UKDW Students Win First Place in National Inclusion Video Competition at Temu Inklusi 2025
Students from Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) Yogyakarta have once again earned national recognition. Two Product Design students from the class of 2022, Vanessa Alvenia and Shania Agustine, won First Place in the Inclusion Video category at the 6th Temu Inklusi Nasional, held in Cirebon, West Java.
The competition was part of Temu Inklusi, an initiative by Sasana Inklusi dan Gerakan Advokasi Difabel (SIGAB) Indonesia, supported by disability rights groups, civil society organizations, development partners, and the government.
This year’s event carried the theme “Commitment, Synergy, Action, and Innovation in Diversity for a Golden Indonesia 2045.” It served as a strategic forum for stakeholders—including disability communities, academics, government, businesses, and the media—to share best practices, strengthen collaboration, and shape inclusive solutions for Indonesia’s future.
Vanessa and Shania’s award-winning video, “Melihat Dunia dari Dua Sisi” (“Seeing the World from Two Sides”), invites audiences to view life from two perspectives: the general public and people with disabilities. The core message is clear—inclusion is not charity, but a fundamental human right.
Drawing inspiration from Joni Mitchell’s song “Both Sides Now,” the video tells the story of Mr. Sabari, a man with low vision who lives with remarkable independence—staying active through sports, using assistive technology like TalkBack on his phone, and enjoying daily life on equal terms with others. His story shows that limited eyesight does not limit a person’s ability to live fully and independently.
Vanessa and Shania first met Mr. Sabari through their Inclusive Product Design Studio course, a signature element of UKDW’s Product Design curriculum, where students co-create real-world solutions with people with disabilities.
As part of this collaboration, they not only produced the award-winning video but also designed a water-measuring tool for people with visual impairments, supporting inclusive participation in eco-enzyme production.
Winta Adhitia Guspara, S.T., M.Sn., Coordinator of UKDW’s Inclusive Design Laboratory, expressed pride in the students’ achievement.
“We are extremely proud of Vanessa and Shania. Their accomplishment proves that collaborative, empathy-driven learning can produce impactful works with wide-reaching benefits,” he said.
Since 2014, UKDW’s Product Design Program has run the Ergonomics and Inclusive Design Laboratory and the Inclusive Product Design Studio as platforms for young people passionate about disability inclusion. Working with individuals, communities, NGOs, and institutions such as schools, the program has produced everyday tools for people with disabilities, educational games, and assistive devices—reflecting UKDW’s commitment to transformative education and social justice.
Vanessa and Shania’s success shows that UKDW students are not only creative and innovative, but also socially conscious and deeply committed to issues of diversity, equality, and human dignity.
“Through this work, we learned that sight doesn’t always come from the eyes—sometimes it comes from the heart. Inclusion isn’t pity, it’s the recognition of every person’s right to live equally,” said Vanessa.
By involving people with disabilities directly in the design process, UKDW hopes to inspire more young people to actively contribute to building an inclusive world. The Product Design Program remains committed to guiding students in creating socially impactful works with lasting value.
W-ID: wag | Ed. (ENG): drr
