UPH Visual Communication Design
Passionate, Brighter, and Transformational
On Monday, January 8, 2024, an online orientation for VCD UPH was conducted for exchange students from Multimedia Nusantara University. In this orientation, 10 UMN students were welcomed by the Dean of the Faculty of Design and the Head of the Visual Communication Design Program at Pelita Harapan University. In addition to introducing VCD UPH, the meeting explained the learning processes that will take place at UPH. May the exchange program run smoothly this semester. Happy learning.
My name is Priscilla Agatha, and I studied Animation at DKV UPH from 2015 to 2019. Currently, I work as an illustrator with a focus on cute characters. My clients include small businesses, companies, and individuals for personal commissions. In my day-to-day routine, I engage in illustration work, communicate with clients, and, when there is free time, practice my craft!
My time at DKV UPH was a valuable experience. My classmates were supportive, and the lecturers consistently pushed us to improve. Reflecting on my studies, the first year was particularly enlightening in terms of design. The class taught by Pak Winoto Usman engaged me in the study, emphasizing that the most aesthetically pleasing pictures can be created not just from artistic inspiration but through concept and methodology.
Upon entering the Animation major, I discovered my interest in illustration, realizing there was much more to it than just creating visually appealing images. After graduating, refining my identity as an artist became a continuous process. Through practice and diverse experiences, I developed a consistent visual art style. Looking back, I credit this growth to the foundation laid during my studies at DKV UPH.
I hope that the education provided at DKV UPH has continued to evolve. I recommend aspiring artists and designers to consider studying there, as the program offers a well-rounded education balancing theory and practice. The emphasis on critical thinking equips artists and designers to tackle visual problems, regardless of their complexity.
Like many artists, my biggest challenge has been fear, whether it’s fear of failure or ridicule. To those facing similar challenges, I offer this advice: embrace your fear, recognizing it as the initial step in your artistic journey. After all, what’s one step compared to the hundreds of positive steps you’ll take?
My name is Junissa Bianda H, and I am an illustrator specializing in children’s books and goods. I attended UPH from 2009 to 2013, majoring in DKV. My time at UPH was truly eye-opening, unlocking numerous skills and wisdom during my classes.
Among the subjects, I particularly enjoyed the Digital Art class, where I learned the basic principles of Photoshop. This marked a breakthrough in my artistic journey as it was my first introduction to Photoshop. Previously, I had primarily used traditional mediums for my art, but now I consistently incorporate Photoshop into my projects. In the Illustration class, I explored the vast styles of illustration and learned to stylize humans and objects. I also appreciated experimenting with mixing traditional media, producing different and unique textures for my work.
Inspired by the classes at UPH, I decided to delve deeper into illustration by pursuing a master’s degree at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Currently, I am represented by a literary agency based in NYC, UK, and Singapore. Throughout my career, my clients have mainly been publishers, including Penguin Random House, Nosycrow, Usborne, Hallmark, Sourcebooks, Scholastic, Hachette, Cottage Door Press, Unilever, Albert Whitman & Co, among others.
One of my notable illustrated books, titled “Nabil Steals a Penguin,” was voted “Picture Book of the Month” by The Guardian and The Bookseller. It was also mentioned in the Observer as the picture book to look out for.
I had the privilege of creating branding for IHC Pertamedika’s children’s hospital in Makassar, designing two new mascots, and creating a mural for its 20m corridor and rooms.
In 2021, I debuted my own illustrated and written book series, “Kareem and Khaleel,” published by Lentera Hati. The series, consisting of five books, has sold over 20,000 copies worldwide. The IP is expanding into other media, including small merchandise and goods. The series was nominated as the bestseller in the children’s book category in BBW and Gramedia.
All these projects were made easier by the foundation laid during my time at UPH, and I highly recommend it to art students.
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.
Pablo Picasso
On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, students from the Visual Communication Design (VCD) program at UPH visited Scientia Square Park to present their analysis and proposals regarding environmental graphic design at Scientia Square Park. This project is part of the final examination for the course “Graphic Design in Space,” held in the Odd Semester of 2023/2024. Through this project, which involves industry stakeholders, VCD UPH aims to provide students with real-world experience to enhance their learning.
On Monday, December 18, 2023, the VCD UPH faculty team held a coordination meeting to prepare for the second semester of the academic year 2023/2024. The meeting was attended by both permanent and non-permanent faculty members to ensure the smooth progress of all courses.
The meeting began with coordination at the program level, followed by faculty members collaborating with course teams to discuss the details and technical aspects of the upcoming semester. Hopefully, the courses in the second semester of 2023/2024 will proceed smoothly.
Thank you for all the lecturers for the passion to teach at VCD UPH. We hope that all the hard work that we do can be felt by the students as they grow and learn throughout the years.
Special thanks to Pak Budi for the great pictures.
My name is Jeff Daniel Riyanto. I graduated from Visual Communication Design (DKV) at UPH with a concentration in Graphic Design, belonging to the batch of 2018-2022. Currently, I own a creative design studio that predominantly focuses on social media design. We manage brands and designs related to the food and beverage industry and have expanded into fashion and lifestyle as well.
My experience studying DKV was both exciting and challenging. Meeting new friends with diverse backgrounds and interests in design was a highlight. Among the courses I took at UPH, especially in the Graphic Design department, the most impactful was the main studio course. There, I learned design principles that have proven to be incredibly useful in my professional endeavors.
The rapid development of Industry 5.0 has significantly influenced the creative workforce. During my time at UPH, the learning process evolved to keep pace with the times, providing an added advantage for us as students. I highly recommend UPH because, in my opinion, it offers an environment where you can develop exceptionally well, and the faculty is very supportive of its students. For instance, my classmates and I were required to participate in a typeface design competition, which resulted in us winning second place on an international scale.
Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.
Dale Carnegie
Senior Designer for CONDE NAST JAPAN( Wired Japan, GQ Japan, Vogue Japan )
Head of Creative / Partner for Open Quarter Tailor
In the earlier years of my academic journey, the field of Design and Visual Communication (DKV) was characterized by a more holistic approach, predating the nuanced subcategories that exist today, such as cinematography and animation. Back then, DKV encompassed a comprehensive spectrum, requiring us to delve into every facet from A to Z.
Despite initially perceiving this broad approach as a challenge, it ultimately became my forte. Acquiring knowledge across the entirety of the discipline, akin to comprehending every graph in a pizza-graph, proved to be an invaluable asset.
Following graduation, I dedicated two years to a small design studio in Jakarta, named Table 6. During my tenure, I collaborated with clients from diverse sectors, including fashion, law, F&B, art exhibitions, etc. This multifaceted experience was a cherished chapter in my professional journey. Subsequently, I resigned from the position, driven by the ambition to establish a prominent presence in Japan—an aspiration I had harbored for years. A year of Japanese language study paved the way for a subsequent year working with a Japanese design studio, culminating in my current role as a Senior Designer/Art Director at Conde Nast Japan. Beyond my responsibilities at Conde Nast, I co-own a small design studio with my wife and a business partner. Additionally, I am a co-owner and head of creative at the Indonesian tailoring brand “Open Quarter Tailor.”
Reflecting on my university years at UPH, I hold fond memories of both enduring friendships and the privilege of learning from some of the industry’s brightest minds. UPH instilled in us the importance of critical thinking, transcending mere technical proficiency. This emphasis on critical thinking emerged as a cornerstone of our industry strength. While every subject at UPH was enjoyable, I particularly relished the “DKV Subject,” where we undertook the rebranding of selected companies—a task that resonated with my specialization in branding.
The knowledge and skills cultivated during my time at UPH have significantly contributed not only to my professional journey but also to my personal development. I unequivocally recommend UPH to prospective students, as my experience there was truly transformative and life-changing.
My name is Raymond Ahari, and I’m an alumnus of DKV UPH, class of 2010. After graduating in 2014, I started a Production House business named “Jendela” along with some of my friends.
My four years at DKV UPH were undoubtedly a pleasant experience. The comfortable campus environment and complete facilities helped me study better, not to mention the competent lecturers and wonderful friends whom I got to know and learn from. Many things I know and implement in my work today, I picked up from my time at DKV UPH.
Although every class equipped me with different things that helped me become who I am today, I would say that the Videography class particularly left a mark on me. I didn’t initially plan to take the class, but I had a close relationship with the lecturer, and he told me about a great project that I could work on if I took his Videography class—and yes, of course, I ended up taking it!
One of the most important things that I learned from my days at DKV UPH is the significance of good teamwork. Choosing the right teammates will highly affect your results; it will help you finish the assignment right on time, with excellent quality.
As an alumnus, I recommend DKV UPH to those who are looking for a good place to learn and pursue their degree. I am always grateful for the opportunity to study at such a fine campus and faculty.
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
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.
