Category: Alumni

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Priscilla Agatha

My name is Priscilla Agatha, and I studied Animation at DKV UPH from 2015 to 2019. Currently, I work as an illustrator with a focus on cute characters. My clients include small businesses, companies, and individuals for personal commissions. In my day-to-day routine, I engage in illustration work, communicate with clients, and, when there is free time, practice my craft!

My time at DKV UPH was a valuable experience. My classmates were supportive, and the lecturers consistently pushed us to improve. Reflecting on my studies, the first year was particularly enlightening in terms of design. The class taught by Pak Winoto Usman engaged me in the study, emphasizing that the most aesthetically pleasing pictures can be created not just from artistic inspiration but through concept and methodology.

Upon entering the Animation major, I discovered my interest in illustration, realizing there was much more to it than just creating visually appealing images. After graduating, refining my identity as an artist became a continuous process. Through practice and diverse experiences, I developed a consistent visual art style. Looking back, I credit this growth to the foundation laid during my studies at DKV UPH.

I hope that the education provided at DKV UPH has continued to evolve. I recommend aspiring artists and designers to consider studying there, as the program offers a well-rounded education balancing theory and practice. The emphasis on critical thinking equips artists and designers to tackle visual problems, regardless of their complexity.

Like many artists, my biggest challenge has been fear, whether it’s fear of failure or ridicule. To those facing similar challenges, I offer this advice: embrace your fear, recognizing it as the initial step in your artistic journey. After all, what’s one step compared to the hundreds of positive steps you’ll take?

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Junissa Bianda


My name is Junissa Bianda H, and I am an illustrator specializing in children’s books and goods. I attended UPH from 2009 to 2013, majoring in DKV. My time at UPH was truly eye-opening, unlocking numerous skills and wisdom during my classes.

Among the subjects, I particularly enjoyed the Digital Art class, where I learned the basic principles of Photoshop. This marked a breakthrough in my artistic journey as it was my first introduction to Photoshop. Previously, I had primarily used traditional mediums for my art, but now I consistently incorporate Photoshop into my projects. In the Illustration class, I explored the vast styles of illustration and learned to stylize humans and objects. I also appreciated experimenting with mixing traditional media, producing different and unique textures for my work.

Inspired by the classes at UPH, I decided to delve deeper into illustration by pursuing a master’s degree at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

Currently, I am represented by a literary agency based in NYC, UK, and Singapore. Throughout my career, my clients have mainly been publishers, including Penguin Random House, Nosycrow, Usborne, Hallmark, Sourcebooks, Scholastic, Hachette, Cottage Door Press, Unilever, Albert Whitman & Co, among others.

One of my notable illustrated books, titled “Nabil Steals a Penguin,” was voted “Picture Book of the Month” by The Guardian and The Bookseller. It was also mentioned in the Observer as the picture book to look out for.

I had the privilege of creating branding for IHC Pertamedika’s children’s hospital in Makassar, designing two new mascots, and creating a mural for its 20m corridor and rooms.

In 2021, I debuted my own illustrated and written book series, “Kareem and Khaleel,” published by Lentera Hati. The series, consisting of five books, has sold over 20,000 copies worldwide. The IP is expanding into other media, including small merchandise and goods. The series was nominated as the bestseller in the children’s book category in BBW and Gramedia.

All these projects were made easier by the foundation laid during my time at UPH, and I highly recommend it to art students.

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.

Pablo Picasso
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Reynold Adinegara

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My name is Reynold Adinegara, DKV UPH class of 2006, graduated in 2010. During my time, there were no specific concentrations in the department, but personally, I delved into the field of video and photography. After graduating until 2018, I pursued a career as a photographer and videographer, eventually leading me to establish a production house where I served as the CEO and Director. I switched careers in late 2018, and currently, I am an artist in ceramics under my own brand, Adinegara Ceramic. As a ceramic artist, I focus more on artistic achievement and self-understanding, supported by my previous experiences to enhance branding and business management.

The study experience at DKV UPH can be considered one of the best moments in my life. So many experiences, fundamental knowledge, and connections were formed, paving the way for my career.

The most memorable course, it seems, was photography because at that time, I was deeply involved in photo/video, and also during those early years when PHPC was established, making UPH photo/video significant. The second DKV course is crucial as it shaped my way of thinking not only in work but also in life.

Would I recommend others to VCD UPH? Absolutely 🙂 My nephew has entered UPH based on my recommendation.

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Jeff Daniel Riyanto

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My name is Jeff Daniel Riyanto. I graduated from Visual Communication Design (DKV) at UPH with a concentration in Graphic Design, belonging to the batch of 2018-2022. Currently, I own a creative design studio that predominantly focuses on social media design. We manage brands and designs related to the food and beverage industry and have expanded into fashion and lifestyle as well.

My experience studying DKV was both exciting and challenging. Meeting new friends with diverse backgrounds and interests in design was a highlight. Among the courses I took at UPH, especially in the Graphic Design department, the most impactful was the main studio course. There, I learned design principles that have proven to be incredibly useful in my professional endeavors.

The rapid development of Industry 5.0 has significantly influenced the creative workforce. During my time at UPH, the learning process evolved to keep pace with the times, providing an added advantage for us as students. I highly recommend UPH because, in my opinion, it offers an environment where you can develop exceptionally well, and the faculty is very supportive of its students. For instance, my classmates and I were required to participate in a typeface design competition, which resulted in us winning second place on an international scale.

Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.

Dale Carnegie
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Meet our Alumni: Nafis Adhikari

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Senior Designer for CONDE NAST JAPAN( Wired Japan, GQ Japan, Vogue Japan )

Head of Creative / Partner for Open Quarter Tailor

In the earlier years of my academic journey, the field of Design and Visual Communication (DKV) was characterized by a more holistic approach, predating the nuanced subcategories that exist today, such as cinematography and animation. Back then, DKV encompassed a comprehensive spectrum, requiring us to delve into every facet from A to Z.

Despite initially perceiving this broad approach as a challenge, it ultimately became my forte. Acquiring knowledge across the entirety of the discipline, akin to comprehending every graph in a pizza-graph, proved to be an invaluable asset.

Following graduation, I dedicated two years to a small design studio in Jakarta, named Table 6. During my tenure, I collaborated with clients from diverse sectors, including fashion, law, F&B, art exhibitions, etc. This multifaceted experience was a cherished chapter in my professional journey. Subsequently, I resigned from the position, driven by the ambition to establish a prominent presence in Japan—an aspiration I had harbored for years. A year of Japanese language study paved the way for a subsequent year working with a Japanese design studio, culminating in my current role as a Senior Designer/Art Director at Conde Nast Japan. Beyond my responsibilities at Conde Nast, I co-own a small design studio with my wife and a business partner. Additionally, I am a co-owner and head of creative at the Indonesian tailoring brand “Open Quarter Tailor.”

Reflecting on my university years at UPH, I hold fond memories of both enduring friendships and the privilege of learning from some of the industry’s brightest minds. UPH instilled in us the importance of critical thinking, transcending mere technical proficiency. This emphasis on critical thinking emerged as a cornerstone of our industry strength. While every subject at UPH was enjoyable, I particularly relished the “DKV Subject,” where we undertook the rebranding of selected companies—a task that resonated with my specialization in branding.

The knowledge and skills cultivated during my time at UPH have significantly contributed not only to my professional journey but also to my personal development. I unequivocally recommend UPH to prospective students, as my experience there was truly transformative and life-changing.

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Raymond Ahari

Photo of Raymond Ahari.

My name is Raymond Ahari, and I’m an alumnus of DKV UPH, class of 2010. After graduating in 2014, I started a Production House business named “Jendela” along with some of my friends.

My four years at DKV UPH were undoubtedly a pleasant experience. The comfortable campus environment and complete facilities helped me study better, not to mention the competent lecturers and wonderful friends whom I got to know and learn from. Many things I know and implement in my work today, I picked up from my time at DKV UPH.

Although every class equipped me with different things that helped me become who I am today, I would say that the Videography class particularly left a mark on me. I didn’t initially plan to take the class, but I had a close relationship with the lecturer, and he told me about a great project that I could work on if I took his Videography class—and yes, of course, I ended up taking it!

One of the most important things that I learned from my days at DKV UPH is the significance of good teamwork. Choosing the right teammates will highly affect your results; it will help you finish the assignment right on time, with excellent quality.

As an alumnus, I recommend DKV UPH to those who are looking for a good place to learn and pursue their degree. I am always grateful for the opportunity to study at such a fine campus and faculty.

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Kezia Rachel

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Hello! I’m Kezia Rachel, from the DKV UPH class of 2017. My concentration was in animation, which is also what I’m currently pursuing in my career. Specifically, I am working on 3D animation.

I had such a fun time at DKV UPH. The lecturers pushed me to do my best, and I am forever grateful for it. They not only acted as our teachers but also as friends, which made it a comfortable environment to study and learn. There were also a lot of activities outside of our studies. I remember going on trips for our photography and drawing classes, and there were events specifically for us students to bond and get to know each other better. I feel like it is very important to learn outside of classes, where we learn to get to know people, which will help us a lot in the industry.

I forgot specifically which class it was, but I’m pretty sure it was one of the Main Studio classes. The first time I tried out 3D animation using Maya was definitely the most memorable one. I was very passionate about animating, thus my excitement when we finally had the chance to animate in 3D. We were also given the chance to model and rig, which was a very new experience for me.

The lecturers and mentors taught me so many things, not only about art but also about the industry. It’s important to learn the basic fundamentals of art and design, but we shouldn’t forget that learning isn’t going to be enough in the industry. I was always reminded in my animation class that once we get into the industry, we are not alone. Whether we like it or not, we are always working with other people to achieve something. Of course, all the technical studies, like the basic fundamentals of animation, helped me a lot in the industry. But I realized the importance of learning about group work, accepting feedback, and criticism, which proved to be even more helpful.

I would recommend DKV UPH to a lot of people! It was such an exciting time, with great facilities, great lecturers/mentors, and all the things we learned were very insightful.

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

-Walt Disney
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Ronaldo K. Dinguamah

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My name is Ronaldo Kilimandu Dinguamah, but please call me Ronnie. I graduated in 2017 with a degree in Animation. Currently, I work as a Key Lighting Artist and occasionally undertake freelance projects in Lighting, Rendering Architecture, and Motion graphics.

I had no artistic background or experience prior to university, so I faced many challenges with the lessons initially. However, with God’s grace, my teachers’ guidance, and my friends’ support, I was able to acquire enough skills to join the international Animation Industry. I was fascinated by all the courses that involved animation. They enabled me to create animation from the initial concept to the final post-production. These courses taught me the steps of making an animation, which equipped me for the industry.

The curriculum of the creative industry, especially Animation, is hard to keep up with the current industry trends because technology changes rapidly. That is why UPH excels at teaching students the fundamental and conceptual aspects of design, especially the “design thinking” concept. This concept assists me in my work because it is not just about making “pretty” pictures, but about conveying a message with visual elements.

I think UPH is an excellent choice for students who aspire to learn how to think like designers. UPH helps you comprehend the design and animation principles in a holistic way, enhancing your design abilities. UPH also has remarkable lecturers who are passionate about the industry and their students’ education. If you seek to learn the basics and get support from qualified lecturers, I highly recommend UPH.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ronaldo Kilimandu Dinguamah, but you can call me Ronnie for short. In 2017, I delved into the world of creative design and pursued my studies in DKV UPH, with a keen focus on animation. Following my graduation, I embarked on a thrilling freelance journey in the advertising industry for six months, all while crafting my portfolio. In early 2021, I landed a position as a Lighting and Compositing artist at Pixel Zoo, an animation studio based in Brisbane, Australia. My expertise in 3D lighting and compositing has been instrumental in bringing to life several animation series or movies, including the likes of LOL Surprise, Rainbow High, and Mermaze, to name a few. Despite my specialization, I never lost my love for the traditional arts of drawing and painting, which continue to inspire and fuel my creative passions.

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Alumni: Vanessa Leoni

Photo of Vanessa Leoni. Photo Provided by Vanessa.

Hello, let me introduce myself. I’m Vanessa Leoni, an alumna of the 2019 class of DKV UPH, specializing in Graphic Design. Currently, I work as a Packaging Designer at a company in the FMCG industry.

During my time at UPH, I felt my design skills develop significantly, thanks to the guidance of the DKV UPH professors who always supported me during the learning process. When I initially joined DKV, I faced some challenges in adapting to the assigned tasks, but over time, I became more accustomed to it and learned to manage my time effectively. As the semesters progressed, I realized that the course material started with fundamental concepts and gradually became more complex, resembling real-world projects in the industry.

One of the courses that had a significant impact on me was the main studio 3. During a full semester, DKV students collaborated with students from the food technology program to create innovative product packaging. The design process started with product analysis, selecting the appropriate packaging materials, designing brand identities, creating packaging designs, and developing social media and e-commerce product sales designs. Throughout this course, I learned numerous new aspects, such as how to create packaging designs that not only prioritize aesthetics but are also producible and represent the concept of the product being sold.

My education definitely helped me in the industry. Because the steps taken to complete assignments provide a real-world glimpse of what you’ll do in the industry. With each passing semester, projects were not only individually resolved but also involved external parties to provide design objectives, test the effectiveness of the design, and evaluate it.

Studying at DKV UPH is not limited to classroom learning. There are many design-related activities outside of class that can be participated in. For example, joining the “BEDA’KAN” (Redesigning Packaging) initiative where students redesign packaging for selected MSMEs. This not only adds to your experience but also teaches students how to communicate directly with MSMEs, known as clients in the professional world. Furthermore, DKV UPH maintains high standards, allowing students to produce high-quality work.

There’s no such thing as limitations in design; that’s why you should unleash all your ideas and continue creating work that can be seen by many people!

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Alumni: Putu Widyayana Putra

Photo of Putu Widyayana Putra. Photo Provided by Putu.

Hi! My name is Putu Widyayana Putra. I studied in UPH’s DKV major during 2015-2019, with a concentration in Animation. Although we learned every aspect of animation production from pre-production to finish, I was drawn by the intricacy and challenges in creating Characters; that led me in my career as a 3D Character Artist.  I’m currently working as a Creative Director in Stairway Games. I love creating stories, worlds, and characters; seeing them come to life is one of my greatest passions in life.

From a very young age, I’ve been drawing as far as I can remember. I learned drawing and art through lots of attempts (and failures). Which brings me to my surprise when I entered UPH, I learned that art, design, and drawing is something that can be learned through methods and theories. This fundamentally changed my view of art; although creation fueled by passion and raw creativity is all good, a lot of times it doesn’t serve a higher purpose than the form itself. It allows me to tap into creating a more consistent body of work, something that was only achieved through “I’m inspired!” moments; which was an unreliable source of creation.

        Team projects were particularly challenging for me; previously as an artist, a creative process was something you tackle alone. These projects taught me to work with others, in a kind and respectful way. Needless to say; working together with others kept my ego in check. I remembered my lecturer, who was working in the industry said a something that’s printed to my brain until this day:

“ … You can be as skillful as you can be, but when people remember you as a terrible person to work with; It will trump your reputation as the “skillful one”. Our craft is a collaborative process, skills can be improved, lessons can be learned, but ultimately, attitude towards others is a reflection towards others that reflects your work and who you are.”

        When I entered the industry, those words never rang more true.

        Although UPH taught me some skills that contributed towards my career, I think it cultivated my spirit of learning more than anything else. It’s a wake-up call that learning is a lifelong process and every day is an opportunity to learn something new. Labeling myself to be just an “artist” or “designer” was something I try to avoid. I try to dabble and learn in other disciplines beyond what was thought to me.

DKV UPH was an environment where creativity and methodical approach of design was taught. My lecturers taught me not only hard skills but soft skills such as critical thinking; an immensely crucial step that’s often skipped. I think the most important thing to take away from all of this is that my experience in DKV cultivated my hunger for learning and being a person that people would love to work together with.