Malaysia to host IFI 26th general assembly and congress

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will be hosting the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) XXVI General Assembly and Congress 2014 from May 1 to 5.

“[Hosting the event] is a first for Malaysia and Southeast Asia,” said Ronnie Choong SB, president of the Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID), in a press statement recently.

Malaysia won the bid to host this year’s general assembly and congress in October last year.

The five-day event comprises the IFI Reka Congress 2014, IFI Executive Board Meeting, IFI XXVI General Assembly, IFI Awards Gala and the KL Architectural Tour held in conjunction with IFI’s 50th anniversary.

The general assembly is organised by IFI, the industry’s sole international federating body. The congress is organised by MIID — the body representing interior designers in Malaysia and a professional member of the IFI.

“The Reka Congress will be a platform for aspiring designers to network with world-renowned designers who will share their knowledge and experience in the profession as well as envision the future of the industry.

“For interior designers in particular, to be creative is to carve ... spaces which ... move and inspire occupants and users of these spaces to a deeper appreciation of the built environment.

“It will be a celebration of international interior design and an education for all on the role and importance of interior design in our everyday life,” said Choong.

The general assembly will be held at Hotel Istana in Kuala Lumpur, while the congress will be at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

More than 1,000 interior designers are registered members of MIID. The IFI represents 270,000 designers, educators and industry stakeholders in the international design community in 110 countries.


This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 4, 2014.