West Sumatra designers win national logo competition

The recent victory in the design competition for the 81st Indonesian Independence Day logo has highlighted the creative prowess of regions outside Java. Fajar Novario, along with his team from Auman Design Bureau in Padang, West Sumatra, emerged as the winners, proving that regional talent can successfully compete on a national level.

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Designers spread across Indonesia have the opportunity, even regions, have a great opportunity to participate or contribute to our country.

Novario emphasized that this achievement is not just a personal or studio success but a testament to the capabilities of designers across Indonesia. "Designers spread across Indonesia have the opportunity, even regions, have a great opportunity to participate or contribute to our country," he stated. This aligns with the vision of the Indonesian Graphic Designers Association (ADGI) to foster a more equitable design ecosystem throughout the archipelago.

Initially, Novario and his team did not expect to win, considering previous national design competitions and polls often favored participants from Java, particularly Jakarta and Bandung. "And we are two of them outside Java. And all these years it's always Jakarta and Bandung, those from outside Java are rare," he noted. Their presence among the finalists was already considered a significant accomplishment, making their ultimate win even more remarkable.

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And we are two of them outside Java. And all these years it's always Jakarta and Bandung, those from outside Java are rare.

Looking ahead, Novario hopes their success will inspire more designers from various regions to gain confidence and participate in national-level competitions and projects. He encourages them to overcome any feelings of inferiority, provided their work is legitimate and credible. "Just be confident, the important thing is what we give, we contribute to this design ecosystem," he advised.

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Just be confident, the important thing is what we give, we contribute to this design ecosystem.

Furthermore, Novario called upon local governments to be more proactive in reaching out to and empowering creative industry players within their respective regions. He believes many talented designers remain undiscovered due to a lack of opportunities and platforms. "If, for example, in each region we have talents or designers who are really okay, but they haven't been touched or haven't come out yet, haven't appeared yet," he said. He suggested that local governments build databases and strengthen collaborations with local designers to meet regional design needs, rather than solely relying on creative professionals from major cities.

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If, for example, in each region we have talents or designers who are really okay, but they haven't been touched or haven't come out yet, haven't appeared yet.