Malaysia Design Archive

Malaysia Design Archive

Design Education | Designs . Politics . Artifacts | Rekabentuk . Politik . Artifak . Understanding Malaysian history through Graphic Design

Designs. Politics. Artifacts.

Graphic design plays a key – although often overlooked – role in the history of Malaysia. There is a need for vigorous documentation, archiving and analysis of these artifacts through this linkage in the reading of Malaysia’s complex history to better surface the undercurrents of contemporary social, political and cultural contests and negotiations in the country. This project systematically unearths, identifies and locates a collection of artifacts and design works during the periods of colonialism, occupation, emergency and independence.

Malaysia Design Archive is also a space for designers to explore, challenge and question our design history.

Recently Added Artifacts

Design Focus

  1. Feature Designer
  2. Cari Makan Project
  3. Off the Edge Covers
  4. Five Arts Centre Posters
  5. Bersih 2.0

Writings and Essays

  1. The History and Design Chronology of Jalur Gemilang
  2. The Old Wooden Church by Anil Netto
  3. Yellow is the colour of…by Jac sm Kee
  4. Whither Malaysian History? Or, Why History Matters by Rachel Leow
  5. The forgotten women warriors of the Malayan Communist Party by Adrianna Tan
  6. An Influence of Colonial Architecture to Building Styles and Motifs in Colonial Cities in Malaya
  7. Unravelling the story of Graphic Design in Malaysia

 

About This Project

This project is an attempt to trace, map and document the development of graphic design in Malaysia.It is also a project to highlight the importance of archiving as a way to protect and preserve our own visual history.