Held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), the awards comprised MIFF’s flagship Furniture Design Competition (FDC) together with two exhibitor awards — the Best Presentation Award (BPA) and the Furniture Excellence Award (FEA) — recognising creative excellence among exhibitors and emerging talent at the region’s most global furniture trade show.
Since its launch in 2010, the MIFF FDC has become an important platform to uncover and nurture young designers looking to leave their mark on Malaysia’s furniture design ecosystem. The 2026 edition continued that role by encouraging collaboration within the industry while highlighting the creative spirit of design.
The awards were presented by the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Plantations and Commodities, YBhg. Dato’ Razali Mohamad, before an international audience of furniture manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, industry influencers and media.
The MIFF FDC 2026 top prize was awarded to Jessica Antonius from Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) for her design ROEL, earning RM5,000.
Doo Jade Qi of the Malaysian Institute of Art secured second place and RM3,000 for GLORB.
While Teh Jian Yin from The One Academy Penang won the RM2,000 third prize for REKA REKA SERIES.
Prathiin Saravanamuthu of Universiti Sains Malaysia received a Special Mention Award for STACKABLOCK.
This year’s competition challenged designers under the age of 40 to create bedroom furniture for children aged five to nine years that balances imagination with practicality. With the theme “Playful. Practical. Purposeful: Furniture for Generation Alpha”, participants were tasked with designing furniture that blends functionality with creativity for Generation Alpha and their millennial parents.
Ten finalists were selected from an initial pool of 20 by a regional judging panel led by Dr Eric Leong. For the first time, the final results also incorporated on-site and social media public votes to determine the three main winners. Designs were evaluated based on creativity, functionality, ergonomics, safety, sustainability and presentation.
In total, the competition received 138 entries from 37 design institutions and private firms.
The Best Mentor Award, worth RM2,000, went to Ooi Aik Khong from Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), marking his second win after receiving the award in 2021. APU also claimed the Best Institution Award for the second consecutive year.
Among exhibitors, Chuanheng Furniture Products Sdn Bhd won the MIFF 2026 Best Presentation Award for booth design, creativity, construction and presentation. Foshan Linsy Home Co., Ltd. placed second while Zhin Sheng Furniture Sdn Bhd finished third. ELK-Desa Furniture Products Sdn Bhd received the Informa Better Stands Award, while xOrdinary earned a Special Mention, with chief judge Enrico Cleva of EC & CO, Italy, commending the entries.
In the Furniture Excellence Award category, the Platinum Award went to Eastern Decorator Sdn Bhd. Luxury Sleep Products Sdn Bhd received the Gold Award, while Instyle Sofa Sdn Bhd took the Silver Award. Judges’ Commendation Awards in the Household and Office categories were presented to Best-Beteck Furniture Sdn Bhd and Heshan Zonman Furniture Limited, respectively. The category was judged by a panel led by Zilahi Imre of Fast Forward Editorial SRL, Romania.
“My heartiest congratulations to our winners for their outstanding concepts and execution. It bodes well for the industry that we have such inspired designers committed to design excellence and innovation, which complements the overall creations and creativity that are a trademark of MIFF exhibitors and manufacturers, ” said MIFF General Manager Kelie Lim
“MIFF has been at the forefront of ensuring the sustainable growth of Malaysian furniture for more than 30 years, and we will continue to nurture more emerging talent to ensure there is no lack of exceptional designers bold enough to envision a brighter future for the industry.”
The MIFF awards continue to highlight original design-oriented products that help promote the domestic furniture industry globally while encouraging the creation of quality furniture with a distinctive Malaysian identity.
Now in its 32nd edition, MIFF 2026, held from 4–7 March, took place across two venues — MITEC and the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) — under its signature “1 Fair, 2 Venues, 17 Halls” concept. The event spanned 100,000 square metres of exhibition space, bringing together nearly 700 exhibitors and 20,000 buyers from 140 countries and regions.
