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. 

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.

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.

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

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:

Opening of Focal Point

On August 23th 2023, UPH Visual Communication Design opens the Focal Point Exhibition in Pelita Hall. The exhibition showcased works of the 2023 students on the photography course. The opening ceremony is attended by student, lecturers, and also guests of the Visual Communication Design department.

Focal Point Photography Exhibition

The exhibition and photography seminar for the students of Visual Communication Design (DKV) UPH 2023 carries the theme “FOCAL POINT.”

In the realm of photography, “Focal Point” refers to the main point of focus in a photographic work. The focal point is the primary subject that a photographer emphasizes to capture the observer’s attention. The focal point functions as a gateway for the observer into the story. The object that becomes the focal point becomes the main interpretation of the work. Hence, the quality of a focal point can determine the success of a piece of work, specifically whether it effectively communicates and impacts its observer. Without a focal point, an observer might struggle to identify the compelling elements in a photo, thereby impeding the interpretation process and resulting in a monotonous impression.

Through the photography exhibition titled ‘Focal Point,’ the students of DKV UPH are provided with the opportunity to showcase their skills and development over a year of learning. The exhibition will demonstrate the students’ understanding after being equipped with knowledge about photography techniques, composition, and photo processing using supporting software. Furthermore, the term ‘focal point’ also refers to the subject theme of the photos to be displayed, such as product photos and model photos.