FCI student and lecturer win awards at 7th Stellar Prize

UTAR’s Department of Multimedia Design and Animation (DMDA), under the Faculty of Creative Industries (FCI), proudly celebrated a significant achievement on 16 May 2025 when both a student and a lecturer won top awards at the 7th Stellar Prize, a prestigious national university arts competition organised by Xiamen University Malaysia School of Communication.

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Graphic Design and Multimedia student Tan Pei Xin clinched the Best Design Award at this year’s competition. Before securing the top prize, she had been shortlisted as a Top 5 finalist in both the Best Design Artwork and Most Popular Design categories, an impressive testament to her creativity and design skills. As the Best Design Award winner, Tan received a trophy, a certificate of achievement, and a cash prize of RM200 in recognition of her outstanding design work.

Expressing her joy and gratitude for the recognition, Tan said, “Winning an award at the 7th Stellar Prize means a great deal to me. ‘The Prism Universe’ was inspired by the idea of a glowing prism acting as a portal to a vibrant, futuristic world filled with life and transformation. I’m truly grateful to my lecturer, Ms K. Jeevamalar, my parents, and the judges for their kind support throughout this journey.”

In addition to Tan’s achievement, FCI lecturer Ms Jeevamalar Kumarasamy was awarded the Best Design Advisor Award. This accolade recognises lecturers who provide exceptional mentorship to their students, with the selection based on the number of student submissions, nominations, and winners under their supervision. Only one advisor per category is selected for this distinction.

Held annually, the Stellar Prize is a highly regarded competition that provides a national platform for students to showcase their creativity in various categories including Photography, Videography, Design, and Writing & Publishing. This year’s edition was especially notable for its expanded participation across a broader range of institutions, allowing for greater diversity and creative exchange. The addition of the Best Advisor Award category this year also highlights the vital role that lecturers and mentors play in nurturing young talents.

These wins not only reflect the creativity and talent of UTAR students and staff but also reinforce DMDA’s commitment to producing industry-ready graduates with strong creative and design capabilities. Congratulations to Tan and Ms Jeevamalar Kumarasamy on their well-deserved success!