Meet the Alumna: Siska Putri Utami, UIN Jakarta's Senior Graphic Designer for Creative Indonesia
Jakarta, UIN Online News – Today's visual communication world is filled with vibrant colors, symbols, and intertwining messages. Amidst the continuous flow of digital information, a young woman emerges with a strong creative touch and unwavering principles. Siska Putri Utami, a graphic designer and digital content creator whose work spans from small MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) to national corporations.
Siska Putri Utami's name might be more frequently heard within the design community and digital creative industry. Yet, who would have thought that her long and winding journey began in the classrooms of the Faculty of Da'wah and Communication Sciences at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, specifically in the Islamic Communication and Broadcasting study program?
As an alumna of the 2018 cohort, Siska's university life was full of dynamics. Starting as a student from outside the region, hailing from Kediri Regency, East Java, she faced the harsh realities of living away from home with a strong eagerness to learn. Her interest in the visual world stemmed not from inherent talent but from circumstances. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the world seemed to stop, but she moved forward. "Design wasn't because I was talented, but because I felt pushed," she said.
Siska began her design career with very limited devices. She learned the basics of design from free media, created organizational posters, and eventually earned the trust of national brands. Today, Siska has handled over 600 clients, including 150 major brands like Teh Cap Botol, Imboost Force, and Sun Energy. Not only that, she is also an active mentor and founder of Creative Skill Academy, an educational platform that has reached over 170 participants from various regions of Indonesia.
However, Siska's work is not solely focused on commercial output. She champions inclusivity, women's empowerment, and digital education as the core of her activities. Through her social media accounts, she emphasizes the importance of young women being digitally literate, confident, and brave enough to bring about change. Not merely being part of the digital world, but becoming its main driver.
Siska is also known as a woman with a high spirit of collaboration. She was once entrusted as an Indonesian Inspiration Ambassador, representing Banten Province, became a speaker on TVRI Nasional, and was even listed among Narasi TV's 50 Inspiring Women Figures. Behind all this, she maintains her identity as a young Muslim woman who strongly upholds values of integrity, hard work, and empathy. "What we often forget, behind the scenes of creative content, is a value, and that value must be the breath of every work," she explained.
In Siska's perspective, the digital world is not just a space for building branding, but a space for dialogue. Dialogue between values, messages, and meanings. Therefore, she uses design as a tool to voice education, deliver criticism, and open opportunities. She has created visual-based social critique content, addressing issues of women, MSMEs, and educational problems. For her, criticism is not an attack, but a form of love and concern. "If we don't speak up about surrounding issues, who will? Digital creators are not just content producers, but also social messengers," she added.
UIN Jakarta shapes the nation's cadres. From the corridors of the Faculty of Da'wah and Communication Sciences, Siska Putri Utami learned, grew, and soared onto the national contribution stage. The values of cultural da'wah and inclusive communication she learned became a strong foundation in shaping her attitude and direction of struggle.
Siska is concrete proof that a bachelor's degree is not just a title. It is intellectual responsibility, courage to create, and steadfastness of attitude. In a world that is constantly moving, figures like Siska Putri Utami remind us that creativity and the courage to speak are forms of modern da'wah that are no less powerful.
To everyone who is struggling, Siska advises, "Be yourself, do the best, love yourself, and be productive." She adds, "For you who are struggling as a student: Don't be afraid to be yourself. Everyone has a unique path. Do your best at every opportunity, not to be the greatest, but to be the best version of yourself today. Don't forget to love yourself, even when you feel you're not enough. And keep moving. Being productive doesn't mean being busy aimlessly, but slowly moving towards the dream you chose yourself. You are not alone. Keep up the spirit!"
Through her personal Instagram account @siska.xcha, which now has over 10.9 thousand followers, Siska actively advocates for the importance of skill improvement and career development for the younger generation. With the noble mission of "Help 10,000 People Upgrade Skills & Level Up Career," she not only shares educational content but also directly engages in social movements based on digital literacy and empowerment. As CEO of @creartiveskill.academy and Co-Founder of @fisolutive, Siska is a pioneer in building an inclusive, inspiring, and impactful learning ecosystem in Indonesia's non-formal education realm.
(Rizkiyah Gustiana N./Fauziah M./Syarifah Nur K.)