Zachary Ding Tok has made Sarawak and Malaysia proud on a global scale in Vietnam under the Asia Young Designer Award with his interior design project ‘KAMEK’, which featured elements from the land he grew up in.
Incorporating culture into interior design
It is crucial to tap into Sarawakian culture and unearth its potential to create a niche identity on an international scale.
Elaborating on this sentiment, Zachary Ding Tok emphasised the importance of exposing Sarawak culture as an opportunity to uphold our roots in foreign lands.
“I’m a little ambitious, but I’d like to see Sarawak flourish in other cultures. Given that the world is still getting to know us, we must emphasise identity more,” he said.
In July, the 23-year-old interior designer won the international series of the Asia Young Designer Award (AYDA) in Vietnam.
Ding was previously crowned Asia Young Designer of the Year 2022 under the Interior Design category in Malaysia.
With that qualification, his advancement to Vietnam saw him win two different awards: Best Sustainable Award and Best Design Impact Award.
When asked how he felt about both wins, Ding expressed unexpectations.
“Furthermore, the presentation I did in Vietnam differed from the one I did at the national level AYDA. In Vietnam, I incorporated my interior design in a way that was considerate of the local culture there.”
‘KAMEK’
Ding worked meticulously to highlight Sarawak’s traditional heritage by incorporating elements of the state’s culture and tradition into his designs.
He said that his inspiration came from his university lecturer, Muzamil Mutalib, Deputy Dean of the Faculty at City University, Kuala Lumpur, who asked him to create a project focusing solely on Sarawak.
“It took me six months to complete the design. We started with the basic concept and then considered the issue and the main elements of Sarawak. My designs consist of the state’s indigenous ethnicities, including the Iban, Bidayuh, Kenyah, Penan, and Melanau,” said the Chinese-Kenyah descent.
Throughout his journey in creating ‘Kamek’, Ding revealed that there were many roadblocks that arose during the planning process.
Nevertheless Muzamil, his lecturer, had never failed to encourage him to keep going.
“He is both my pillar of support and my mentor. Whenever I think a design is good enough, he challenges me to improve on it. As a lecturer, he has taught me a lot about what needs to be done and what I need to learn,” he said.
About the Belaga native
Ding was raised in the natural surroundings of his hometown in Belaga, Kapit.
His upbringing in a tropical environment motivated him to reconnect with his roots. As a result, these elements have shaped him into the person he is today.
An interior designer by profession, he revealed that he originally wanted to be an engineer.
“The type of engineering field I wanted to pursue had something to do with the environment. I had hoped to become an environmental engineer because I had been exposed to the natural surroundings since I was young.”
Nonetheless, Ding pursued his studies at the Faculty of Architecture and Built Environment as he was told that as an architect, he could create better solutions for environmental improvement.
He is currently working as an interior designer at a firm in Kuala Lumpur and said that he intends to pursue a Master’s degree in the future.
About AYDA
The AYDA Awards (formerly known as the Asia Young Designer Awards) is part of Nippon Paint’s vision to nurture the next generation of Architectural and Interior Design talents.
It serves as a platform for students in these fields to obtain first-hand industry knowledge, personalised coaching, mentoring, and skill-building through various workshops offered by experienced lecturers and industry professionals.
This experience also provides participants with the opportunity to learn from their peers both within and across borders.
As the driving force behind AYDA, Nippon Paint Malaysia’s Assistant General Manager of Marketing, (Datin) Wong Meng Lee said that the platform is very important to Nippon Paint as it reflects its commitment to give back to society.
“Through the AYDA platform, we have fostered and propelled thousands of young design talents over the past 15 years. It has always been my aspiration to cultivate a new generation of skilled designers in Malaysia.
“I firmly believe that their application of design thinking can bring about positive transformation in our communities. By tackling societal challenges, they have the potential to enhance the overall quality of life,” she said.
As a platform, AYDA also evolves into an immersive training ground that propels participant growth and extends as a robust networking nexus.
“Aspiring student designers can benefit from hands-on workshops and coaching sessions conducted by seasoned professionals, which transcend theoretical learning and cultivate practical expertise.”
AYDA has impacted thousands of young and talented student designers over the years by providing them with various opportunities to engage with renowned speakers and key figures in the design industry.
In keeping with Nippon Paint’s vision of nurturing young design talents, AYDA has cultivated a number of successful designers.
According to Wong, the platform had sponsored two winners of the 2021 Gold Award in the Architectural and Interior Design categories, namely Dayana Aripin and Evva Lim Yee Fah, to study at Harvard University.
