Designing A Digital Book As A Documentation Of Graffiti: A Study Of Urban Visual Heritage In Batu Tourism
Keywords:
Digital Book, Graffiti, Urban Heritage, DocumentationAbstract
Abstract
This study examines the design of a digital book as a medium for documenting graffiti as part of urban visual culture in Batu Tourism City, Indonesia. Situated within the discourse of Visual Culture and Urban Studies, graffiti is approached not only as an aesthetic expression but also as a spatial narrative that reflects identity, community interaction, and cultural dynamics in public space. The design process adopts the Design Thinking framework, consisting of empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test stages. Data were collected through field observation, photographic documentation, and questionnaires involving 120 respondents, including graffiti practitioners, students, graphic designers, academics, art observers, and the general public aged 17–40 from middle to upper socio-economic backgrounds. Evaluation results indicate that most respondents responded positively to the visual aspects of the digital book, including layout, colour, typography, illustration, and cover design. Several refinements were implemented to improve title clarity, visual consistency, readability, and narrative structure. The findings reveal that graffiti practices in Batu extend beyond stylistic concerns, involving cross-regional collaborations and interactions with local cultural communities, such as traditional Bantengan performance groups. The ephemeral nature of graffiti presents a key challenge for documentation and preservation. The resulting digital book, presented in a 3:4 PDF format, functions as both an archival medium and an educational platform, reinforcing the role of design in cultural archiving and public engagement with urban visual heritage.
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