Naufan Noordyanto, S.Sn., M.Sn., took a picture together with one of his posters

ITS Campus, ITS News – The Covid-19 pandemic is not viewed as an obstacle to continue working, but instead serves as a motivation to excel for Naufan Noordyanto, S.Sn., a lecturer of the Department of Visual Communication Design (DKV) of the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) who gained countless international achievements in poster design with Covid-19 pandemic campaign content.

Since February 2020, he has been heavily involved in international design events. His works successfully won the first and second places, honorable mention, special/excellent award, as a finalist, one of the top 10 to 100 winners, and received special invitations for international exhibitions.

Naufan explained that since last February, he had received four international exhibition invitations. One of them was an exhibition in Catalunya, Spain, conducted in April 2020, with the theme of solidarity campaign on Covid-19 which was organized by the Official Graphic Designers Association of Catalonia, specifically by Professor Jesùs Del Hoyo Arjona.

Not only taking the role of a participant in international exhibitions, Naufan is also active in international poster competitions. As of now, all his works have been exhibited in 36 countries. In addition to that, he was included in the Top 100 for three of his works at the exhibition and was selected from 25 countries to be given an award in an international poster design exhibition entitled “Reading and a Better Life” in celebration of World Book Day 2020. “This exhibition was held in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) at the end of April 2020,” he further mentioned.

Poster Series on the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the homeless by Naufan Noordyanto, S.Sn., M.Sn.

His work was included in the Honorable Mentions, as well as nominated as a finalist at an international poster exhibition, namely the International Poster Contest and Exhibition MUMEDI: Death with Smile in Mexico. This exhibition was held at the MUMEDI Museum, Mexico, in February 2020. “This exhibition involved a selection process of 5.000 works and only 200 finalists were granted to pass the exhibition selection,” he revealed.

In addition, Naufan is also active as a judge at numerous exhibitions and international poster design competitions. One of the events is called “Virus is Over” at the Taiwan Global Anti Virus Graphic Design Exhibition 2020.

Naufan elaborated that in the process of making posters, the most important point is the different perspectives with visualization, how it’s different between reading and understanding a certain topic. This will be a surprise that gives an impact, either rationally and emotionally. “Those points are the ones I employ both when I’m competing or judging at poster design contests,” explained Naufan, a man who used to work at PT Eksis Cipta Citra Komunika Yogyakarta.

Naufan continued that since February he has designed many Covid-19 themed posters. A poster entitled “Stay Safe Wuhan” is one of the. He presented a visualization of a mask as a protective device, in correlation to the recommended protocol in the prevention of the spread of Covid-19. The face of the dragon character on the surface of the mask depicts a symbol of luck or prosperity in the Chinese culture. “The combined meaning of the two is as an invitation to wear masks in order to receive good luck, in the sense of being healthy,” he expounded.

Specifically, with Covid-19 content, Naufan revealed that he made eight posters that were included in international campaigns through poster exhibitions. One other work he made, the single poster in April 2020, communicated the danger of Covid-19, which has infected more than 200 countries. The poster series then continued by conveying the impact of Covid-19 on the homeless. “This is the time that calls for a reflection for the citizens and policymakers, that the #StayHome movement can only be done by people who have a place to live, then what about those who don’t have a place to live?”

Poster on spreading awareness about the dangers of Covid-19 that was made by Naufan Noordyanto, S.Sn., M.Sn.

When asked about his huge interest in posters, Naufan said that for him, posters serve as applications of various design disciplines. In addition to that, posters are a media to give opinions visually. “Posters become an easily accessible medium of communication for the citizens, which has been known since its golden age at the end of the 19th century when it was often used in campaigns,” justified Naufan, the ITS lecturer who is also interested in typography, illustration, and visual identity.

This man from Pamekasan also revealed that together with countless designers around the world, he agreed to be responsible for spreading positive energy to the world through one’s competencies. “It is true that graphic design cannot cure Covid medically, but through it, we can implement efforts to create cheerful, exciting, and mentally refreshing art during the pandemic. We aim to contribute in improving the citizens’  mental health during the pandemic by sending optimistic words and positive energy through design works,” he passionately explained.

Lastly, Naufan hopes that posters can continue to be a media for education on disaster mitigation.  Through reading the messages on posters as made by activists, he hopes that the public will become more aware and sympathetic towards the Covid-19 pandemic. “Other than that, for students, especially my students, I hope at least #BerkaryadiRumahAja will show them the way to remain productive, those works created can be very useful in the future to be included in their work portfolio,” he concluded. (sin/ory/ITS Public Relations)

Naufan Noordyanto when giving a presentation on the topic of posters at one of the malls in Yogyakarta