Ridwan Kamil (b. 1971) – IYCEY Design Award 2006 finalist

A self-described small town boy, Ridwan is the architect behind some of the world’s grandest projects. Coming back from Master’s degree and early career abroad he took advantage of then emerging communication technology. Building a roster of international clienteles from the comfort of his hometown his extensive network outsourced Indonesia’s talents to top design firms in San Francisco, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Bahrain. Ridwan became the first Indonesian national winner to compete at the British Council’s International Young Design Entrepreneur of the Year in the UK. Today, he partners with Gustaff Iskandar (IYCEY Design 2007) and Fiki Satari (IYCEY Fashion 2007) to transform Bandung into a world creative city, establishing the first international creative entrepreneur club that links to Glasgow and the rest of East Asia. He is also working with his former competitors in the 2006 IYCEY Design Award –branding expert Andi Boediman, furniture designer Leo Theosabrata, and graphic designer Joko Hartanto to establish a creative cluster in Jakarta.

UK Jury citation:

“Ambitious and impressive, Ridwan really sold Indonesia, as well as his own totally credible ambition to synthesise modernity and local character.”