KUCHING: Two students of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus are making waves at the prestigious Adobe Certified Professional National Championship 2025.
Emma Lee Shu Ting, a Multimedia Design student from Sarawak, placed 7th, while Indonesian Graphic Design student Rodney Ocean Bonardy secured a spot in the Top 30, an impressive debut for both.
According to the university, the competition involved two intense rounds and a grand finale, highlighting Malaysia’s top design talent.
In Round 1, with just a week to design around the theme “Nurturing Culture, Empowering Minds”, participants balanced creativity with academic duties. Only those who earned Adobe Certified Professional credentials advanced.
Round 2 was a live design battle held at Asia Pacific University (APU) on April 19. With no internet or AI tools, the Top 30 had eight hours to create a poster on the surprise theme “Lighting Paths, Changing Lives”.
“The pressure was intense, but it mirrored real client deadlines. APU’s venue added to the energy; you could feel the competition in the air,” said Lee.
Meanwhile, the students’ lecturer Eunice Law said : “This format mirrors exactly what professionals face; tight deadlines, unexpected briefs, and no room for hesitation. It’s not just about making something beautiful, it’s about delivering a strategic, impactful design under pressure.”
The grand finale, held on May 21, at the University of Cyberjaya, saw the nation’s top designers celebrated, with Lee clinching her Top 7 finish and Bonardy proudly representing Swinburne in the Top 30.
“The competition was fierce, but what set Emma and Rodney apart was their ability to translate abstract themes into visually compelling, meaningful messages.
“Emma’s Top 7 finish, in particular, showed how well she connected her design to the client’s mission, Global Peace Foundation Malaysia. Her poster wasn’t just aesthetically strong; it carried depth and purpose,” said Law.
This year’s competition was elevated by an all-star panel of judges, including Thang Wei Heng (Invictus Blue Sdn Bhd), Gorden Hiew (McCann Erikson Sdn Bhd), Jay Lim (Tsubaki Studio), Bert Monroy (Adobe Hall of Fame Designer), Jesús Ramirez (Photoshop Training Channel), and Lai Jian Yi (VaynerMedia APAC).
“Competitions like these don’t just test students; they shape them into adaptable, forward-thinking designers ready to make an impact,” said Law.
Beyond celebrating their success, she also reflected on how mentoring competitors has been a two-way learning experience.
“As an educator, guiding students through such high-stakes competitions helps me grow too. The design industry evolves rapidly, and seeing how challenges like these push students – and myself – to think sharper and adapt faster to ensure that what we teach in the classroom stays aligned with real-world demands.”
