Product Design Department of the Faculty of Architecture and Design (FAD), Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) Yogyakarta conducted Seminar on Research and Innovation of Art & Design (Serenade) on Monday to Tuesday, June 21 – 22, 2021. This national webinar (Call for Paper) was conducted through collaboration with five higher education institutions with Product Design degrees, that also members of Aliansi Desainer Produk Industri Indonesia (ADPII): Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta, Institut Teknologi Nasional (ITENAS) Bandung, Universitas Surabaya (UBAYA), Universitas Islam Nahdlatul Ulama (UNISNU) Jepara, and Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) Tangerang.
Serenade 2021 brought the theme “Creativity Transformation for Strengthening Competitiveness of Industry Post Pandemic”, with keynote speakers Drs. Heroe Poerwadi, M.A. (Vice Mayor of Yogyakarta), Ir. Eko A. Prawoto, M.Arch. from the practitioner element, and Dr. Suastiwi Triatmojo, M.Des. from the academic element. To build a scientific discussion related to the theme, this event also brought a lineup of invited speakers: Maharani Dian Permanasari, S.Ds., M.Ds., M.Phil., Ph.D. (ITENAS), Guguh Sujatmiko S.T., M.Ds. (UBAYA), Achmad Zainuddin, S.Sn., M.Sn. (UNISNU), Devanny Gumulya, S.Sn., M.Sc. (UPH), dan Kristian Oentoro, S.Ds., M.Ds. (UKDW).
Serenade 2021 was officially opened by Ir. Henry Feriadi, M.Sc., Ph.D. as the Rector of UKDW. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in the field of design to work together in achieving a better life in the time of pandemic. UKDW should also make efforts to innovate and collaborate to implement kampus merdeka (Independent campus, freedom to learn). Meanwhile, the Vice Mayor of Yogyakarta said that we need to stand out and be creative to respond to various challenges during the pandemic as well as post-pandemic.
Communities and business players also need to be adaptive and transformative while thinking for the long-term development of their business. Ir. Eko A. Prawoto, M.Arch. also pointed out that life will not go back as before the pandemic, so designers need to preserve their identity and local values in the process of creation. Dr. Suastiwi Triatmojo, M.Des. also urged professionals and educators to put more concern to the social aspect in their design and find creative ways to build a prosperous society.
Serenade 2021 also invited academics, practitioners, associations, and government institutions to take part in scientific discussions on the opportunity and challenges faced by industry during pandemic and post-pandemic.
According to the coordinator of Serenade 2021 Sekar Adita, S.Sn., M.Sn., this event also served as a room for a scientific meeting to disseminate research results and product design planning that in line with the theme of the seminar. The Head of ADPII Achmad Syarief, MSD, Ph.D. expressed his appreciation for Product Design UKDW in organizing Serenade 2021.
Dr.-Ing. Ir. Winarna, M.A. as Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Design UKDW closed the event by inviting all committees, participants, and speakers to continue creating, innovating, and collaborating so that we could be a blessing for society. Serenade will be conducted regularly in the years to come as academics’ contribution to business world and industry as well as for scientific purposes in the field of design.