Celebrating a new era of creativity at d Conference and d Awards 2025
THE Malaysian Digital Association (MDA) successfully concluded its flagship twin events —the d Conference 2025 and d Awards 2025—recently at One World Hotel, Petaling Jaya.
According to the statement, the full-day conference and evening awards ceremony brought over 900 industry professionals to explore, challenge and celebrate the evolving intersection of technology, creativity and culture under the theme “The New Era of Creativity.”
Sparking dialogue at the d Conference 2025
The d Conference 2025 welcomed over 420 senior leaders from the marketing, media and technology sectors. It opened with a keynote by acclaimed Malaysian artist Red Hong Yi, who explored how AI is redefining authenticity, originality and creative intent in the digital age.
A major highlight was the keynote by Aww Inc. executive director and founding member Yumi An King, who offered rare insights into the creation and global impact of imma, Japan’s first hyper-realistic virtual human.
Imma’s influence in fashion, digital identity and virtual influencer marketing captivated attendees and challenged conventional thinking.
The conference also featured solo sessions and expert panels covering critical topics—from AI’s impact on creativity and data-driven storytelling to future-proofing digital media strategies across Asean.
Regional leaders also shared perspectives on how emerging technologies are transforming commerce, community and culture.
“This year, we didn’t just talk about innovation—we recognised it, celebrated it and shared it with the wider industry. From the d Conference in the day, where bold ideas and transformative conversations took centre stage, to the d Awards at night, which honoured the very best in digital excellence—it was a full-circle moment for Malaysia’s digital ecosystem.
“In a world increasingly shaped by AI and rapid change, what stood out most was the human creativity, collaboration and spirit of community that brought it all to life. I’m truly grateful to our council, speakers, partners and every participant who helped make this vision a reality.
“We’re not just witnessing the future—we’re building it together,” said d Awards and d Conference 2025 organising chairperson and MDA president Nicholas Sagau.
Honouring digital excellence at the d Awards 2025
The celebration continued into the night with the seventh edition of the d Awards, honouring the best in Malaysia’s digital landscape. With a record-breaking 335 entries from 30 agencies and publishers, the 2025 edition set a new benchmark for creative ambition and execution.
Attended by over 500 guests, the Awards spotlighted outstanding talent, work and innovation. Two new categories were introduced this year to reflect changing industry dynamics—Content Agency of the Year and Best Digital Audio & Podcast Campaign, underlining the rise of voice-first and storytelling formats.
Notable wins at the event included Dentsu Malaysia being crowned Digital Agency of the Year, while The SHOUT Group clinched the Grand Prix for Forgiveness: A Stranger Than Fiction – True Story…Brought to Life. Mehul Mandalia, co-founder of Moving Walls Group, was named Digital Person of the Year, and Nihal Pravin Kedar of Publicis Media was recognised as Rising Star 2025.
Adding an inspirational dimension, the d Young Achievers programme — a talent development initiative by MDA — returned to spotlight Malaysia’s next generation of digital innovators. University students were challenged to conceptualise digital-first campaigns using emerging technologies.
Gold went to Team Duckies (Taylor’s University) while Team Pixel Riot (Sunway University) and Team Thriventure Star 2.0 (Sunway University) bagged silver and bronze respectively. Google Malaysia country director Farhan Qureshi presented the awards as the exclusive sponsor of this category.
A unified vision forward
d Awards & d Conference 2025 co-organising chairperson and MDA council Sue-Anne Lim said, “Every year, MDA raises the bar—and 2025 was no exception.
“With 420 delegates and over 500 industry players, the d Conference & Awards has never had more momentum. This year, we drilled into how AI is transforming digital marketing—from search to UX, creativity to content—making disruption not just a buzzword, but a blueprint.
“We also elevated the stage with global voices to spark the next wave of digital creativity, while reimagining how sponsors connect with audiences in more immersive, meaningful ways.
“The traction proves one thing: we’re not just keeping up—we’re shaping what’s next. One thing for sure, is that we will keep delighting delegates in the many conferences to come.”
The statement also noted that both events were made possible with the valued support of MDA’s sponsors and partners, including HEPMIL Malaysia, Taboola, Channel Factory, Teads, Blis, Gushcloud, LinkedIn, Locala, Google and Omnia.
The d Awards are proudly recognised by the Research Company Evaluation of Media Agencies (Recma), underscoring their credibility and importance within the global media landscape.
The full list of winners and event highlights is available here
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