Daniel Noverian Setiawan, a student from the Product Design Department at Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) Yogyakarta, earned 2nd place in the INTRVL 2024 Product Design Competition, held late last year. This national competition was organized by the Faculty of Design and Creative Industries at Esa Unggul University and featured three categories: Residential Furniture, Aesthetic Illustration of Indonesian Culture, and Residential Interior Design.
With the theme “Building Dreams,” participants were tasked with creating designs inspired by Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage while envisioning an innovative future. Contestants designed residential furniture by tapping into local craftsmanship and Indonesia’s abundant natural resources.
The competition emphasized the use of indigenous materials such as wood, rattan, and bamboo to promote sustainability while preserving cultural identity. Participants’ designs needed to balance modern aesthetics with functionality, creating products that were visually appealing, comfortable to use, and relevant to both domestic and international markets.
Daniel’s design, titled “Lampora”, won 2nd place in the Residential Furniture category. He created a nostalgic side table inspired by the iconic petromax lamp, incorporating sustainable local materials. Lampora successfully captured the essence, proportions, meaning, and aesthetics of its inspiration.
Daniel explained that the petromax lamp evoked warm memories of his grandmother’s house, serving as a bridge between past and present. The design process drew on techniques he learned in UKDW’s Product Design program. Lampora utilized laminated bamboo, an eco-friendly material, complemented by rattan weaving, symbolizing traditional Indonesian craftsmanship, and brass from Kotagede, Yogyakarta, for an elegant touch.
“The dark finish creates a striking contrast, making it a focal point of illumination. With its symmetrical design and dimensions of 590 mm x 500 mm, it can adapt to various spaces,” he explained. Daniel also emphasized the importance of product designers staying current with trends. “At UKDW, our lecturers are skilled and “The dark finish creates a striking contrast, making it a focal point of illumination. With its symmetrical design and dimensions of 590 mm x 500 mm, it can adapt to various spaces,” he explained. Daniel also emphasized the importance of product designers staying current with trends. “At UKDW, our lecturers are skilled and and actively support students in their creative pursuits,” he added.
Dr. Winta Tridhatu Satwikasanti, Head of UKDW’s Product Design Department, commended the growing competitive spirit and self-expression among the students. “Self-actualization is vital for Generation Z. Through competitions like this, Daniel has showcased his skills and proven he can compete alongside students from top universities, building his reputation as a talented furniture designer early in his career,” she said. [humasukdw/trans.drr]