Kumoratih Kushardjanto
Designer, Anthropologist, and Educator in Indonesia
Dewi Kumoratih (Kumo) is a faculty member at Binus University School of Design, Jakarta, with over 20 years of experience as a designer. She graduated from Trisakti University, majoring in Graphic Design, and pursued further studies in Anthropology from the University of Indonesia. Kumo's research interests encompass nationalism, identity, material culture, heritage management, creative economy, art, and design. Her dissertation focuses on the implications of creative economy policies in Indonesia, particularly regarding government-formed cooperatives in the creative industry.
In addition to her academic work, Kumo is an active community advocate, serving on the executive board of the Negeri Rempah Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that promotes public learning about Indonesia’s cultural diversity. She is also involved in the#JalurRempah (Spice Route) campaign, which aims to secure the Spice Route as world heritage. Kumo co-wrote "Tales of the Lands Beneath the Winds: Tracing the Indonesian Archipelago’s Maritime Role in the History of Spice Trade" (2020) and organized the International Forum on the Spice Route held annually since 2019.
Previously, Kumo was a producer at GELAR, a knowledge-driven social enterprise that focused on performing arts, multimedia conservation, festival management, and community development. She also launched a community-based travel program to connect culture enthusiasts with local communities throughout Indonesia.