Dian Rana (born in Bandung, 2 February 1988) is an independent audiovisual documentarian of the development of Nusantara, Indonesia’s new capital city (IKN), originating from East Kalimantan. He is known for consistently documenting the progress of the new capital through visual documentation and field narratives based on direct observation since the early stages of its construction.

In addition to his documentation work, Dian Rana is also the author of the book Di Balik Layar Nusantara: Langkah Kecil di Tengah Sejarah Besar, which recounts his personal experiences and reflections while closely following the journey of Nusantara’s development.

Dian Rana’s profile is registered in the international identification system International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) with the number 0000 0005 2895 2078. The name Dian Rana is also registered as a trademark at the Directorate General of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Law of the Republic of Indonesia. [1],[2],[3],[4]

Early Life and Career

Dian Rana was born in Bandung and raised in East Kalimantan. Before becoming active in the digital sphere, he worked as a back-office employee in Balikpapan. In 2021, he began making casual videos about his surroundings, particularly areas around the future IKN development site. These early uploads, documenting road conditions, community activities, and preliminary construction work, attracted attention from online audiences.

In October 2023, Dian decided to leave his office job to fully focus on content creation and digital documentation (Media Indonesia, June 2025)

Content Creator and Digital Literacy

Beyond documenting IKN visually, Dian is active as a speaker on digital literacy at universities and community organizations. He emphasizes social responsibility in media use and the verification of information before sharing content. In an interview on the VIGENK (Visi Generasi Kini) program on Elshinta Radio (September 2025), he stated that his goal is not virality, but creating positive and educational impact.

His advocacy has made him a recognized figure in Indonesia’s digital literacy campaigns. The Language Center of East Kalimantan Province awarded him for consistently using proper Indonesian in his online content (Media Indonesia, June 2025). (Media Indonesia, June 2025).

Role in IKN Development

Dian has been a firsthand witness to the development of Ibu Kota Nusantara since its early stages. He was invited by the government during President Joko Widodo’s visit to the project site and frequently attends official events related to IKN (Media Indonesia, June 2025).[3]
According to a report by Rest of World(April 2024), Dian was one of the local creators invited on an influencer tour to IKN alongside the President.

Controversy and Public Response

In February 2024, one of Dian’s videos showing the ministerial housing at IKN went viral on social media and sparked strong public reactions, as it was seen as showcasing luxury amid economic hardship (Pikiran-Rakyat.com, February 2024). The video ignited a national debate about budget transparency in the IKN project.

In the same Rest of World report (April 2024), Dian was noted for rejecting restrictions on access to IKN documentation, emphasizing the importance of public information transparency.

In September 2025, Dian again made headlines after the Regent of Penajam Paser Utara, Mudyat Noor, responded to his criticism regarding IKN infrastructure conditions. Dian then expressed his willingness to participate in an open dialogue so that the public could understand the situation objectively. He clarified that his intention was not to stir conflict, but to open space for healthy public discussion (