Indonesian designer Alvin Tjitrowirjo finds comfort in discomfort as he develops a distinct flavour in the brewing cauldron that is Indonesia’s design industry.
In formal terms, the design industry in Indonesia is still in its formative years. With all its resources, the country is, both in theory and practice, a hotbed for the creative industries. But it is still a far-from-ideal place in which to sustain a design business. Catching up with Indonesian designers on many occasions in Singapore and abroad, I have observed that there is a distinct way in which they talk about the design industry back home – it is with a strange mix of exasperation and optimism, and the conversation always ends on a hopeful note.
Alvin Tjitrowirjo is one of these designers. Being based in Indonesia, producing in Indonesia and marketing his products and services to the Indonesian market, Tjitrowirjo has his work cut out for him. “You’re constantly being pushed and pulled out of your comfort zone,” he says, adding: “It hasn’t been a smooth journey but it does motivate you.”
Jakarta-born Tjitrowirjo established his design business in 2006 and has become a household name within the Indonesian design scene. He is one of the few Indonesian designers with an international presence. His latest international appearance was in Milan Design Week 2017, for which he designed his country’s debut showcase in Tortona. IDentities: Handmade Indonesian Contemporary Design Pavilion was a massive feat for Indonesia’s design industry. “There is a lot of room for improvement, but it’s a good start,” says Tjitrowirjo.
Read the full article in Cubes 86, out now!
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Who needs a resort getaway when the residents of The Loop is already living in one.
Louis Poulsen celebrates the change of seasons by releasing a collection of reimagined classics that embrace the allure of watercolour, the elegance of metal and the versatility of scaling up and down.
Atmospheric and moody with a stage-like dune, Various Associates sets a pristine white stage for this epic SND retail store.
Today, contemporary workplaces are undergoing a design renaissance which prioritises adaptability above all else. Zenith offers a solution imbued with privacy, productivity and performance: the Verse collection of booths and acoustic pods.