KUCHING: Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak’s final-year design students are showcasing their work to the public at GradX 2025, with projects ranging from animated stories to cutting-edge innovations using Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The three-day exhibition, held from June 13 to 15 at The Spring Mall, marks the first time Swinburne’s flagship final-year design showcase is being held outside its campus.
Open daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, the event features industry-ready projects from students in the School of Design and Arts, covering interactive media, branding, storytelling, animation and digital innovations involving Virtual Reality (VR) and the Internet of Things (IoT).
GradX 2025 also includes a special client project, made possible through a recommendation by Goethe-Institut Malaysia and Borneo Story Lab, highlighting the university’s growing ties with industry and cultural collaborators.
In addition to the student showcase, visitors can take part in various activities.
On the second day, the programme featured a design forum on entrepreneurship, led by senior lecturer, Greg Wee.
It was moderated by GradX coordinators, Anthea Imun Isnen and Sally Hwong Xue Qing, and drew a mix of students, faculty members and visitors from the creative industry.
Interactive workshops were also held throughout the event such as the ‘Zine Workshop’ on June 13 and a ‘Paper Vase Workshop’ on June 15.
Commenting on the event, GradX chair, Michael Lee, said the off-campus setting aimed to bring student work closer to the public.
“It’s not just an exhibition; it’s a chance for everyone to stumble upon creativity, meet our talented students, and see how design can make everyday life a bit more exciting,” he said.
Meanwhile, GradX 2025 co-chair, Jasmine Ng, described organising the showcase as both challenging and rewarding.
“Organising GradX 2025 was like curating an art gallery inside a theme park – with a mix of creativity, chaos and a whole lot of heart.
“Co-chairing this showcase was like being on a rollercoaster made of brilliant ideas, last-minute fixes, and moments that made us all proud.
“To see our students light up the mall with their ideas was worth every late-night WhatsApp and caffeine-fuelled brainstorm,” she said.
The event drew families, peers, faculty members, and members of the public.
Many stopped to interact with digital exhibits and ask students about the concepts behind their projects.
