Hello! My name is Tabita Eleora, I’m one of the alumni in UPH 2019 (2019-2023). My major while I studied here was Visual Communication Design with a concentration in Animation. For the few years before I got into the concentration, I learned so much about the basic foundation on design. The process of design is no different within the concentrations and with these foundations, I was able to understand furthermore as I learned how to produce animation from pre-production to post-production. In my years of this concentration, I found myself interested in the storymaking aspect in animation production.
Building stories and characters were some of the many things I have been interested in since I was young. I have been drawing for a long time, though I was more focused on sharpening my skills not too far back before I applied to study here in UPH. My knowledge of art was severely humbled when I got in, there’s so many aspects that makes someone a great designer and just being able to draw is not a full guarantee. To be a capable designer, we can’t all rely on skills and passion alone. There are theories, methods, even history to learn about. There’s dedicated research to understand the purpose of each design. Creating a design is a lot more of mindwork and practice, and something that can be studied diligently here at UPH.
The studies were a great foundation that helps me in understanding art and design, but UPH greatly encourages everyone to work together as a team. There’s a lot of projects that can’t be handled on your own. Communicating and discussing with your peers are much needed skills when our goal is to communicate a design, especially in the industry. Team projects were one of the challenges that truly helped me regain confidence and more skills. Being able to work with others is one of useful quality networking that people tend to remember.
One of the courses that helped me was “Desain untuk Masyarakat” or Design for Community. This course not only challenges us creatively, it challenges us to work as a team and solve problems that were presented. We were not only designing for scores, but we designed to lend a hand in providing our community our services. That alone has meaningful points that made me appreciate this course. I was able to learn more useful skills outside of designing.
One of the things I remembered that stuck with me for the longest time was when my lecturer told us that “We will never stop learning in this industry.” This quote came true to me because after graduating, I find myself wanting to dive more about design. Creative work has no limit in learning, we’re constantly challenged in this day and age to mend our skills following trends and technology. And UPH offers fundamentals that gave me a heads up start in this learning experience.
Going into this industry, I have my own doubts at first. but with UPH’s guidance, I was able to be confident and believe in my passion to create. UPH allows me to discover myself and have my own journey in learning art and design. The process may have its ups and downs, yet it’s the process to create oneself. Something that I hold dear as I graduate and something I hope every future student who’d want to discover themselves with UPH.
Check out Tabita’s Final Project on this page.