Malang Design Wave 2024: Celebrating Designers' Spirit of Collaboration

Officially launched on November 17, Malang Design Wave (MDW) celebrates the spirit of collaboration and enthusiasm among design professionals. MDW presents a series of engaging and inspiring activities for design industry professionals. With 32 event branches initiated as platforms for collaboration between stakeholders and various design disciplines, the event underscores its commitment to fostering creativity. Partnering with 37 collaborators from diverse backgrounds, MDW bolsters the creative ecosystem of Malang. To delve deeper into this initiative, Grafis Masa Kini spoke with Dimas Fakhrudin and Rezza Alam of the Indonesian Association of Graphic Designers (ADGI) Malang Chapter, one of the event's main organizers.

First introduced in 2019, Malang Design Wave was conceived as a hub for designers to network and share ideas. According to Dimas, Malang boasts numerous design studios specializing in graphic design, product design, and UI/UX. The city is a prominent educational hub in Indonesia, home to universities offering Visual Communication Design (DKV) programs. "We want MDW to become a gathering space for all design practitioners—be it academics, industry players, students, or general design enthusiasts. This event is also a platform to connect because, in Malang, studios often don't know one another. Through MDW, we aim to bridge those gaps," Dimas explained.

Aligned with the theme "In Between," Malang Design Wave highlights designers' roles as intermediaries—a bridge between the thoughts of clients, audiences, and fellow designers. Reflecting this, MDW incorporates not only graphic design professionals but also practitioners from other design disciplines, broadening perspectives on the intermediary role of designers. "It's not just about graphic design. Our event also involves interior designers, UI/UX professionals, product designers, and architects. When discussing design professions, designers serve as bridges," Dimas remarked. Collaborators from various design backgrounds participating in MDW include Lettering Malang, ADGI Malang, Ciri Diri - Mahardhian, Setara Langit x Maharani Design Studio, Aftertaste X Kalstud, Studio Sugarnuts Indonesia, DKV UB, Renmeraki, ID Football Artist, Binus University, and many more. These diverse collaborators enrich MDW, offering participants a broader learning experience. "We hope attendees can gain insights beyond their usual focus areas. For instance, graphic template specialists might learn about architecture, potentially sparking new collaborations," Rezza added.

MDW also provides valuable opportunities for design students, enabling them to gain practical insights into the industry and understand future requirements for a designer. "One of the highlights of MDW is the Studio Visit program. Ten studios are open to visits by audiences and students. Although Malang has many studios, they are often unfamiliar with one another, making visits feel awkward. Through this program, both professionals and students can explore how studios operate," Dimas elaborated. Participating studios in the 2024 Studio Visit program include Slidesgun, RRGraph Design, WOF, Pitstud, Typia Nesia Studio, Studio Moara, Dharmas Studio, Wolftagon, Heykamaji, and Heroes Music.

Moreover, MDW fosters dialogue among designers to advance design discourse. The Design Talk series strengthens Malang's design industry by inviting speakers to discuss compelling topics at each event. Discussions include Posters In Playback: Reading Malang's Graphic Design Through Music Posters from 2010-2025, Harmony in Simplicity: Mastering Strong Brand Identity through Minimalist Design, The Sonic Identity: Music and Sound in Modern Branding, Behind the Design, Design Town Hall by Insan Design, Artwork Critique with Azka Alfi, Walking Tour, and Pottery Workshop with Matahati by Belajar Titik.

In addition to its robust programming, MDW unveils a visual identity born from collaboration among Malang's designers. The term "wave" symbolizes the many communities, studios, and design organizations in Malang progressing like waves—steadily growing, one surge at a time. "It doesn't grow big all at once but progresses in waves, gradually advancing," Dimas explained. This collaborative identity design reflects the spirit of camaraderie among Malang’s design community. Despite a tight schedule, designers and collaborators came together to support the realization of MDW. Each studio played a significant role in the event's success. MDW exemplifies the expansion of Malang's design ecosystem, blending various design practices and enriching the city's visual heritage. Through this event, participants can connect and cast a wider net for future collaboration opportunities.