Indonesian middle class society is rapidly growing each year. This previously non-existent social group is now the majority of the total population. This social phenomenon leads to a new market for designers to cater for. The country’s state of design has started to flourish and people have started to appreciate local products compare to the past where foreign products triumphed in the market. Creative industries have an optimistic future in this country and they have begun to express their own identity as Indonesian creative people.

Indonesia Now explores the idea of cultural tension in Indonesia through furniture and lighting products. Indonesia is a country with a diverse ethnicity where cultural clashes are sometimes unavoidable. Historically, the country has a bitter past with the Chinese and Western society. In the current years, the situation improves and this project aims to express the versatility of Indonesian society in order to move forward as a country. This project also take up the challenge to further define the country distinctive design style in this contemporary world using locally available materials and manufacturing processes such as rattan, ceramics and metal smithing.

Design as narrative and semiotic explorations is being used throughout the design process to draw on the country’s culture, history, and narratives. Inspired by the unification of Indonesian society as well as foreign influences, the expected outcome of this project is a series of pendant lights which represents three different cultural background: Indonesian, Chinese, and Western. Each pendant are made using various Indonesian materials and processes by the country’s artisans and craftsmen.