ITS Campus, ITS News — The Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) continues to intensify international collaborations across various sectors. This time, the Faculty of Creative Design and Digital Business (FDKBD) , in collaboration with Curtin University, Australia, held the Design Matters Exhibition on Friday (July 3).
The one-day exhibition, held at KOGU Space in Surabaya, provided a platform for ITS and its students to produce upcycling- based designs . Through the Adjunct Professor program, ITS invited Curtin University academic Dr. Qassim Saad as a visiting lecturer and researcher for six months.
This program aims to broaden students’ global perspectives while providing hands-on learning experiences with global academics. This teaching and learning framework allows students to learn internationally recognized design process standards.
At the exhibition’s opening, Dr. Qassim Saad explained that the project bridges craft practices with digital technology in the design process. He believes this demonstrates that technology can be leveraged in a work to maximize its potential. “The integration of technology and existing resources produces a variety of useful works,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Dean of FDKBD ITS Ellya Zulaikha ST MSn PhD revealed that this exhibition was born after a six-month learning process. The ITS Industrial Product Design Bachelor’s alumnus also added that students in this activity were not only from the ITS Industrial Product Design Department (Despro) , but also from the ITS Visual Communication Design Department (DKV) and the ITS Business Management Department . “This collaboration optimizes the upcycling craft industry through a digital approach and the right business strategy,” she added.
Students involved in this exhibition project were also challenged to address waste issues and find innovative solutions. Twenty students were given the opportunity to conduct observations in various regions to identify development opportunities. Through these observations, the group identified opportunities for utilizing waste from cardboard, glass, garments, and even shells to create innovative products.
Ellya explained that the students will design the waste into a work of art. The design will then be developed using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify various design possibilities needed by the community. “We’re using AI not to replace designers, but to maximize the potential of available resources,” she said.
The exhibition also collaborates with various industries to utilize their waste and create innovative products for their artisans. One of the collaborating craft sectors is Dus Duk Duk, where ITS students utilize cardboard waste to create lamp holders. ITS students observed that lamp holders made from cardboard have the potential to become a promising product.
A similar situation occurred with Mekarsari kapis shellfish waste in Situbondo. Students determined that the patterns on these shells could be processed into a material for lamp fittings.
Meanwhile, a student collaboration with Upject in Mojokerto resulted in fashion products such as bags and sandals that could add value. Finally, a student collaboration with Beads Flower in Jombang processed glass bead waste into traditional toys like yo-yos, ludos, and dakon.
Furthermore, Ellya views this exhibition as a platform to showcase the process of creating a work of art so that it can be impactful and beneficial. Therefore, Ellya emphasized that the exhibition, which is open to the public, has a primary vision of producing upcycled products to achieve a zero-waste Indonesia. This effort also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly point 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production.
In line with this, the Design Matters Exhibition also reflects SDGs point 8, concerning Responsible Consumption and Production, and point 17, Partnerships to Achieve the Goals, through the collaboration between ITS and Curtin University. Furthermore, the students’ learning process, together with Dr. Qassim Saad, reflects SDG point 4, concerning Quality Education. (ITS Public Relations)
Reporter: Ahmad Maulana
Translator: Devinka Mutianeira