Tag: uph

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Kezia Rachel

Photo of Kezia Rachel

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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VCD UPH Student Receives Award at KMI EXPO 2023

Praise God, one of the VCD UPH students, Jessica Valencia (Graphic Design, class of 2020), along with her team from the Faculty of Economics & Business UPH, has successfully won the 3rd place in the main product category of the Creative Industries and Tourism at the KMI Expo XIV 2023. Jessica and her team presented their brand, Lawana Batik. Lawana Batik has been nurtured by UPH SparkLabs Incubation throughout the entire process until achieving this award. We express our gratitude to Jessica and the entire team involved for this remarkable achievement.

UPH Team at KMI Expo IV 2023. Photo by UPH SparkLabs Incubation.
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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.

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Typolog 2023 Webinar 3 Recap

On Friday, October 20, 2023, the Graphic Design specialization at UPH conducted the Typolog 3 Webinar with an alumni speaker from VCD UPH itself, Fredella Agatha. In this event, Fredella shared her experience in designing the ‘Pantjoran’ lettering as her final project. Fredella explained the process and also shared tips on lettering design with all the webinar participants.

Fredella Agatha, The Speaker for the Webinar, and Yolanda Tumilisar, The Moderator for the Webinar

In addition to Fredella’s sharing session, the Typolog 3 Webinar also featured the announcement of the winners of the Typolog 2023 competition. The Typolog 2023 competition challenged participants to create designs in the Tote Bag format, which would later be produced as merchandise by VCD UPH. The grand winner of the Typolog 2023 competition was Tiara Kiatama, a student of VCD UPH from the 2022 batch. Meanwhile, the favorite winner of the Typolog 2023 competition was Joshlyn Tee from UPH College.

“Berbeda-beda Tetapi Tetap Satu” by Tiara Kiatama

This work emerged from the exploration of the definition of “Nusantara,” which is a synonym for describing the unity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia introduced by Ki Hajar Dewantara in 1950. Nusantara refers to the unity of several islands, which I combined with Indonesia’s official motto, “Bhineka Tunggal Ika,” which means “Diverse But One.” The diversity of Indonesia, comprising various provinces, ethnicities, cultures, and religions, is the uniqueness of the Indonesian nation itself.

This concept resulted in this work, a collection of diverse typefaces, yet still displaying the number one. Diversity was also achieved through the use of different colors, but there was still a unifying element, including its placement within a text “box.”

This is my interpretation of the theme ‘Nusantara’ provided.

“The title of this work is Nusantara. This typographic work is inspired by the cultural diversity of Indonesia and draws inspiration from the art of wayang puppetry. Each letter in the word ‘Nusantara’ is inspired by the different shapes and styles of wayang characters. I attempted to incorporate the unique features and characteristics of various wayang characters into each letter. I also used wayang puppet heads in some of the letters. I played with the thin and thick aspects of the wayang figures and used them in letter composition to create an engaging design.

I created each letter’s sketch individually and drew inspiration from the trendy ‘molten chrome typography’ and sharp typography seen on various social media platforms because I believed this style was suitable for the wayang aesthetics. In the modern world, we often get caught up in new trends and things happening around us, and we tend to forget our rich and diverse culture. So, I incorporated trendy typography styles like combining different font styles into one text and experimenting with the typography composition to make Indonesian culture modern and trendy.”


Thank you to all participants, organizers, and everyone who participated during the Typolog 2023 event. Hopefully, we can meet again in Typolog or other activities.

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UPH Collaborates with Singapore Polytechnic to Bring Innovation to Villages

From YPPH Communications Office

In September, Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) hosted students from Singapore Polytechnic to partner with UPH students in applying design thinking to find innovative solutions to address some lingering problems faced by villages and informal urban settlements in Jakarta. This initiative was executed under LeX, a program initiated by the Singapore Polytechnic International (SPI) and supported by the Asia-Ready Exposure Program (AEP) ― a youth development program by the National Youth Council (NYC) Singapore. 

The program saw 30 students and three lecturers from SPI teaming up with 30 students and 13 lecturers from UPH School of Design (SoD) and Faculty of Science and Technology (FAST) to conduct social innovation design in Sukapura RW10 subdistrict, a poor riverbank community in North Jakarta, and Ciakar village in Tangerang regency on September 18-27, 2023. 

With the support of the local communities, they devised innovative programs such as riverbank community development and clean river initiatives, tempeh-making workshop, outdoor sportswear and equipment sewing, village school, making natural detergent from fruit peels, and oyster mushroom and worm farming. 

On the last day, the students held an exhibition in the form of a gallery walk to gather feedback from the UPH academic community, government officials, and the residents in the two locales. The solutions presented will have a positive impact on the local communities, and in the process, participating students were inspired to employ the knowledge and skills they learned at university to make a big difference in the world around them. 

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Alumni: Rinaldo Hartanto

Photo of Rinaldo Hartanto. Photo provided by Rinaldo Hartanto.

Hello, I’m Rinaldo Hartanto. I’m an alumnus from the class of 2011. At the time I was studying, there were no specializations, but I was always interested in illustration. Currently, I work as a studio manager and printmaker at Black Hand Gang Printmaking Studio in Ubud, Bali. Additionally, I work as a freelance illustrator and artist.

I started my studies at DKV UPH in 2007. During my time at university, I was quite active in the Department Student Association, especially in events like Artbound and student art exhibitions. My favorite place to hang out was, without a doubt, the library. With its extensive visual archives, comprehensive design and art books, and comfortable spaces, I enjoyed spending hours working on assignments and reading in the library. The painting studio was also one of my favorite places, especially in the later semesters.

As someone involved in the world of visual arts and illustration, I was impressed by various courses that covered history, culture, and illustration, including:

  • History & Appreciation of Design by the late Mr. Yongky Safanayong
  • Oriental Art & Design History by the late Mr. Yongky Safanayong
  • Cross-Culture Design by Ms. Lala Palupi Santyaputri
  • Illustration by Mr. Donny Ibrahim
  • Painting by Mr. Donny Ibrahim

Even though I’m not currently working directly in the field of graphic design, DKV UPH equipped me with various practical skills and conceptual abilities related to systematic thinking, the graphic design paradigm as a visual problem-solving solution, creative concept development, and various pre-production processes in both print and digital graphic design.

I absolutely recommend others to learn at DKV UPH. Especially because of the passionate and caring teaching staff at DKV UPH. Currently, DKV UPH is equipped with excellent facilities such as printing and graphic studios. I’m somewhat envious of current students because they have access to these new facilities. So, for all you UPH students, make the most of these facilities while you can! The support system for students interested in film is also strong. I’ve noticed that many UPH students and alumni are showcasing their work at various film festivals.

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IMOVICCON 2023

IMOVICCON (International Moving Image Cultures Conference) is an academic event initiated by a joint effort of the Visual Communication Design Department of Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH), Indonesia, and the Film Department of Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN), Indonesia. This conference is held every two years, with the host alternating between UPH and UMN. The first conference was held in 2019, hosted by the Film Department of UMN.

This conference aims to bring together leading academic and research scholars to exchange and share their academic experiences and research results on all aspects of Moving Image Culture. This event also provides an interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners, students, and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns, as well as practical challenges, encountered, and solutions adopted in the fields of Moving Image Culture.

The 3rd IMOVICCON aims to celebrate moving images by looking at their past, present, and future. It’s necessary to examine the past, the present, and the future of moving images since the past can be used as a reflection site. The present tells how far we’ve come, and it is even more interesting to see what the future holds for moving image culture.

Ever since the invention of the Phenakistoscope until the development of the Metaverse, moving image culture continued to evolve and became a huge inspiration for various research and publications. Its transdisciplinary nature also makes moving images approachable by every methodology available, making it possible to be explored and researched by multiple scientific disciplines.

This conference is an academic space for students, lecturers, researchers, practitioners, and moving image enthusiasts to exchange and share academic experiences and disseminate their recent research on all aspects of moving images. Submissions can address any aspect, but not limited to, of the past, the present, and the future of moving images.

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Alumni: Tiffany Wong

Photo of Tiffany Wong. Photo Provided by Tiffany Wong

My name is Tiffany Wong. I’m an alumna of DKV UPH, with a concentration in DG, from the batch of 2017-2021. Currently, I am working as a freelance graphic and book designer while also pursuing my passion for print through “sore sore,” an indie publishing platform. My practice explores how personal experiences and emotions are represented by tangible objects alongside written language.

I entered DKV UPH with little to no knowledge of the graphic design world. As far as I knew, I only wanted to have the ability to communicate with visuals, as their brochure advertised that academic year. With only a basic skill in drawing typography, I was amazed when I learned that this skill was just the tip of the iceberg in the graphic design world. Nevertheless, I was thoroughly guided through it, with classes and programs that taught me more than enough to thrive in the industry.

Looking back at my days in DKV UPH, I can’t choose a favorite class as I see them all as a holistic experience that I cherish. However, two that were particularly momentous for me are Main Studio 1 and Experimental Typography. Main Studio 1 was when I first discovered my passion for book design, which I now pursue wholeheartedly. Experimental Typography, on the other hand, was when I delved deeply into the essence of graphic design. It was probably when I achieved the ability to communicate with visuals, fulfilling my freshman dream.

I must say that not only did I gain knowledge and new skills, but my time studying in DKV UPH was also a journey of self-discovery. As I learned the many elements of the graphic design world in my classes, I was also guided to nurture my passion. The lecturers and the learning environment at DKV UPH were nothing but supportive. I hope that many more students can experience this once-in-a-lifetime journey, as I did.

Tiffany Wong currently lives and works in Jakarta as a graphic designer, art director, and visual artist. She previously worked as a graphic designer for Artnivora and Jakarta Film Week, as well as the visual communication designer for Orasis Art Space. Her work has been featured on Behance in the InDesign and Editorial section and in Madrid Grafica 2021.

Tiffany specializes in editorial and book design, where she explores language and words in relation to the book as an object. Her deep admiration for individual experiences and the natural world has led her to create works deeply rooted in romanticism, described by some as ‘poetic,’ ‘raw,’ and ‘whimsical.’

“At the end of the day, it isn’t where I came from. Maybe home is somewhere I’m going and never have been before.”  ― Warsan Shire

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IMATYPE Vol. 2 No. 2

IMATYPE: Journal of Graphic Design Studies, Volume 2, Number 2, has just been published. This academic journal is a collaborative effort between the Graphic Design concentration and the Editorial & Publication Design Lab of Universitas Pelita Harapan (LABDEhttps://labdep.uph.edu/P).

This publication contains seven articles, with three of the articles written by students and lecturers of UPH VCD. Here are the articles:

Peran Tipografi Eksperimental Terhadap Visualisasi Lagu Dalam Album Sinestesia

Angel Cristina (Graphic Design 2018), Ferdinand Indrajaya

Translated abstract:

Typography in the field of Visual Communication Design is generally understood as a means of communication in the form of a collection of letter characters that are composed in such a way as to convey a message. The message conveyed is not only informative, where typography is positioned merely as an instrument (as a arrangement of words) that functions to explain other visual communication media such as illustration or photography. Typography can also be understood more than just the arrangement of explanatory text for images (both illustrative or photographic). Its existence can be understood as a dramatic and expressive visual medium. As stated by Rob Carter, the anatomy of typographic forms can be further explored with the aim of achieving a more expressive form. This exploratory approach is applied to challenge traditional views of typography as instrumental and functional. The manipulation of form, space, texture, and color in typography is explored to go beyond traditional understanding. Such typographic exploration is usually understood under the title of experimental typography. This experimental effort will be applied to the Sinestesia album redesign project, where typography engages in a dialogue with the songs as content without forgetting its role in conveying the message. The visual design process stages will refer to Robin Landa’s design methodology.

Perancangan Desain Kemasan Untuk Origami Coffee Filter Kaldi Kraftware

Yolanda Ruth Theophanie Taruli Tumilisar (Graphic Design 2020), Brian Alvin Hananto, Lorentius Calvin

Translated abstract:

The UMKM Kaldi Kraftware brand is a social-preneur brand with the goal of creating products derived from the processing of waste, particularly plastic bottles found on beaches and rivers, especially in the Nusa Tenggara Barat region. Currently, Kaldi Kraftware is in the process of launching a new product, the Origami Coffee Filter, using recycled and processed plastic bottles. The challenge faced in the design process lies in storytelling, where the brand encounters difficulties in disseminating their story to the audience. In this academic work, the focus will be on the packaging design process for the Kaldi Kraftware brand, from data collection to design evaluation, along with the methodology used in the design process. Additionally, the discussion will delve into the design process, outlining various alternatives provided and direct evaluation results given by the owner.

Perancangan Desain UI/UX untuk Aplikasi Restoran Makanan Sehat Grains of Glory

Caroline Heliawanto (Graphic Design 2019), Ellis Melini

Translated abstract:

The busy lifestyle has led to demands for convenience and practicality in various aspects. Almost every industry leverages technology to sustain its business, resulting in an increase in online food ordering through smartphone applications. Recognizing this, Grains of Glory aims to utilize technology to encourage and facilitate the community in adopting a healthier lifestyle. To achieve this goal, Grains of Glory plans to design a smartphone-based food ordering application.

To see more of IMATYPE, click the button below:

IMATYPE Vol. 2 No. 2