BANDUNG, UNIKOM – As a tangible manifestation of impactful and sustainable community service, the Faculty of Design at the Universitas Komputer Indonesia (UNIKOM) has established a strategic collaboration with the International Young Scientists Association (IYSA) to organize an international workshop for junior high school (SMP) and senior high school (SMA) students on Thursday, July 9, 2026, held in the 6th-floor classroom of the UNIKOM Smart Building. The event, which involved all departments within the UNIKOM Faculty of Design from the Visual Communication Design (DKV), Graphic Design (DG), and Interior Design (DI) programs to the Master of Design (MDS) program aimed to hone creativity while equipping the younger generation with practical skills. Not only does the program focus on fostering cultural values and innovation, but it also aims to promote financial independence and efficiency by applying design principles as concrete solutions to improve the standard of living for the community.
This Community Service Program (PKM) featured two main activities designed to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills. The first class, titled “Paper Sculpture Amazing Pop-Up,” was led by Dr. Yully Ambarsih Ekawardhani, S.Sn., M.Sn., while the second class focused on “Smartphone Modeling Photography,” led by Adityo B. Hardoyo, M.Ds. The workshop activities in both sessions were made possible by the active collaboration of faculty members from the UNIKOM Faculty of Design, who served as speakers, mentors, and committee members. Additionally, the active involvement of students on the organizing committee made a significant contribution to ensuring that the entire workshop series ran smoothly and interactively.
The Executive Chair of the Organizing Committee and Head of the Visual Communication Design Program at UNIKOM, Dr. Kankan Kasmana, S.Sn., M.Ds., explained that there was high enthusiasm for this international workshop, which was attended by participants ranging from junior high school (SMP) to senior high school (SMA) students. “Through this event, we hope that students will not only gain new and enjoyable knowledge but also be able to apply it directly. They learned to create artworks using paper during the paper sculpture session and to understand professional photography techniques using only their smartphones,” said Dr. Kankan.
Furthermore, Dr. Kankan emphasized that the workshop served as a strategic platform for faculty members to directly transfer their knowledge to the community as a form of academic dedication. This ongoing collaboration between UNIKOM’s Faculty of Design and the International Young Scientists Association (IYSA) is an annual event, and this marks the third competition held at UNIKOM. The implementation of this program serves as tangible evidence of UNIKOM’s Faculty of Design’s commitment to delivering community service that has a broad and sustainable impact, while also serving as a strategic step in consistently improving the quality of education and developing the community’s creative capacity.
Meanwhile, the head of the “Paper Sculpture Amazing Pop-Up” Community Service (PKM) team, Dr. Yully Ambarsih Ekawardhani, S.Sn., M.Sn., explained that participants were equipped with technical knowledge regarding the basic principles of paper mechanics, which include the art of folding, cutting, and gluing. According to her, the activity served as an effective promotional tool to introduce the creative aspects of the Visual Communication Design program to the younger generation. “This activity centered on the theme of Indonesian folklore, particularly fables or animal stories, which were then transformed into captivating pop-up designs. Through this approach, we not only hone the participants’ design skills but also instill a sense of pride in the nation’s cultural heritage in a contemporary and innovative way,” said Dr. Yully. Thus, the international workshop organized by UNIKOM Faculty of Design in collaboration with IYSA serves as tangible evidence of a strategic commitment to collaboration in delivering community service programs that are both impactful and sustainable. By combining conventional methods through paper sculpture with the use of modern technology via smartphone photography, this initiative successfully demonstrated that creative synergy can produce innovative works of high social and economic value. Through interactive knowledge transfer, UNIKOM Faculty of Design has not only succeeded in honing the technical skills of the younger generation but has also successfully preserved Indonesia’s cultural heritage while fostering financial independence for the community through sustainable design efficiency and innovation. (Directorate of Hms & Pro)