space that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also deeply meaningful and purposeful in its design. When asked about the process behind her concept, Lee shared, “The lecturers at The One Academy consistently encouraged exploration while also challenging me to justify my decisions. That balance between freedom and discipline guided me.” Lastly, Wong Jie Ming’s ‘Echoes in the Ruin’ won the Honorable Mention Award. The project fuses mountain gear with analog acoustics, creating a sensory experience rooted in nature. Set deep within a dense forest, the modern structure, built with stone, concrete, and industrial-inspired finishes, reflects raw natural beauty. The grey walls and restrained material palette represent mountains, allowing the architecture to seamlessly integrate with nature. Wong’s design celebrated the quiet, meditative art of the natural landscape. “I am truly grateful to have received this award. One of the most valuable aspects of this experience was attending the event, meeting industry professionals from various firms, and connecting with myself as a designer throughout the entire process,” said Wong. Impressing industry professionals with fresh, innovative ideas is a significant achievement for young, aspiring interior design students. These awards help elevate their portfolios and strengthen their professional credibility. Platforms such as the MIID Reka Awards provide talented students with valuable opportunities to showcase their work, connect with industry professionals, and gain recognition in a space filled with leading designers and companies.

On 6 February 2026, ESMOD Kuala Lumpur hosted a distinguished Fashion Awards Ceremony at The One Academy, honouring the best-performing students from the graduating class of 2025. The event brought together faculty members, industry guests, and proud families to celebrate the remarkable achievements of two dynamic batches – FD2203 “MiRAGE” and FD2209 “Breaking the 4th Wall”. A total of 10 awards were presented, recognising excellence in design, innovation, craftsmanship, and creative vision. Each accolade reflected ESMOD’s commitment to nurturing technically skilled, conceptually strong, and industry-ready fashion designers. From batch FD2203, three outstanding graduates were recognised for their exceptional work: Ling Yi Chien received Best Fashion Design for her designer sportswear collection, “Neo-Retro”. Ananda Paramitha Saputra was awarded Best Pattern Making for the ready-to-wear collection “Emotional Scars”, while Jeff Lee Terk Chwen earned the ‘Coup de Coeur’ award for his designer collection “Turmoil”. Batch FD2209 demonstrated equal brilliance, with multiple designers earning top accolades: Christine Liew Wei Ee won Best Ready-to-Wear for “Armageddon”, Shey Wan Xuan received the Kuala Lumpur ‘Coup de Coeur’ for “Trihouse”, and Davemond Ng Jia Le was presented the Paris ‘Coup de Coeur’ for “Mirage d’élégance”. Lim Yu Jie achieved a double win with Best Innovation and Best Editorial for “Light, Space, & Everything In Between”. Kelly Woo Si Hui also secured two major accolades – Best Pattern Making and the highly coveted Golden Needle Award – for her collection “Keepsakes”. The Golden Needle Award, the ceremony’s most prestigious honour, is symbolised by a pure gold needle crafted into a necklace. It is bestowed upon the most exemplary student in recognition of consistent excellence and outstanding achievement throughout their studies at ESMOD Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, the ‘Coup de Coeur’ award – equivalent to a Jury’s Choice Award – celebrates innovation and creativity that transcend conventional categories. It is presented when a collection is exceptional in more than one area, or in a way that defies easy definition, embodying originality and artistic distinction. The awards were presented by Paul Marchand, ESMOD International’s Head of Curriculum Coordination for Fashion Design/Fashion Business; Tatsun Hoi, Founder and Principal of The One Academy; and Jimmy Tan, Group Executive Director of The One Academy. As the evening concluded, the ceremony stood as a testament to the talent, discipline, and creative courage of the Class of 2025. Through “MiRAGE” and “Breaking the 4th Wall”, these emerging designers not only completed their academic journey but also marked the beginning of promising careers in the global fashion arena.

The Kancil Awards are Malaysia’s most prestigious and long-established awards for creative excellence honouring outstanding work across advertising, design, digital, film, craft, strategy, and creative innovation. This year’s awards ceremony was held on 28 November at Ex8, Subang Jaya. The Student Kancil x sCooler Awards are the student division of the Kancil Awards, offering driven young creatives the opportunity to submit their work to be assessed by industry professionals and compete for highly regarded accolades. Entries are judged by luminaries from the Malaysian advertising industry, including group heads and creative directors, based on the creative skill, talent, and artistry demonstrated in bringing ideas to life. This year, The One Academy swept an impressive 64 awards, emerging as one of the top winners of the night with 11 Golds, 12 Silvers, 24 Bronzes, and 17 Merits. Making the achievement even more remarkable, we also took home several of the most coveted Grand Prix-level honours: Idea of the Year, Student of the Year, and Creative School of the Year. The Creative School of the Year award honours the institution whose students collectively achieved the highest level of creative excellence. This marks The One Academy’s sixth consecutive year receiving the title. It is the highest honour that recognises schools that demonstrate strong overall performance in terms of awards won, high standards of teaching, and creative culture, as well as a proven ability to nurture industry-ready creative talent. The Student of the Year award recognises the student whose overall creative achievements stand out above all others, demonstrating exceptional skill, creativity, innovation, and execution across multiple award categories. This year, the honour was awarded to Woo Yen Qin, an Advertising & Graphic Design student. “My learning experience at The One Academy really shaped the way I think about design. I began to consider more about how others see my work, how they understand it, and whether it is meaningful to them. It helped me create designs that communicate better and have real value, not just good visuals,” said Yen Qin. She also credited her lecturers for their encouragement and motivation, pushing her to continuously achieve better results. The Idea of the Year award was clinched by Karma HP, a group project that Yen Qin was also part of. It addresses the issue of cyberbullying in online games, proposing an innovative solution to curb toxic behaviour by slashing a player’s HP when they are detected insulting other players in-game. “This outstanding achievement reflects our enduring commitment to student excellence and uncompromising educational standards, upheld through our core teaching philosophy of “Masters Train Masters,” in the mission to produce exceptional creative talent across Malaysia.

One of Malaysia’s top art and design colleges, The One Academy has once again put Malaysia on the world map with its outstanding achievements in the 2025 Rookies Global School Rankings – a global platform that celebrates creativity across fields such as games, animation, visual effects, immersive media, graphic design, motion graphics, and architectural visualisation. Recognised as the ultimate benchmark for creative excellence, the rankings spotlight the very best in creative education worldwide This year, the competition received 6,577 entries from 486 schools across 104 countries, reviewed by 132 renowned creative professionals. Outshining creative powerhouses from the United States, Spain, and Germany, The One Academy achieved outstanding placements across multiple categories. We ranked the World’s No. 1 for Graphic Design, No. 1 for Immersive Media, No. 1 for Web & App Design, Top 2 for Concept Art, Top 3 for Product and industrial Design, Top 5 for Motion Graphics, Top 7 for 2D Animation, and Top 9 for Architectural Visualisation. To ensure the legitimacy of these prestigious titles, the school’s overall standing is also determined by calculating the median student score. Bonus points are granted to students designated as finalists, highly commended, runners-up, or winners in each category. Our students took centre stage with several individual award wins for their incredible projects. The Rookie of the Year title for Web & App Design was awarded to Tan Ning while Yap Li Wen won the Runner-Up title. Four students garnered the People’s Choice award – Nigel Phang for Web & App Design, Angelina Vivian Kay for Immersive Media, Yow Xing Tong for Graphic Design, and Teow Rui Qian for Concept Art. For Game of the Year, Gavin Gan Zi Yang earned Runner-Up title for Immersive Media. “One key reminder from my lecturer was to ‘do good projects’. This mindset pushed me to look for real problems and not just design something that looks nice. It helped me think about the people I am designing for,” said Tan Ning when asked what led to her huge win. Lastly, the Career Opportunities Award (sponsored by PlaySide Studios) in the Concept Art category was awarded to Tan Mei Shan. This special award goes beyond creative excellence, it recognises one talented participant who can effectively position themselves in a real-world career setting. As part of the award, she will be given a four-week paid onsite internship with PlaySide Studios, an Australian video game developer and publisher. When asked what the award meant to her, Tan Mei Shan shared, “This award gave me more confidence to keep creating. It feels like a sign telling me that I’m on the right path. I hope to carry this motivation forward.” It takes confidence to submit students’ creative artworks internationally to be evaluated. Our achievements in the 2025 Rookies Global School Rankings and recognition as the top creative school highlights our commitment to student success. By taking part in competitions like this, it not only solidifies the college’s position among industry giants but gives our students the confidence and reassurance they deserve for their exceptional skills.

Based in London, UK, the D&AD Awards is known for being one of the world’s most prestigious advertising awards. We are proud to share that our students have earned a place among this year’s honourees in the D&AD Awards 2025. Since 1962, the Design and Art Direction Awards gather the world’s best creative work from across the commercial design, advertising and craft disciplines to be judged by a cohort of over 300 of the world’s leading creative minds. The Visual Communication Design students from The One Academy won the Graphite Pencil (Silver Award) in the New Blood student category for stand-out work that rises above the rest. With nearly 6,000 entrants from 65 countries and more than 3,000 submissions, securing this Pencil required not only hard work but an exceptional level of creativity and strategic thinking. Covering a wide range of disciplines including UX/UI, animation, advertising, typography and experiential, the briefs were designed to provide new talent with the experience of working on client briefs. Students had to not only deliver stunning visuals but crafting ideas that communicate powerfully and resonate with audiences. Entering the competition as a team project, students Amber Cheow Wei Sum, Natalia Voloshanovskaia, Tam Zhe Zheng, Yu Yihan and Yong Xiao Jing took home the Graphite Pencil for their standout and impactful campaign, ‘Heaven & Hellmann’s’. “Our idea was based on a wordplay from the brand name, Hellmann’s. Since labelling something as ‘heavenly’ signifies high praise, we thought it would be fitting to use this theme as a way to highlight the brand’s extraordinary quality,” the team shared when speaking about their award-winning concept. The students developed a clever and memorable campaign that played with the iconic mayonnaise brand’s name by using wordplay and a fresh creative angle to show how just one bottle of Hellmann’s can elevate an entire dining experience. It was a smart way to position the brand as the ultimate flavour enhancer that transforms ordinary meals into heavenly experiences. More than attractive visual and copywriting, the campaign also introduced the “Singing Bottle”, a limited-edition Hellmann’s bottle that sings when squeezed. The highlight of this concept is its interactive feature, which allows consumers to choose the heavenly hymn they want their bottle to sing with the Hellmann’s app. It was a well-thought-out creative campaign that not only entertained, but effectively encouraged consumers to download the app, engage with the brand, and keep using it.