KUCHING: Sarawak needs to focus on the design of creative products from the state to penetrate international markets.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said Sarawak’s rich culture with diversified ethnic groups is beneficial for creative design.
“Hence, today’s event, themed ‘Design For Tomorrow’, is timely and relevant to instil and promote the importance of design for business and the enrichment of creativity in society.
“Design for Tomorrow ignites the aspiration of how creative works and design can contribute to the betterment of Sarawak economy,” he said.
He was speaking during the inaugural Sarawak Design Week 2023 held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) which was officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg here today.
The four-day event is organised by SARADEC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) in collaboration with the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (MINTRED), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) and other strategic partners namely, STIDC, Sarawak Timber Association (STA), Sarawak Furniture Industries Association (SFIA), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), Kolej Komuniti Miri, Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) Commercial, and Tun Jugah Foundation.
Awang Tengah said the event is a strategic platform for designers and local producers to build and enhance Sarawak’s product image through creative design.
On a related matter, he said the establishment of SARADEC in 2021 was mooted in line with the establishment of Kursi PUSAKA at UNIMAS, with the main objective of conducting more research and development of high value-added timber products, particularly furniture.
In addition, he said it also aims to identify and select young UNIMAS graduates to become professional designers and researchers in this field.
“Since its establishment, Kursi PUSAKA has become the feeder to the Young Designers’ Programme.
“This two-year programme saw the first-year attachment of students with the industry players producing furniture, followed by an attachment with ITB for another year,” he said.
He said the Sarawak Young Designers’ Programme was further enhanced through collaboration between STIDC and Fakultas Seni Rupa dan Desain (FSRD) of ITB, a prestigious university in Indonesia that has produced many reputable designers.
“We are proud to be able to have this engagement with them. The exposure and customised curriculum developed by the FSRD ITB for this programme has benefited the young designers by giving them a great opportunity to deepen their skills and knowledge in design.
“Furthermore, the programme has produced hundreds of creative designs by the young designers, along with many prototypes,” he said.
Awang Tengah was pleased with the achievement of the programme and hoped that it would be able to produce the targeted number of 100 furniture designers by 2030.
