(from left to right): Budiman Ong, Rudi Winata, and Yang Yang Hartono |
Photo: Priska Joanne A CONVERSATION BETWEEN ART4D AND BUDIMAN ONG, CO-FOUNDER OF JIA, ABOUT THE CONCEPTS BEHIND JIA COLLECTIVE AND JIA CURATED, WHICH DRIVE DESIGN THROUGH THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
TEXT: PRATARN TEERATADA
PHOTO: INDRA WIRAS EXCEPT AS NOTED
(For Thai, press here)
Founded in 2020 by Budiman Ong, Rudi Winata, and Yang Yang Hartono, Jia is conceived as an Indonesian platform supporting craft, design, and culture through a diverse array of programs, from community activities to retail initiatives to an immersive multi-day design event.
In Chinese, 家 (Jiā) means ‘home,’ a word that encompasses far more than a physical dwelling. It refers to the people, atmospheres, and everyday rituals that bind a place together as one living whole. When this group of young Indonesian creatives took this idea of ‘home’ as the foundation for building a community centered on craftsmanship and material innovation, the result was first a retail concept focusing on home-decor objects – Jia COLLECTIVE. This eventually expanded into a creative network reaching far beyond their own Indonesian ‘home.’
Photo: Priska Joanne
In fact, two years after Jia COLLECTIVE’s establishment, the project Jia CURATED began to take shape as a natural extension of their vision. Jia CURATED represented the next chapter for the trio behind Jia, connecting Indonesia’s design community with creative practitioners around the world.
art4d speaks with co-founder Budiman Ong about the cultural and creative trajectory of Jia COLLECTIVE and Jia CURATED, tracing their beginnings, their present successes, and the paths they hope to forge in the years ahead.
art4d: Could you briefly introduce your collective and share your journey into the world of craft and design.
Budiman Ong: I am a designer-maker, originally from Kisaran, a small town in Sumatra, Indonesia. My journey in design began at the Grays School of Art in Aberdeen, Scotland, with a major in Applied Arts. Back in Bali, I joined John Hardy’s team as Head of Lifestyle Design until 2008, at which point I founded Ong Cen Kuang, a decorative lighting atelier. Our products combine traditional craftsmanship and modern design: they are produced by hand, one at a time, by a team of incredibly skilled artisans. My work and approach to design are rooted in a deep appreciation for the inherent qualities of materials and craftsmanship. I strive to create products that evoke emotions, turning common or unexpected materials into sculptural pieces.
Photo: Priska Joanne
Jia is a project started with my two partners, Rudi Winata and Yang Yang Hartono, born from our passion for craft, design and culture.
Jia – meaning ‘home’ in Chinese – is the umbrella organisation responsible for Jia CURATED – our annual, multi day event, and Jia COLLECTIVE – a platform providing curated retail experiences and tailored styling services, all centred around the concept of home.
We are Bali-based and our mission is to celebrate local designers and brands through retail experiences and curated events. Our goal is to build and nurture a healthy ecosystem of creative communities in Indonesia, where knowledge, experiences and passion can be exchanged.
art4d: How did you blend the experiences of 3 founders, Budiman Ong, Rudi Winata and Yang Yang Hartono into one brand ?
BO: As active creative professionals, the three of us – Rudi, Yang Yang and I – had firsthand experience within the industry. As a designer, I took on the role of Creative Director for Jia CURATED, and I am in charge of the content for our annual event. Yang’s background is in fashion, interiors and styling, he is bringing a great deal of experience as Creative Director for Jia COLLECTIVE. Rudi’s background is in management for creative businesses, he keeps us all at peace as COO of Jia, our umbrella organisation.
While our skillsets are complimentary, we share the same values and we all believe in the immense power of community and collaboration. This all translated into Jia. We recognised an opportunity to spearhead and shape Indonesia’s creative landscape through our own vision.
Photo: Priska Joanne
art4d: Please share the story of Jia CURATED and some wonderful moments you‘ve been through?
BO: The idea of Jia CURATED emerged organically from the journey with Jia COLLECTIVE, our retail space in Canggu. In just two years, Jia COLLECTIVE evolved into a platform that showcased over forty brands, tapping into Indonesia’s growing design and craft movement. We saw a clear demand for high-quality handmade products with meaningful stories. In response to this, in 2022, we launched Jia Curated Kiosks—initially an intimate display for design and craft—which was rebranded as Jia CURATED in 2025 after it featured more than 200 participating brands and attracted over 12,000 visitors.
Jia CURATED is about coming together, from the setting to the brief to the participating brands, it is very different from other design events. It is a cultural gathering celebrating design and craft.
Photo: Priska Joanne
The most memorable moment for me was when speaking to one of the exhibitors on the last day of the 2024 edition, he described Jia CURATED as a ‘safe creative space, with a sense of camaraderie where all the exhibitors are equal, relaxed and can truly enjoy the event’. I believe this happened organically due to the way we work collectively with the pavilions. There is a phrase which every Indonesian, young or old, is familiar with: ‘Gotong Royong’. It literally means communal effort – working together towards the same goal. This is the founding value on which we build collaboration and experimentation within our event.
art4d: What do you think about Asian brands trending in the global market?
BO: Reflecting on the design landscape over the past decade, I notice how the global outlook on design products and crafts from Asia – including Indonesia – has undergone a significant transformation. Today, there is a growing interest in Asian design as evidenced by various curations at Salone del Mobile and Homofaber, as well as the selection of artists for the Loewe Foundation Craft Prizes.
It is inspiring to witness this shift: while Asian designers have traditionally drawn on Western design culture and its rich movements history – from Baroque to modernism – recent years have seen this trend shift resulting in more heritage and craft-driven collectibles that truly embody the essence of Asian design, in our view.
art4d: What problems were Jia CURATED facing and trying to solve?
BO: Indonesia is already well-positioned for success, with abundant resources and skilled designers, as well as numerous manufacturers trusted by many well-known international brands as production facilities. However, there is a need to give a little nudge to connect home-grown creative talents with local manufacturers to unlock even greater opportunities. Imagine the possibilities if we were able to successfully bridge this gap: we could position Indonesia as a leading hub for creativity and design. Fostering collaboration between designers, makers, and manufacturers is key to achieve this vision.
I believe that the greatest potential within Indonesia’s design sector lies in the ability to connect the existing strengths of the country – natural materials, a rich cultural heritage, and high-quality traditional manufacturing techniques – into a more cohesive ecosystem.
Bali has become home to residents from all over the world and a thriving ground for creatives to collaborate. There is a strong foundation of both local and international designers who have started to inspire one another. The outcome of this cross-culture design movement is what we hope to showcase at Jia CURATED.
art4d: How do you see AI challenges and how to overcome them?
BO: In my opinion digital advancement or even AI must be acknowledged and accepted. It will happen and be part of our future. We must understand how it can be used and integrated thoughtfully to further our growth within our design journey. Digital design is after all a tool, its function is to help and assist us. It cannot replace the intrinsic human creativity.
art4d: How do you keep local spirits in your projects?
BO: At Jia CURATED we look for designers with a strong identity, producing original, handcrafted pieces, those who are connected to their roots. These are the sensibilities we seek.
We carefully bring together a variety of brands, designers, artisans, and manufacturers, enabling them to inspire and collaborate with one another in a unified space through shared narratives. This collaborative approach is distinctive to us and to those who participate in Jia CURATED, and it reflects the essence of Indonesia. It embodies the spirit of ‘Gotong Royong,’ which signifies collective effort and cooperation towards a common goal. A principle that is essential for fostering growth.
art4d: What can we expect to see at Jia CURATED 2026
BO: We are pleased to confirm that Jia CURATED 2026 will take place once again in the stunning Bali Festival Park on 13–17 August 2026. The 2026 theme is ‘Nature Weave.’ We want this to guide participants to explore the interconnection between design, the natural world, and human experience.
Central to the theme will be the concept of Biophilia – the instinct to connect what is natural, grounding and alive – to reflect on the role design can play not solely for people but for the landscape, other species and the wider ecosystem.