REFORMA

Get ready for an exciting and inspiring design experience. The Visual Communication Design Program of Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) proudly presents REFORMA 2025, a design exhibition that showcases the vibrant creativity and bold ideas of its students.

Venue: Townhall, Indonesia Design District – PIK 2
Date: July 12–13, 2025
Admission: Free Entry

What’s Happening at REFORMA?

REFORMA is more than just an exhibition — it’s a creative playground that invites everyone to explore, interact, and be inspired. Here’s what you can look forward to:

Art Market
Discover one-of-a-kind handmade items and creative products by UPH DKV students. A perfect place to shop for original souvenirs.

Photospot & Photobooth
Capture your favorite moments at our stylish and fun photo installations — ideal for your memories or social media content.

Creative Workshops
Join hands-on sessions led by students and mentors where you can learn new skills and immerse yourself in the design process.

Stampventure
Explore the exhibition in a playful and engaging way by collecting stamps from different zones and experiences throughout the event.

F&B Booths
Enjoy a variety of delicious food and beverages while taking in the creative atmosphere.

Mark your calendars, bring your friends, and don’t miss REFORMA 2025.
See you at the Townhall, Indonesia Design District – PIK 2, on July 12–13.

Haven

Foreword

A study conducted in Canada found that classrooms can serve as open deliberative spaces, where students are trained to engage in ethical and reflective dialogue (Martineau & Cyr, 2025). By positioning the classroom as a space for discussion, it fosters a sense of safety that allows students to express their authentic thoughts more freely. This atmosphere of learning closely reflects the environment cultivated within the Visual Communication Design program at UPH. By building a safe space for students, DKV UPH has laid a foundation and provided a platform for them to grow and thrive.

The term “haven” was originally used by sailors to describe a place of refuge—a shelter from storms. A haven does not merely offer protection; it also provides a starting point, a moment of rest before setting sail once more into the noise, darkness, and chaos of the open sea. The title “Haven” in this book represents such a safe space for students: a pause before embarking on the next phase of their lives. A classroom is not merely a place to acquire technical skills; it is also a transitional refuge before students take on their responsibilities as emerging agents within society.

This notion resonates with the passage in Mark 4:35–41, where Jesus rises and calms the storm. His presence becomes the source of peace, enabling His disciples to journey forward with greater clarity and calm, eventually reaching their intended destination. In the same way, a safe and nurturing learning ecosystem provides a vital foundation for creative individuals to hone themselves, to grow, and to pursue their aspirations.

The title “Haven” does not only represent the role of the institution as a harbor for its students; it also serves as a projection, an expectation, and a hope that these very students may become havens in society. Education is not solely about skill acquisition; it is also a process of maturity. We hope that the graduates of the Visual Communication Design program will grow into individuals who are capable of offering calm, clarity, and orientation amid the many storms present in the world around us.

For nine years, the Visual Communication Design Program at Universitas Pelita Harapan (DKV UPH) has been archiving the final projects of its students. What began nine years ago marked a new beginning, an attempt to understand students not merely as learners, but as individuals who enrich the very existence of the program itself (Hananto & Kartaatmadja, 2018). This reflective practice has since developed into a tradition (Hananto, 2018, 2019), one that affirms the uniqueness and excellence of DKV UPH students (Hananto, 2020). Even in the face of challenging circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the quality and spirit of DKV UPH students remained undiminished. They persevered and successfully completed their studies, an achievement that deserves recognition (Hananto, 2021). Obstacles did not deter these students from looking forward and demonstrating their capabilities (“See – Saw: Universitas Pelita Harapan Visual Communication Design Student’s Final Projects,” 2022). The actions taken by DKV UPH students—both inside and outside the classroom—are a manifestation of their purpose and existence (Hananto, 2023), forming what can be described as a distinct epoch in their academic and creative journey (Hananto, 2024).

After nine years and nine publications, the Visual Communication Design Program at Universitas Pelita Harapan has shifted its focus not only to be a center for learning and growth, but also to become a center of service, by cultivating new havens in the form of its alumni.

We pray that our graduates, as they begin a new journey through the world, will continue to be a light, bringing positive impact through both their actions and their creative works. Our prayer is simple: that what they have experienced and learned may not only equip them for their own path, but also become something they can share with others—especially with those who may not yet have had the same opportunities.

Lastly, we hope that this book will serve as a map for its readers: a guide through which they may see and discover new havens in the shape of the students of DKV UPH, who are ready to step forward and become a haven for others in society.

Brian Alvin Hananto, S.Sn., M.Ds.
Department Chair of Visual Communication Design
Universitas Pelita Harapan

Other Readings

Hananto, B. A. (2018). Telah & Telaah: Kumpulan Karya Tugas Akhir DKV UPH 2017/2018. Penerbit Fakultas Desain Universitas Pelita Harapan.

Hananto, B. A. (Ed.). (2019). Look: Final Assignments of Universitas Pelita Harapan’s Visual Communication Design Students 2018/2019 Academic Year. Penerbit Fakultas Desain Universitas Pelita Harapan.

Hananto, B. A. (Ed.). (2020). Salience: Final Assignments of Universitas Pelita Harapan’s Visual Communicatin Design Students 2019/2020 Academic Year. Penerbit Fakultas Desain Universitas Pelita Harapan.

Hananto, B. A. (Ed.). (2021). Salute: Final Assignments of Universitas Pelita Harapan’s Visual Communication Design Students 2020/2021 Academic Year. Penerbit Fakultas Desain Universitas Pelita Harapan.

Hananto, B. A. (2023). “Foreword.” In B. A. Hananto, E. Melini, & K. M. Suwanto (Eds.), Universitas Pelita Harapan Visual Communication Design Student’s Final Projects (Vol. 6, pp. 8–9). Penerbit Fakultas Desain Universitas Pelita Harapan.

Hananto, B. A. (2024). “Foreword.” In B. A. Hananto & J. Laurencia (Eds.), Universitas Pelita Harapan Visual Communication Design Student’s Final Projects (Vol. 7, p. 7). Penerbit Fakultas Desain Universitas Pelita Harapan.

Hananto, B. A., & Kartaatmadja, M. (Eds.). (2018). Rangkaian Fajar. Penerbit Fakultas Desain Universitas Pelita Harapan.

Martineau, J. T., & Cyr, A.-A. (2025). Redefining Academic Safe Space for Responsible Management Education. Journal of Business Ethics, 196(3), 581–601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-024-05690-3

see – saw : Universitas Pelita Harapan Visual Communication Design Student’s Final Projects. (2022). In B. A. Hananto, E. Melini, & K. M. Suwanto (Eds.), Universitas Pelita Harapan Visual Communication Design Student’s Final Projects (Vol. 5). Penerbit Fakultas Desain Universitas Pelita Harapan.

Credits

Students

Andrea Gabriella
Azariel Isaiah Layantara
Carla Christina
Cecilia Novin Shellycia
Charissa Myandra Amirah
Dorothy Tanaka
Elbert Nathanael Jaya
Eloysius Sahat Martua Sinaga
Faye Alicia
Felicia Krieski
Filbert Oscar Setiawan
Filbert Timothy Hartawidjaja
Fiony Alveria Tantri
Grace Swarnapati
Heidy Widodo
Jaselyn Harianto
Jeniffer Angelica Podung
Joy Celine Santoso
Juan Paskalis
Kalista Nathania Lee Dotulong
Kezia Glenaldo
Laetizia Ananya Abbygale Siregar
Manaka Yoshida
Mikhaella Destany Aurelia
Mihammad Hasan Mujtaba Nasution
Nadya Aisha Zahra Zaurantie hermiandy
Natashia Lim
Patricia Thelysandrina
Sabilah Amalia Omar Fadli
Tata Talia
Valen
Vania Sagita Lie

Lecturers

Ade Maradhona Shantio Wijaya, S.Sn.
Alfiansyah Zulkarnain, S.Sn., M.Ds.
Chandra Djoko Zuki, S.Sn., M.Ds.
Donny Ibrahim, S.Sn., M.Ikom.
Ellis Melini, S.Sn., M.T.
Eston Kamelang Mauleti, S.Sn., M.Ds.
Hady Soenarjo, S.Sn., M.Ds.
J. Baptista Anton, S.Sn., M.Ikom.
Jeffrey Rachmad Gunadi, S.Sn., M.Ds.
Juliana Suhindro Putra, S.Sn., M.Ed.
Kartika Magdalena Suwanto, S.Ds., M.Ds.
Naldo Yanuar Heryanto, S.Sn., M.T.
Noor Wirama, S.Sn., M.Ds.
Dra. Rerry Isfandriani
Shannon Glenda Tenardi, S.Ds., M.Ds.
Silvi Lim, DcM
Siswanto Sidharta, B.Sc., MBA.
Drs. Winoto Usman
Zulvan Zein Zulkarnain, S.Sn.

The Publication

Typolog 2025 Mural Competition

Exciting news! Typolog 2025 is now open for submissions! 🎉

Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your creative potential. Join the competition and compete for cash prizes, certificates, and more!

📌 How to Participate:
For detailed guidelines and registration, visit:
🔗 https://linktr.ee/Typolog2025 (Available in bio and post)

📞 Contact Person:
Evelyna – +62 81386764170 (WhatsApp)

We look forward to your participation! 👋😊

#designcompetition #designevent #visualcommunication #studentcompetition #Typolog2025

ILLUSTRATE YOUR FUTURE

Poster for Illustrate Your Future

Unleash your imagination and illustrate your vision of the future! Use traditional illustration techniques and showcase your creativity.

🏆 Prizes for Winners: Cash prizes, UPH Visual Communication Design (DKV) scholarships, and Faber-Castell Polychromos sets.

📅 Important Dates:

  • Submission Deadline: March 16, 2025
  • Winner Announcement: March 31, 2025
  • Submit your artwork: tinyurl.com/LombaDKVUPH

📌 Eligibility & Requirements:
✅ Open to high school students (SMA, SMK, or equivalent).
✅ Participants must follow @dkv.uph on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
✅ Submissions must be scanned images of the participant’s original traditional illustration.

For detailed guidelines and requirements, please refer to the official post above.

VCD UPH at Pra-Rakornas ASPRODI DKV

On Monday, October 7, 2024, VCD UPH attended an invitation from the Indonesian Association of Visual Communication Design Study Programs (ASPRODI DKV) to participate in the Pra-Rakornas held at ISI Yogyakarta. During the event, several new directives from ASPRODI were shared, along with discussions on the agenda for the upcoming Rakornas. Thank you, ASPRODI DKV, for the invitation. We hope these activities will continue to enhance collaboration and the quality of VCD education in Indonesia.

Group Photo of Pra-Rakornas ASPRODI DKV in ISI Yogyakarta

Photo provided by ASPRODI DKV.

Focal Point 2

VCD UPH Presents Focal Point 2 Photography Exhibition. This exhibition is held in Peluita Hall, Universitas Pelita Harapan from August 12 to August 30. Similar to the first Focal Point, the exhibition showcases works from the VCD students in their first year photography courses. Focal Point 2 also hosts a seminar and photography demo by renowned food photographer, Christo Tjandra.

Focal Point 2 Exhibition

ADHIKARI Catalogue

We are excited to publish the event catalogue for “ADHIKARI,” which was held last December. In this catalogue, you can see the works presented in the exhibition, representing the learning experiences that the students gained through their study tour to Jogjakarta.

Typolog 2024

Typolog 2024 was recently held from June 15th to 22nd, 2024, at Carstenz Mall, Gading Serpong. The event featured a typography poster competition, seminars, work critiques, and workshops conducted by three outstanding mentors: Nikko Purnama Lukman, Agus Adhityatama, and Yasser Rizky.

Check out some photos and documentation from Typolog 2024 below.

Alumni: Natasha Tontey

Photo of Natasha Tontey, Photo Credit: Leandro Quintero 2022.

My name is Natasha Tontey. I am currently working as an artist and researcher. I studied in UPH from 2007 until 2011. My career started from working as a graphic designer and art director but my instinct and curiosity lead me into another pathway of becoming an artist and researcher. For me, design approach supports my artistic practice.

I believe some courses in DKV UPH would support the future wider career endeavour, especially Cross Cultural Design which was led by Bu Lala Santyaputri, encouraged us to organise a student exhibition outside the campus environment. This gives student a real practical experience beyond campus curriculum. Back then, we also had the late Pak Yongky Safanayong, the most-thought-provoking dean to our time. During the internship programme, I was an intern (and later employee) at Studio 1212 founded by Kak Max Suriaganda (lecturer of DKV 5 and Fashion Design), where I was taught the multidisciplinary aspect of design thinking through comprehensive methods. Not to forget, that one of the most memorable moment I had is the spatial experience of everyday life in Gedung B. The building is utilised for DKV classes, which was once a parking ramp that brought a Brutalist atmosphere alongside the depressive yet apocalyptic classroom in contrast with the hyper decorative kitschy scenery outside the building. A bizarre visual stimuli.

On the other note, I couldn’t recall which subject I found most impressive. As far as I remember, in UPH I met lecturers who were radically interesting who have become my mentors to this present day, Pak FX Harsono and Kak Max Suriaganda. Pak FX Harsono led the Aesthetic Philosophy course and was also my final assignment supervisor, whilst Kak Max led the DKV 5 and Fashion Design courses. In my opinion, visual communication design is very philosophical and does not have to be normative and industrial-based subject, so this course provides the basics for thinking about design philosophically, sustainably and multi-disciplinary.

Apart from the loaded assignments, studying at UPH was quite expensive. Time management is really crucial. Therefore, I am not sure whether to recommend it or not. However, to be honest, when I was in high school I was still confused about where to study, so maybe it would be better for the campus to provide more information for the potential candidates about visual communication design. I think understanding the inevitable high cost of campus assignment is important. There should be more engagements that might serve as opportunities for students and the general public. And, I hope the campus institution will foster a culture of curiosity, experimentation and creative response, to support students to work on the transformation of an existing project, the creative development of a new work, a new piece of research, or an experiment to try something new. Also perhaps it would be great for design campus institutions to reach and engage with diverse and broader cultural practices to foster the curious mind of the student.


Our parents might have a belief system for the ancient fiction called religion, but each religion has its own storytelling structure. What if we said, the only structure we should believe is the fiction inside our head. Every decision is fiction, all fiction is a decision.

Point 0.4 from the Manifesto of Tactile and Fanciful Tactics on How to Build a Speculative Future through 1.0 Alternatives and Plausible Cosmic Solutions — Natasha Tontey (2018)

Natasha Tontey is an artist and researcher based in between Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Her artistic practice predominantly explores the fictional accounts of the history and myths surrounding ‘manufactured fear.’ In her practice, she observes any possibilities of other futures that are projected not from the perspective of major and established institutions, but a subtle and personal struggle of the outcasted entities and beings. 

Her recent exhibitions include a solo show at Auto Italia, London, UK (2022). And selected group shows and screening at 34th Singapore International Film Festival (2023), Green Snakes at Tai Kwun Contemporary Hong Kong (2023), Voice Againts Reason at Museum MACAN Jakarta (2023),  57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (2023), Singapore Biennale (2022); De Stroom Den Haag (2022); GHOST;2565, Bangkok, Thailand (2022); Protozone8 Queer Trust, Zürich, Switzerland (2022); Arko Art Council, Seoul, Korea (2022), Leeum Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea (2022); Hamburger Bahnhof, Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin (2021); transmediale, Berlin (2021); Performance Space 2021, Sydney; Other Futures, Amsterdam (2021); Singapore International Film Festival (2021), Kyoto Experiment 2021; Asian Film Archive, Singapore (2021).

In 2020, she received the HASH Award from the ZKM, Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe and Akademie Schloss-Solitude. She was a fellow for Human Machine of the Junge Akademie at Akademie der Künste Berlin 2021-2023.

SEE February 2024

Hello everyone. For the second SEE of 2024, some interesting things happened in the department for the past month.

First of all, we welcome the students from VCD Universitas Multimedia Nusantara who joined the exchange student program. They have joined the online orientation and also currently attending several classes at VCD UPH this semester.

We also had student activites this month. First, the student farewell for the students that finished their final project last semester. Second, titled PDKT, which is a student bonding event held by the student association.

For this SEE’s featured work, we feature Felicia Karen Rawung’s final project. She is from the animation concentration, and her project was one of the best final project from the 2023/2024 Odd Semester.

Last update from January 2024 is that there were three new publications: de-lite, ARCHIVED, and UPH AICON 2023 Catalogue. We also republished one book that was from Design & Environment course back in 2021/2022.

We hope that everyone can be inspired more in February 2024.