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.
Dasein Academy of Art is proud to announce another remarkable achievement by our Digital Media students, Amelia Chong Tsui Tong and Carrie Lye Xin-Yi, who clinched 1st Place in the Terang 2025 Projection Mapping Competition with their winning work, L.AI SYOK ல.
Every year, our students actively participate in projection mapping competitions, particularly Terang, organised by Filamen. Back in Terang 2023, we also brought home the champion title. This year, we returned to the competition with the same determination, and succeeded once again.
The theme for 2025 is Rojak, a concept deeply rooted in Malaysian culture that symbolises diversity, mixing, and the blending of different identities. Participants were challenged to interpret Rojak not only in its literal meaning, but also in relation to Malaysian society and its future.
Amelia and Carrie responded with L.AI SYOK ல, a creative fusion of languages, ideas, and technology. The title plays on the familiar Malaysian phrase Lai Syok Lah, while embedding multiple layers of meaning:
L.AI – Suggests the Chinese word “Lai” (meaning “come”) and subtly hints at AI (Artificial Intelligence).
Syok – A Malay slang word meaning “fun” or “enjoyable”.
ல – The Tamil script for “la”, representing the colloquial Malaysian ending “lah” and reflecting the multicultural spirit of the theme.
Through vibrant visuals, cultural symbolism, and their Motion Design skills, their work captured the essence of Rojak.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Lecturer Wong Si Ying for her guidance and support throughout the project. Her expertise and mentorship played a vital role in helping the students refine their concept, execution, and presentation to meet professional standards.
Fun fact: Si Ying is also a multiple-award winner of projection mapping competitions, recognised for her skills in motion graphics design. A true legend, like the Penang Char Keow Teow!
A plate of the legendary Penang Char Keow Teow, topped with a duck egg.
We were honoured to have professional artist judges from various countries, including Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, China, and Malaysia to evaluate their work.
We are immensely proud of their hard work, creativity, and ability to merge storytelling with technical mastery. This achievement not only celebrates their individual talent, but also reflects the dedication of our Digital Media programme to fostering innovation in the creative arts.
Congratulations to everyone, and once again to Amelia Chong and Carrie Lye for making Dasein Academy of Art proud!
Mah Meri: The Spirit Within is a projection mapping installation and motion graphic project by Digital Media final-year student and alumna, Amelia Chong Tsui Tong. The project aims to raise awareness about the rich cultural heritage of the Mah Meri tribe—one of Malaysia’s Indigenous communities that remains relatively unknown to many.
By combining modern technology with engaging motion graphics, the installation seeks to educate the public on the importance of preserving Orang Asli culture and traditions in Malaysia.
A big thank you to GreenRoom for inviting Dasein Academy of Art to take part in this vibrant event, showcasing our students’ installation works alongside Fine Art Programme students and alumni.
We are also grateful to the organising team and crew for their support throughout the event. It was a truly meaningful experience to present our work in such an inspiring space filled with positive energy, creativity, and art.
Every year, it’s a tradition for the Digital Media programme to organise a team building camp during the semester break. The goal is simple: to give students a chance to step away from their usual routine, recharge, and build stronger bonds through shared challenges and experiences.
Video shot by: Wong Xing Kai Video edited by: Ivan Lay Jiun Yu
Each year, we explore a different theme and location. For 2025, we went all-in with a full outdoor camping experience. This year’s camp was designed to train students’ resilience — physically and mentally. From enduring the heat, cooking their own meals, designing recipes, learning basic survival skills, to staying creative under pressure, students were pushed out of their comfort zones.
Throughout the camp, teams took on various tasks that tested their problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity, all in a fun, competitive spirit.
We would like to thank Cowboy Campout (Hulu Yam Lama) for hosting us and providing a wonderful experience. The venue offered excellent and well-equipped facilities, making it the perfect place to create unforgettable memories.
How can design and technology help us fight climate change? At Dasein Academy of Art, students explored this question through MADSCAPE, an interactive exhibition featuring over 10 digital media installations. Centred on SDG 13: Climate Action, the exhibition turned our campus into an immersive space filled with ideas for a greener future.
Through projects like Taste of Tomorrow, Coral Vanish, GreenCook, Roots of Life, and Evergreen Garden, students addressed the environmental impact of everyday habits—from food delivery and sunscreen use to burial practices. Each project used digital tools like projection mapping, motion sensors, and interactive storytelling to spark awareness and solutions.
The goal was simple: to show how small changes in our daily choices can make a big difference for the planet. By combining art, design and technology, MADSCAPE invited us to imagine what a better future could look like, starting now.
What made the exhibition especially engaging was its use of interactive storytelling and digital tools. Technologies such as Unity, Arduino, and motion sensors were used to create immersive experiences, allowing users to make choices, trigger animations, and see the consequences of their actions in real time. This hands-on approach helped communicate the urgency of climate issues in a way that feels personal and accessible.
Check out a few of the project video here.
Cycle of Life | Interactive Motion Graphics by Gan Ai Xin
Cycle of Life is an interactive installation that promotes tree burial as a sustainable and emotionally meaningful alternative to traditional burial methods. Through motion graphics and a life-sized interactive tree, the project explores environmental impact and personal stories, encouraging reflection on life, loss, and renewal through nature’s cycle.
Madscape | Website Design by Jovanna Chuah
A website developed to promote the MADSCAPE exhibition, featuring animations that present information with strong visual aesthetics.
Mangrove Miracles | Interactive Motion Graphics by Kwan Xi Mun
Mangrove Miracles is an interactive animated learning book designed to raise awareness about the environmental importance of mangroves. Using storytelling and visuals, it educates the public on how mangroves protect ecosystems and combat climate change, while promoting conservation through engaging, hands-on interaction.
Nature’s Carbon Vault is an interactive installation that educates users on the critical role of mangroves in carbon storage and climate action. Through a hands-on boat journey and animated scenes, the project challenges misconceptions about mangroves and highlights the environmental impact of urbanisation, agriculture, and deforestation.
Stir The Warmth | Interactive Multimedia by Kelvin Lee Zheng Hou
Stir the Warmth is an interactive cooking game designed to encourage home cooking and reduce reliance on food delivery by teaching users about ingredients and simple recipes. Using hand-tracking sensors and gamified interaction, it promotes healthier eating habits and climate-conscious choices through fun, accessible learning.
Sunblocked Reefs | Interactive Motion Graphics by Lim Hui Hui
Sunblocked Reefs is an interactive animation that highlights how common sunscreen ingredients harm coral reefs. By letting users make story-based choices from the perspective of either a human or a coral, the project raises awareness about the environmental impact of beauty products and promotes eco-friendly alternatives.
Evergreen Sanctuary | Interactive Multimedia by Chong Huey Chee
Evergreen Sanctuary is a multimedia installation that promotes an eco-friendly alternative to cremation by transforming ashes into living trees. Through an interactive experience using tablets and projection, the project educates users on how loss can be turned into a meaningful act of environmental healing, encouraging sustainable memorial practices.
