As fascinating as it is, technology is but a tool which in the absence of creativity cannot be utilised to the optimum. Ask whiz kids Tan Kok Huat and Dennis Wong Chee De, the two Limkokwing University College of Creative Technology students who scored big at the MSC-Asia Pacific ICT Awards (APICTA), winning the first prize and merit award in the Best of Tertiary-level Student Projects (Creative Multimedia) category respectively.

The only student winners in the competition, they can sure lay claim to continuing the Limkokwing tradition of success in big-scale competitions. Last year, another Limkokwing student, Kim Ong, claimed the same award with her Malaysian-flavoured entry, Jom Mamak.

To Tan and Wong, the victory would not have been possible without creativity. Being IT-savvy, they say, means being adept in applying creativity to technology to bring forth the best results. Creativity and innovation, they add, are real and tangible to practitioners in the field. “It is something that is always at the back of my mind,” explains Wong. “It is essential to be creative in order to be able to design new things. Technology is just a tool; it’s the creativity of the person that counts.”

Tan, too, fully appreciates the term, saying it plays an important role in building an economy. “My observation is that there are a lot of IT specialists in Malaysia but not enough designers with IT background. There is sadly not enough awareness of their importance.

“A designer’s role is to connect with consumers. In packaging a product that will cater effectively to the consumer, we need designers who are able to communicate effectively. Thankfully, I feel there is now more awareness of this need,” he explains, adding that he feels Limkokwing is “doing a lot to close the gap here”.

The Limkokwing philosophy of promoting creativity and innovation sits well with both young men. “It’s the way to go,” says Tan. “Thanks to such institutions as Limkokwing there is increased awareness of the importance of creativity and innovation.”

There is also the positive effect brought on by being exposed to a highly international environment. Limkokwing has 4,000 students from 60 countries and the multicultural, multinational atmosphere, says Tan, has been instrumental in building his confidence.

Tan says, “I have classmates from such countries as Mauritius and Botswana, and it’s good because these people are more vocal. There’s always healthy exchange in terms of ideas and information. I feel the Advanced Diploma of Multimedia programme did open up my mind and expand my views and it’s also because I was in a highly stimulating environment.”

Tan reveals he also found inspiration in the work carried out by Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, the president of the university college. “What has also influenced me is how our president always thinks about promoting our local culture, our local content. He talks about branding Malaysia and it is something that inspires me.”

An example of just how much Tan finds inspiration in this aspect is his award-winning entry in the APICTA competition. An interactive CD-Rom entitled “A Saunter Through Chinatown”, the entry is described by Tan as, “a virtual reality tour that allows viewers into the heart of KL’s Chinatown”.

Calling it his “contribution to society”, he adds, “There is a huge amount of panoramic scenes and it’s not only to promote tourism but also to archive our heritage and cultures.”

Wong likewise believes in promoting local values, saying that in coming up with his 3D animation entry, he was inspired by his visit to the KL Tower. “My entry focuses on a futuristic metropolitan controlled by a corrupt mayor, and as a result suffers from an unhealthy division of the rich and poor,” he says, adding that there is a fairytale ending with a “brave heroine robbing the rich to give to the poor”.