The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) has once again raised the bar in design and innovation. Its School of Media, Arts & Design (SoMAD) is celebrating a historic milestone with UNBLOK, an ingenious project developed by three of its Industrial Design students, being crowned the National Winner of the James Dyson Award 2025 in Malaysia. 

The James Dyson Award, renowned as one of the world’s most prestigious competitions in engineering and design, challenges young innovators to solve pressing global issues with creative, practical solutions. 

UNBLOK stood out amongst hundreds of submissions by addressing one of Malaysia’s most urgent environmental problems — food waste and oil disposal. 

UNBLOK: A Circular Solution for Everyday Waste

Food waste and used cooking oil represent 31–45% of Malaysia’s municipal solid waste. Poor management of this waste often leads to clogged pipes, water pollution, and urban flooding. UNBLOK offers a sustainable intervention: a bio-based filter crafted from agricultural by-products!

This innovative filter prevents food scraps and oil from entering drainage systems, dramatically reducing the risk of environmental damage. Its modular design ensures flexible application — whether in household kitchens, bustling restaurants, or large-scale food outlets. 

By reusing waste to manage waste, UNBLOK epitomises the principle of circular design: turning one problem into the solution for another.

A Record-Breaking Legacy of Innovation

APU’s SoMAD has built a formidable track record in the James Dyson Award over the past six years. Since 2020, it has achieved:

• National Winner titles in 2020, 2021, 2024, and now 2025
• A National Runner-Up title in 2022
   

APU at the James Dyson Award (2020–2025)

This impressive streak underscores SoMAD’s ability to nurture students who consistently deliver impactful, world-class solutions. Few institutions in Malaysia — or the region — can claim such sustained excellence in a global competition that celebrates both creativity and engineering rigour. 

The Champions Behind the Idea

The 2025 winning project was developed by Ong Jing Rou, Natalie Tham Li Thing, and Ng Wen Kai, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Industrial Design students. Guided by Mr Eekang Ooi, a Certified Industrial Designer (CIDe), the team combined academic knowledge with real-world applicability.

Their success has brought them not only national recognition but also the James Dyson Award cash prize of RM27,800. More importantly, their project now advances to the international stage, where it will compete against the best innovations from across the globe.

Other Malaysian winners this year included Team Flood Monitoring Alert and SOS System (FMAS-1) with their disaster-preparedness device, and Team Ecliptica-5 with their sustainable design solution — further highlighting the depth of talent among Malaysia’s young innovators.

Driving National and Global Sustainability Goals

UNBLOK’s relevance extends beyond innovation. It aligns with Malaysia’s policy framework on sustainable waste management, which aims to reduce landfill dependency and encourage green technologies. At the same time, the project’s scalability positions it as a potential model for eco-innovation across Southeast Asia. 

By leveraging locally sourced agricultural waste, the design ensures affordability and accessibility — critical factors for widespread adoption. With its dual emphasis on practicality and sustainability, UNBLOK exemplifies how student-led initiatives can directly support national goals while addressing global challenges. 

Voices of the Innovators

Reflecting on their achievement, the UNBLOK team shared, “Winning the National Award is a tremendous encouragement. It affirms the urgency of tackling food waste and pollution and shows that design can be a powerful tool for change. We hope UNBLOK will inspire others to view waste not as a problem, but as an opportunity for innovation.” 

SoMAD: Shaping the Future of Design

The triumph of UNBLOK is not an isolated success but part of a broader story of excellence. APU’s SoMAD has consistently empowered its students to think beyond conventional boundaries.

By emphasising sustainability, creativity, and real-world application, the school has become a breeding ground for Malaysia’s next generation of innovators.

With each James Dyson Award win, SoMAD has cemented its reputation as a leader in design education — not only in Malaysia but also internationally. Its graduates are proving that young Malaysian designers can develop solutions with far-reaching impact, capable of reshaping industries and improving lives.

Looking Ahead with Confidence

As UNBLOK steps onto the international stage of the James Dyson Award, anticipation builds over how it will fare amongst the world’s most cutting-edge innovations. Regardless of the outcome, the achievement has already placed Malaysia firmly on the map of sustainable design leadership.

Concluding on the school’s ethos, Ms Debbie Liew Pooi Kuan, Head of SoMAD, remarked, “At SoMAD, we believe in design with purpose. Every project we nurture is about more than aesthetics; it is about problem-solving and impact. The success of UNBLOK reflects the dedication of our students and staff to sustainability and innovation. It is a proud moment for APU, and it strengthens our resolve to keep shaping solutions that matter.”