Raffles University Hosts International Poster Exhibition in Johor, Malaysia

Raffles University brought international design excellence to Johor by hosting the 3rd Asian City Culture International Poster Exhibition and Belt and Road International Urban Intangible Cultural Heritage Digital Art and Design Exhibition.

The exhibition featured 240 selected works from 5,236 international entries, representing 16 countries and regions.

Held from 12 to 13 October 2026, the event took place at the Faculty of Arts and Design (ADE) Open Studio (Level 2) in Iskandar Puteri, Johor. It celebrated the intersection of cultural heritage, visual storytelling and contemporary design. The event also provided a platform for international artistic exchange in southern Malaysia.

Raffles University was selected as an official partner university in Malaysia, alongside UCSI University, for the 2026 Beijing Design Week Design Journey Programme. This recognition further strengthened the University’s role in connecting regional design education with the international creative community.

Global Design, Local Impact

This year’s theme, “Silk Road Symbiosis · Renewing Intangible Cultural Heritage,” explored how traditional cultural expressions can be reimagined through contemporary design.

The exhibition brought together creative talent from 16 countries and regions, including Malaysia, Singapore, China, Thailand, Indonesia, India, the UK and the USA. Through their works, participating designers explored the relationship between cultural identity, traditional crafts and digital art.

The selected works focused on three major creative themes:

• Visual Design of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Belt and Road International Cities

• Urban Culture of Northeast China

• Celebrating the 65th Anniversary of China–Laos Diplomatic Relations

Academic Insights and International Exchange

The opening ceremony on 12 October welcomed visiting scholars, creative practitioners and faculty members. It provided opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing and international academic exchange.

One of the highlights was a special lecture by Associate Professor Miao Ping from the School of Humanities, Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts (Dalian).

Titled “Narrative and Expression in the Asian City Culture and Creative Competition,” the lecture explored international competition standards, visual communication strategies and narrative-driven design. It also offered valuable perspectives on how cultural stories can be communicated through visual design.

Connecting International Design Perspectives with Education in Johor

For students pursuing creative disciplines, the exhibition offered an opportunity to discover different approaches to visual storytelling, cultural interpretation and contemporary design.

These perspectives are particularly relevant to programmes offered by Raffles University’s Faculty of Arts and Design in Iskandar Puteri, Johor. They include the Bachelor in Graphic Design (Honours) and Bachelor in Multimedia Design (Honours).

Through these programmes, students develop creative and technical skills relevant to the evolving design industry.

Looking Ahead

The exhibition marks another meaningful chapter in Raffles University’s efforts to foster creative collaboration and cultural appreciation through design.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our international guest speakers, organisers and all visitors who contributed to the success of this event.

Stay updated for more creative initiatives from the Faculty of Arts and Design!