Symphony of Triumph with DOTY Awards 2022

Bold and glam, the Designer of the Year (DOTY) Awards returned for the 13th time to inspire and honour talented designers from near and far in magnificent fashion.

Brimming with a hearty dose of laughter, cheer and joy on the 27th of April 2023 was the 13th annual Designer of the Year (DOTY) Awards, celebrating the exceptional works by the absolute finest world-class designers in this competitive industry – as well as the brilliance of the designers themselves.

Cleverly themed ‘Under the Stars’ for its duality in meaning, the highly anticipated event was held for the first time at the ballroom of the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur in Bukit Bintang, courtesy of our gracious Strategic Alliance Partners: Cosentino, Super Ceramic and BEP Akitek. Making a grand return to its pre-pandemic glory days with a black tie dress code governed by shades of black and gold, the promise of glitz and glamour was upheld in spectacular fashion.

This year, the prestigious event highlighted and honoured the successes of 14 award categories, including that of esteemed guest Alexander Wong who graciously journeyed all the way from Hong Kong to receive the internationally coveted Asia’s Most Influential Designer Award, an accolade also awarded to Datuk Ar Tan Pei Ing, André Fu as well as the father-daughter duo of Tony Chi and Alison Chi.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest laurel of them all, was presented to Dato Dr Ar Ken Yeang in honour of his lifelong herculean endeavours which have contributed immeasurably to the development of the Malaysian design landscape, and that beyond its borders.

DOTY 2022 also saw the reintroduction of the Tri-Star Achievement Award, a special accolade that celebrates the achievements of outstanding designers who have been awarded a DOTY award, irrespective of category, for three years in a row. This time, it takes the tumultuous, unexpectedly drawn-out pandemic stage into account so it’s extra cheers to all who have earned this award!

On the other end of the spectrum, the Outstanding Interior Photographer Appreciation Award was launched as the latest category to be added in. This accolade recognises the efforts made by photographers in the design field who have captured stellar shots with uniquely refreshing perspectives that enhance the visual appeal of a space.

Other special awards include the Building Transformation Recognition Award, respecting the dedicated initiatives taken in building restoration and transformation of an existing building as an effort towards sustainability. The Women Empowering Designer Award is another one, honouring women’s dedication to excellence and leadership in innovation within the traditionally male-dominated design industry.

As always, the Asia’s Most Prestigious Design Award and Asia’s Most Influential Designer Award remain the most highly coveted accolades. Apart from the Rising Star Award, the Best Design award – further divided into Best Residential Design, Best Commercial Design and Best Showhouse Design – is classified under the main award categories.

Similar to the reasoning behind the birth of the Merit Residential Design Award last year, the results for the Best Commercial Design segment were extremely close among several competitors, resulting in the conception of the Merit Commercial Design Award to highlight these awardees’ excellent designs.

In line with the overall ‘Go big or go home’ feeling of the festivities, this year’s agenda goes a step further with the organisation of an award certificate ceremony for the winners of the main award categories on the following day. Antithetically titled ‘Under the Sun’, this celebration of excellence took place in the afternoon of the 28th of April 2023 at the Cosentino Showroom in Petaling Jaya.

A smart casual attire code steeped in elegant black and white – cleverly matching the Platinum Strategic Alliance Partner’s logo colours – mirrors the light and bubbly energy kept after a night of merited partying, marking a close to the event of the year.

Once again, our heartiest congratulations to all the award winners on their well-deserved accolades and good luck to all for the next round of DOTY!