Sabah-based designers have gained national recognition after securing multiple wins across categories at the Designer of the Year (DOTY) 2026 awards.
The annual awards platform celebrates outstanding works by Malaysian and international designers, recognising creativity, innovation and excellence while serving as a benchmark for industry advancement locally and regionally.
Among the winners, Bluedraft took the Rising Star Award, a Silver in the Best Commercial F&B category for Seora at Willow Coffee in Riverson, and a Merit in the Best Residential Landed category for Chaléur in Taman BDC.
Its Founder and Design Director, Billy Yu, said Sabah designers are now “contributing, competing, and being recognised at a national level”, adding that participation in platforms such as DOTY helps raise standards and strengthen professionalism.
MOM Designer House and Wowspace Design Studio also secured major wins across commercial, wellness and hospitality categories, with Ashley Yeoh describing the recognition as “a meaningful milestone for Sabah’s entire design community”.
Wowspace Design Studio, led by Kenny Wong alongside partners Carol Teoh and Henry Bong, clinched Gold in the Best Commercial Hospitality Hotel category for The Cara Hotel at Aeropod, reinforcing Sabah’s presence in the hospitality design segment.
