13 October 2025 Redaktur: Yaritsa Husni Sabiela Penulis: Muhammad Rasky Alfitra Editor: Byanca Putri Anjar
ITS Interior Aesthetics Laboratory Teaches Makrame with Economic Value to Muhammadiyah Kenjeran Orphanage, Enhancing Children’s Creative Skills.
Creativity skills as a means of developing economic value can be built through the creation of handicrafts. Handicrafts, as handmade products that contain unique selling points and aesthetic value, have become trendy among Indonesians. The Interior Aesthetics Laboratory saw this opportunity to initiate a training program that prepares skilled human resources to create unique handicrafts with economic value.
Macrame, as a popular craft among Indonesians, has a high demand. This attracted the Interior Aesthetics Laboratory to make macrame the output of the skills training program. The macrame-making process is relatively easy to understand, and the tools and materials used are relatively simple, making it an accessible handicraft for all segments of society, in this case, the children at the Muhammadiyah Kenjeran Orphanage.
This macrame training focuses on developing the skills and creativity of the community so that they can acquire special abilities that have the potential to become business opportunities and sources of income. The children at the Muhammadiyah Kenjeran Orphanage, as young people in a vulnerable economic situation, are the ones who need to be equipped with business opportunities to provide them with the insight to generate additional income. Children are very suitable subjects for macrame craft training. This is not without reason, because at a young age, this training activity can provide new experiences to enhance creativity and independence, helping children to be more innovative.
Held on August 2, 2025, the Macrame Training, which became a means of community service for the Interior Aesthetics Laboratory, served as a platform for lecturers and students to share their knowledge in crafting and its economic value. The enthusiasm shown by the children of the Muhammadiyah Kenjeran Orphanage also contributed to the atmosphere of enthusiasm for learning to make crafts. Apart from the obligation to provide training to the community, this community service also became a means for the Interior Aesthetics Laboratory to share with those in greater need.
The Macrame Training Community Service itself had been prepared by the Interior Aesthetics Laboratory lecturers since April 2025. This community service was led by Interior Aesthetics Lab lecturer Ajeng Kusuma S.Ds., M.Arch., followed by other lecturers, Aria Weny Anggraita ST., M.MT, Ir. Nanik Rachmaniyah M.T., Dr. Firman Hawari S.Sn., M.Ds, Azharine Purwa Jingga S. Ds., M.Ars, and Anggri Indraprasti S.Sn., M.Ds. The implementation team also actively involves the participation of Interior Design students from ITS. The training system was conceived through regular open discussions between lecturers and students, resulting in a macrame training community service event entitled “Macrame Training for Children at the Muhammadiyah Kenjeran Surabaya Orphanage as a Creative and Economically Valuable Skill”.
This community service directly implements interior design knowledge in the field of handicraft skills that can support aesthetic value to provide substantial selling value. In essence, interior design is not only limited to space design but also includes a deep understanding of aesthetics, composition, materials, and functionality. These four aspects can be found in the creation of macrame crafts. Lecturers and students from the Interior Aesthetics Laboratory applied their knowledge of design principles and elements to create a macrame training program that is easy to understand and relevant to the needs of the children at the orphanage.
This community service is expected to have a positive sustainable impact on the growth of business opportunities for people in vulnerable economic conditions. The training, which has been designed to be easy for children to understand and follow, aims to provide technical skills that are valuable in the interior decoration market, but also to significantly increase creativity, innovation, and independence, transforming them from a vulnerable group into empowered individuals. This contribution serves as a foundation for the Interior Aesthetics Laboratory to contribute in making a beneficial interior design profession for both ITS and the surrounding community.
Ketua Pengabdian Masyarakat: Ajeng Kusuma S.Ds., M.Arch. Anggota Dosen: Aria Weny Anggraita ST., M.MT, Ir. Nanik Rachmaniyah M.T., Dr. Firman Hawari S.Sn., M.Ds, Azharine Purwa Jingga S. Ds., M.Ars, dan Anggri Indraprasti S.Sn., M.Ds. Anggota Mahasiswa: Vina Santhica, Nur Maulidiyah, Muhammad Rasky Alfitra, Achmad Rayssal Ramzi, Widad Azzahro Fauzi, dan Naurah Kayana.
Laboratorium: Lab. Estetika Interior