For Helen Wangsa, a 2014 graduate of Visual Communication Design at UPH (VCD14), working on Disney’s Moana music video localization was both a professional milestone and a personal one.
Her team had previously worked on several Disney projects, beginning with an invitation-only pitching opportunity during the pandemic. That experience eventually led to Disney Moana 2’s “Jauh di Sana,” which they developed alongside teams from several countries. Disney Global appreciated the Indonesian work, which became one of the more highly appreciated works among the participating countries.
For the latest project, “Sepanjang Jalan,” the team received the work directly, without another selection process. For Helen, that trust made the project especially meaningful.
“It wasn’t just professionally meaningful, but also very personal.”
Having grown up with Disney films and music, Helen has always felt a connection to Moana. Its tropical setting and Polynesian cultural influences, in particular, feel closely connected to Indonesia.
A Creative Mindset That Stays
Years after graduating, some of Helen’s most valuable lessons from VCD UPH continue to shape how she approaches professional projects.
One of those lessons is the willingness to explore an idea without judging it too quickly.
During her studies, Helen remembers being encouraged to put every idea on the table during brainstorming, even when those ideas initially seemed incomplete or imperfect. One particular lesson has stayed with her: a lecturer once hid her eraser and told her, “Don’t erase it. Every scribble has a purpose.”
That simple moment changed how she understood the creative process.
“Before finding the right idea, we have to be willing to put as many possibilities out there as we can.”
Today, Helen still carries that mindset into her work. Instead of searching immediately for the perfect solution, she allows ideas to develop through exploration, iteration, and conversation.
From Classmates to Creative Collaborators
The project also brought Helen back together with several fellow VCD UPH alumni. This time, they were no longer classmates working on assignments, but professionals working toward the same creative goal.
The team included Gilbert March (VCD13) as Director, Evan Wijaya (VCD13) as Production Designer, Ivy Yunita (VCD13) as Storyboard Artist, Theodore Johan (VCD13) as Editor, and Vanessa Tracy (VCD23), who was interning at Niamo Studio at the time, as Production Assistant.
Although they came from different cohorts and classes, working together brought back some of the familiarity of their student days.
“It felt like working on a group assignment together again, but this time in the professional world.”
Seeing fellow alumni bring their different skills into the same project reminded Helen of a community that continues beyond graduation. What began as shared experiences in the classroom had grown into professional relationships built on trust and collaboration.
More Than Getting the Project Done
As a producer, Helen has also learned that a successful project depends on more than schedules and deliverables.
Productions involving many people and moving parts inevitably come with challenges. Through these experiences, Helen has learned to stay calm, find solutions, and keep communication clear across the team.
These lessons have shaped her understanding of what it means to be a producer.
“A producer’s job isn’t only to make sure a project is completed on time, but also to create a collaborative environment where everyone can give their best.”
For Helen, creating that environment is an essential part of the creative process. A strong final work is not simply the result of one person’s vision. It also comes from giving people the space and support to contribute what they do best.
The People Behind the Work
Looking back on the project, Helen’s greatest takeaway goes beyond the finished music video.
The project came during a personally challenging period in her life. It reminded her that creative work does not always happen under perfect circumstances. Sometimes, continuing to create means working through uncertainty while still giving your best.
“We don’t always have to be in perfect circumstances to keep creating and giving our best.”
Most importantly, the experience reminded Helen that creative work is never truly made alone.
Behind every finished piece are people who contribute their ideas, skills, time, and trust. For Helen, that shared experience is what ultimately made the project meaningful.
“We never really create alone. There are always many people behind a piece of work, and that’s what makes the process meaningful.”
From a classroom at VCD UPH to a professional production for one of the world’s most recognizable creative brands, Helen’s journey shows how lessons from design education can continue to grow long after graduation.
Her story is also a reminder that creative practice is not only about finding the right idea. It is about staying curious enough to explore, open enough to collaborate, and resilient enough to keep creating through every stage of the journey.
Congratulations, Helen and Team, on this wonderful achievement. We are proud to see our alumni continue to create, collaborate, and bring Indonesian creative talent to a wider audience.
Check out the Behind the Scene Video of “Sepanjang Jalan” too here!
