The One Club for Creativity’s ONE Asia Creative Awards will hold judging in Malaysia for the first time, with 42 judges from 15 countries and regions convening at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur from October 17–19, 2026.
Malaysian production company Directors Think Tank is the exclusive judging sponsor.
The judging will be followed on October 20 by a student MasterClass and portfolio reviews presented with Level Up, giving young Malaysian creatives the opportunity to learn directly from creative leaders from across the region. Details will be announced shortly.
According to the release, ONE Asia holds judging in a different city in the region each year, an approach aimed at building a more connected Asia-Pacific creative community and enabling jurors to engage directly with local talent, industry, and culture.
“Asia-Pacific creativity doesn’t come from one place, and ONE Asia shouldn’t either,” said Tay Guan Hin, Director, APAC Region, The One Club for Creativity.
“Holding judging in Kuala Lumpur gives regional creative leaders the chance to experience Malaysia, meet its creative community, and exchange perspectives with the next generation. Those relationships are what make the region stronger.”
Judges will gain a deeper understanding of Malaysia through local food, hospitality, creative voices, and cultural experiences. The partnership with Directors Think Tank grounds the judging experience locally, with visiting jurors encountering Malaysia through the perspective of its own creative community.
“Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures, languages and perspectives, which makes our creatives naturally adaptable,” said Rajay Singh, Director and co-founder of Directors Think Tank.
“The best work comes from being true to who we are, and Malaysia gives us no shortage of great stories to tell.”
“ONE Family. Many Worlds.” — Handcrafted by Malaysian Artist Aston Choong
That “melting pot” concept for Malaysia — and APAC overall — is reflected in the visual identity created for this year’s judging: “ONE Family. Many Worlds.”, a hand-crafted work created by Malaysian illustrator and director Aston Choong at CUE Art & Design Associates in Kuala Lumpur. (Featured above)
Malaysian references are woven throughout the work, including the durian, Malayan tiger, hornbill, tropical vegetation, traditional forms, colourful costumes and local visual motifs, expressed through the hand-drawn linework, exaggerated characters, movement, and humor.
“I was inspired by the idea of Asia-Pacific as a vibrant meeting place of cultures, personalities, traditions and everyday experiences,” said Choong.
“At the heart of the illustration is the idea that although we may come from different backgrounds, we share a sense of community and connection.”
Choong’s handcrafted approach follows ONE Asia’s 2026 “Where Taste Matters” call for entries campaign created by Muma Malaysia, based in Petaling Jaya.
“We’re proud to work with our Malaysian partners to bring ONE Asia to Kuala Lumpur,” said Season Zhou, APAC Director, Growth and Partnership, The One Club for Creativity.
“Our aim is to work with local creatives, gain a better understanding of the culture, engage the community, and create connections that continue beyond the event itself.”
ONE Asia 2026 finalists will be announced on 9 November, and winners will be announced on 24 November. Winners earn points toward the ONE Asia Creative Rankings, The One Club’s Global Creative Rankings, and the Campaign Brief Asia Rankings.
To learn more, go here.
