Graphic Design student emerged victorious at the United Nations World Wildlife Day 2024 Official Poster Contest

Cheng Hui Xin

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Graphic Design and Multimedia student Cheng Hui Xin from UTAR Faculty of Creative Industries (FCI) emerged victorious at the United Nations World Wildlife Day 2024 Official Poster Contest, organised by CITES and United Nations on 5 January 2024. Her winning poster was featured on all official communications channels for World Wildlife Day 2024, including the inter alia, the WWD website, social media accounts, Trello Board media kit and print-out posters. Moreover, the poster will be livestreamed on UN WebTV at the United Nations event.

This year’s poster designs revolved around the theme "Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation”. World Wildlife Day 2024 served as a platform for fostering intergenerational exchange and empowering youth through art, presentations, and discussions for a shared sustainable future in digital wildlife conservation. WWD2024 provided its participants an opportunity to delve into current digital innovations, address intersectional challenges, and contemplate the desired evolution of digital connectivity for the well-being of people and the planet.

While the global celebration of WWD2024 is slated for 3 March 2024, the United Nations (high-level) event is scheduled to transpire on 4 March 2024, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States of America. The proceedings will be accessible to a broader audience through live streaming on the United Nations WebTV platform.

Cheng said, “My journey to winning the United Nations World Wildlife Day 2024 Official Poster Contest was ignited by Ms K. Jeevamalar. Passionate about design and art, I seized the opportunity to inspire wildlife conservation. My posters, inspired by Malaysia’s natural beauty, embody creativity with purpose. Winning this prestigious contest reflects dedication and artistic passion. This recognition by the UN extends beyond personal achievement, emphasising the global importance of wildlife conservation. Grateful for the UN platform, I’m committed to leveraging my design skills for impactful communication on meaningful causes.”

In the poster design, the merging of creativity with purpose aimed to convey the vital message of wildlife conservation. Inspired by Malaysia’s captivating natural beauty, the homeland featuring diverse wildlife like the rhinoceros, hornbill and Malayan tapir, the design incorporated various elements representing global biodiversity. Trees, sea animals, land animals, reptiles, and modern symbols such as drones, a person with a phone and GPS, and a camera trap on a tree aligned with the 2024 World Wildlife Day theme. The design underscored the importance of utilising digital tools to protect the planet’s diverse flora and fauna, blending traditional depictions of animals with contemporary ideas.

The competition poster

The winning poster