KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus continues to raise the bar for design excellence, with two of its students making waves at the prestigious Adobe Certified Professional National Championship 2025.
Competing against 1,300 participants nationwide, Emma Lee Shu Ting, a Multimedia Design student from Sarawak, secured an impressive 7th place, while Indonesian Graphic Design student Rodney Ocean Bonardy earned a spot in the Top 30 – a remarkable achievement for first-time contenders.
The competition unfolded over two challenging rounds and culminated in a grand finale that spotlighted Malaysia’s outstanding designers.
In Round 1, participants tackled the theme “Nurturing Culture, Empowering Minds”. With only one week to submit their entries, Lee and Bonardy had to balance their academic workload while crafting designs that stood out among 1,300 submissions nationwide.
Before progressing to Round 2, competitors had to prove their technical mastery by earning Adobe Certified Professional certifications, a crucial benchmark verifying that their skills met industry standards. This rigorous qualification process ensured that only the most proficient designers moved forward in the competition.
The Top 30 who earned their certifications and advanced to Round 2 faced an even tougher challenge: a live design battle at Asia Pacific University (APU) on 19 April 2025.
(From left) Rodney Ocean Bonardy, Emma Lee Shu Ting, and Eunice Law Mei Yuan at APU for the second round of the competition. (Photo credit: Eunice Law Mei Yuan)
In this second round, contenders had just eight hours to conceptualise and execute a poster based on the surprise theme “Lighting Paths, Changing Lives”. Stripped of digital aids – without internet access or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools – participants had to rely solely on their creativity, problem-solving skills, and design instincts.
“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,” shared Lee.
The competition tested not just talent but also adaptability, speed, and professionalism – key traits demanded in the real-world design industry.
“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,” emphasised the students’ lecturer, Eunice Law Mei Yuan.
The grand finale, held on 21 May 2025 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.
Eunice Law Mei Yuan (centre) along with Emma Lee Shu Ting (left), Rodney Ocean Bonardy, and their posters for the Adobe Certified Professional National Championship 2025 grand finale at the University of Cyberjaya.
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). The panel’s expertise ensured that only the most innovative and technically skilled designers rose to the top.
Beyond trophies and rankings, this experience has equipped Lee and Bonardy with something even more valuable: the resilience and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in the fast-paced creative industry.
“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, remarking, “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 ensures that what we teach in the classroom stays aligned with real-world demands.”
Swinburne Sarawak’s design programs continue to bridge classroom learning with real-world demands, equipping students with the skills needed for thriving careers and empowering them to contribute meaningfully to Sarawak’s growing creative industry.
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram page (@swinburnesarawak), X page (@Swinburne_Swk), TikTok page (@swinburnesarawak), or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).