Good design and quality of work rest in our perception of intention, purpose and plan. It is the plan, the process and the result that package the carefully laden thoughts of a concept conjured in one single product. It is a fusion of form and content, really. Whether or not we begin with thinking of a form and house it with strata of content, or, sorting the data in place, and shape the form to accentuate the information; we are still fulfilling a design objective.

We are trained to see the values of a good design, but we are often made to eschew a barrage of obscure products that cloud our perception of effective and innovative design. Not everyone is receptive to a new idea, new solution, or new product. It is a matter of taste. Some of us prefer stale bread, yesterday’s coffee, reading the sports pages and watching sunsets. This is where the challenge lies. Research and idea developments serve as an antidote to select and use the content. Single focus on the objective leads to product formation that could meet the requirement, merit and acceptance.

In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed is king. In evaluation of a good design product, excellence or mediocrity is relative and we are aware of the playing fields. But being in the center of creative hub, the yardstick upon which we measure the best is from the best the world will accept, nothing less.

As for winning awards for being the best, well, it helps. Everybody loves winners, they make us feel privileged to have known them, and to have guided and motivated them and to a certain level, inspire them - setting themselves apart from the rest of the crowd.

Winning awards also serve as a signal and reinforce our belief that we are on the right track.

MIND STORM is indeed a very special collection for Faculty of Creative Multimedia, Multimedia University (www.mmu.edu.my) because for the very first time we present this prestigious collection to honour and celebrate the “shining stars” of the Faculty who have won local and international awards and produced outstanding creative multimedia works. With the Faculty’s continuous strive for excellence, it has paved the way for these “stars” to realise their potential and creative talent. Through this category of designers, the cream of the crop, we pride ourselves on being the cream of the crop.

Dr Ahmad Rafi Mohamed Eshaq
Dean of Faculty of Creative Multimedia
Multimedia University, Cyberjaya
Malaysia