On 6 September 2025, Dasein Academy of Art’s Digital Media students, Carrie Lye Xin-Yi and Hue Zhi Xuan, showcased their award-winning project, TAPTILE, at the Run for Peace 2025 event held at MAEPS Serdang. The event, organised by Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM), gathered an estimated 12,000 participants of all ages, united under the theme of promoting peace and raising awareness about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
About Run for Peace
Run for Peace is a non-competitive event that combines fitness with advocacy. Beyond the run itself, the programme highlights exhibitions and activities focused on sustainability, equality, and peace. Dasein was among the exhibitors, contributing to the conversation on accessibility and inclusivity through its student-led project.
A Project showcase by Carrie Lye Xin-Yi & Hue Zhi Xuan | TAPTILE
TAPTILE is a smart tactile paving system that helps visually impaired individuals navigate public spaces through audio feedback and uniquely shaped tile patterns. Activated by a white cane, the tiles provide real-time guidance using Arduino and Unity. A multimedia campaign supports public awareness on inclusive design.
Event Highlights
The booth attracted continuous interest, with long queues of participants eager to try the installation and experience firsthand the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. Many visitors expressed surprise at realising how little they knew about tactile paving and its daily importance for those who rely on it. The exhibition sparked meaningful conversations about the gaps in public awareness and the need for better inclusive design in urban spaces.
One of the most memorable moments was the visit from Yang Amat Mulia Paduka Putri Tunku Mariam Zaharah Binti Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, who acknowledged the students’ efforts and validated the project’s significance. Having such recognition further highlighted the importance of young designers contributing to the nation’s goals of accessibility and inclusivity.
For the students, the event served as a valuable platform to engage directly with the public and to witness how design can bridge social awareness with innovation. In Dasein Academy of Art, we strive to provide creative education in shaping future designers who not only produce aesthetic works but also respond to pressing societal needs.
The success of TAPTILE at Run for Peace 2025 demonstrates how art and design, when aligned with the SDGs to create meaningful social impact. More importantly, it showed that design, when connected to empathy and innovation, can inspire conversations that move beyond the classroom and into the community.
The project received the Gold Award 🏅 at the International Teaching Aid Competition (ITAC) 2025, a recognition of its impact as an interactive product design that addresses real-world accessibility challenges.
TAPTILE was also selected as a finalist in the Rookies Award 2025 under the Product and Industrial Design category.
