UPH Visual Communication Design
Passionate, Brighter, and Transformational
On Saturday, August 31, 2024, VCD UPH held a gathering at Yugo Restaurant, Hotel Vega, Gading Serpong. This event was organized to launch the latest Final Project book, “EPOCH“, and also to celebrate the graduation of VCD UPH students who completed their studies in the 2023/2024 academic year.
Highlights of an undergraduate student’s studies are their final projects. A student’s final project is a culmination of their interest and mastery of a certain aspect they wish to explore and pursue. Therefore, this archive is more than just images of visuals that the students have created; it is a representation of their existence as visual communication design students. The tradition of archiving students’ final projects is a testament to the department’s aspiration to appreciate all the work that the students have done, each unique in its own time.
“Epoch” represents the beginning of a distinctive period in the history of someone or something. The term was selected as this book describes the transition, or perhaps the new beginning, of the students’ journeys as visual communication design graduates. As the students complete their final projects, they embark on a new epoch in life: as designers in the outside world. As designers who have graduated, we hope that each of our students may be able to be a blessing in their light and their new world.
Leaving school has always been a prominent change for all students. Many look forward to it, but some may feel that they aren’t ready for it. Dear students, life is full of various seasons, and each season or era is an opportunity to grow in its own way.
Epoch also marks a new era for the department. The previous final project archive showcased the three concentrations: graphic design, cinematography, and animation. In this archive, we also showcase the first graduates of the illustration concentration, which may provide a new nuance to the diverse projects shown in these archives.
Not just about the new concentration, Epoch also marks the end of the ‘pandemic’ era of final projects. Previous archives (“Salute,” “See-saw,” and “Book of Acts”) showcased works that were completed during the COVID-19 pandemic or by students who spent more than half of their study online and in quarantine. We hope that the return to a more optimal learning experience correlates with higher quality projects in this book.
And so, we hope that Epoch may continue to inspire readers through the diverse works showcased. We also hope that the end of an era can teach us to move forward in a better direction: to pursue the best, remember the good, and leave out the rest.
Brian Alvin Hananto, S.Sn., M.Ds.
Head of Visual Communication Design Department
Universitas Pelita Harapan
One of the courses in VCD UPH is Visual Communication Design Studio 2. On this occasion, we would like to discuss the work of Fidelia Cheryl Antoni from this course, which we find interesting.
The illustration is a form of attempt to visualize one of the socio-psychological contemporary issues, namely victim blaming towards women. From the psychological perspective, the phrase “victim blaming” itself may be properly defined as “a social psychological phenomenon in which individuals or groups attempt to cope with the bad things that have happened to others by assigning blame to the victim of the trauma or tragedy” (APA 2018). This phenomenon allows the one who psychologically blames to keep a distance from the victim.
Such psychological distancing provides a justification for the blamer’s inaction, as if he or she was an impartial witness. Simultaneously, such pseudo position fortifies the blamer against the feelings of vulnerability. The act of blaming itself is usually directed towards the considerably weaker social group, in this case: women. Women, who specifically, live under the inclining oppressive social system of patriarchy. Patriarchy itself is a social system which enforces a gender binary that empowers men. A social system which preserves the dynamics of society to always move centripetally towards men as its center.
Fidelia’s illustration is virtually her artistic attempt to capture then portray her concerns regarding the victim blaming phenomenon which grows out of patriarchal social system. The term “portray” refers to the Aristotelian sense of representation which is part of his philosophical account regarding art. Aristotle (384-322 BC), as submitted by Braembussche, contended that an artist portrays reality or nature as it ought to be, rather than as it is (Braembussche 2009, 17). This philosophical view holds that art is the portrayal of what is conceivable. It allows for a very “unrealistic” artistic creations to emerge. In order to do this, Fidelia chose to incorporate metaphor and hyperbole as a strategy to portray the victim blaming issue through visual illustration. Illustration is opted as a visual communication medium considering its ability to convey complex social issues in an engaging and impactful manner, making the message more apprehendable and resonant with a wider audience. Artistically, the visual affluence is enhanced by sprinkling gold-like, bright, and shiny colors. Such decision was made in order to build a more powerful yet optimistic mood. This goal is also inevitably supported by employing center lighting to isolate and emphasize focal points. Objects such as tilted hourglass, teared up paper, and megaphone are treated as visual symbols to signify the reinforcement of women’s empowerment and the fight against victim blaming narrative.
Sources of Reference
APA. “Blaming the Victim.” APA Dictionary of Psychology. April 19, 2018. https://dictionary.apa.org/blaming-the-victim
Braembussche, Antoon Van den. Thinking Art: An Introduction to Philosophy of Art. Berlin: Springer Science + Business Media B.V., 2009.
On Monday, June 3, 2024, the Visual Communication Design (VCD) department at Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) held a Gallery Walk at the Pelita Gallery for final project students from the even semester of the 2023/2024 academic year. The event was inaugurated by the Dean of the Faculty of Design and the Head of the VCD department.
During the event, several final project students from each concentration within VCD UPH presented their works to first-year students, aiming to familiarize them with the various concentrations available. This activity was designed to give first-year students a concrete understanding of what they will experience in their chosen concentrations and to foster connections among VCD UPH students across different year groups.
This May marks the transition period between the even semester and the summer semester at Universitas Pelita Harapan.
During this transition, several activities take place, such as the final examinations for students who participated in the final project in the even semester of 2023/2024, the graduation ceremony for students who completed their studies in the odd semester of 2023/2024, and several other activities.
On this occasion, we would also like to inform you about Elisabeth Katie Soleman’s final project (class of 2019), which has been selected for the Bali International Film Festival (BIFF) 2024. Her work will be screened at the festival from June 1-7, 2024.
We hope that during this transition period, there will still be many positive things to learn.
Hey there! I’m Marcia Fortuna, but my friends call me Cia. I graduated in 2018 with a degree in Visual Communication Design, with a concentration in Cinematography from UPH.
Currently, I work as an illustrator specializing in visual development (also known as concept art), and I also attend conventions where I showcase and sell my artworks. Prior to university, I had zero artistic knowledge or skill, so the first few semesters at UPH were challenging. However, both the teachers and friends were very supportive. I was able to overcome these hurdles and gradually acquire valuable artistic knowledge and skills.
Particularly in my cinematography classes, I found myself drawn to the pre-production stage of movie creation, especially worldbuilding and storyboarding. This fascination eventually led me to further explore my interest in illustration. After graduating in 2022, I started making art prints of my artwork and joining art booth events under my brand name CallmeCia. The response was incredibly positive, and by 2024, I expanded internationally, participating in conventions in Singapore.
My most memorable class at UPH, though I can’t recall its specific name, was during my cinematography concentration. One assignment that stood out was when we were tasked with individually creating and presenting short stories to the class. Our teacher, who was incredibly open, listened attentively to each story and provided genuine feedback to every student. This particular assignment became my favorite because it allowed our creativity to run wild while also emphasizing the importance of purpose behind our creative decisions.
Choosing UPH for your degree is a fantastic decision. The campus is filled with supportive peers and teachers who genuinely care about your success. Personally, my time at UPH has been invaluable for my career growth.
“Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss you’ll land among the stars”
Daniel Purnama, an alumnus of the Animation concentration class of 2013, shared his experience as a freelance concept artist and illustrator. During the online meeting, Daniel discussed how he manages projects with clients as an animation graduate in the ‘Film Management’ course for the Animation concentration.
Daniel shared about what freelance work entails, as well as the pros and cons of working as a freelancer. He elaborated on his working process, including how he manages and communicates with his clients. He also shared how he works and manages his day-to-day activities as a freelance illustrator. Daniel highlighted the importance of using references to ensure clear communication with clients and also emphasized the importance of expanding one’s skills by adapting to various styles and genres.
We extend our thanks to Daniel for taking the time to share his insights with VCD UPH. You can check Daniel Purnama at his Instagram account.
On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, VCD UPH gathered for a modest yet meaningful occasion. The final grades for the Odd Semester of 2023/2024 were disclosed, accompanied by a farewell to the students who successfully completed their Final Projects.
Faculty members took a moment to share well-wishes and words of encouragement for the departing students. The atmosphere was reflective, acknowledging the achievements and challenges that shaped the academic journey. Representatives from the student association expressed congratulations to their peers, recognizing the accomplishment with a nod to the shared experiences.
The day concluded with understated documentation and a casual gathering. Congratulations to the graduating students; be a light and blessing in your own way.