Dynamics of Industrial Revolution 4.0: Digital Technology Transformation and Cultural Evolution –
Wulandari et al (eds)
© 2021 The Author(s), ISBN 978-1-032-04451-4
Digital comic design of food waste for teens
S. Hidayat & D.E. Heryadi
Telkom University, Bandung, Indonesia
ABSTRACT: Indonesia is the second biggest contributor to food waste in the world. This unstable
issue is a severe problem facing Indonesia, and the younger generation must acknowledge the impact
of food wastage to attain a better future. This study is based on data acquired from questionnaires,
interviews, and literature reviews. The research method is qualitative, supported by theories relating
to the design. The media that matches the results of the data is digital comics for teens who need
to know about food waste. This digital comic media was published via the internet and received
positive responses from the readers. The media-designed results are considered able to increase
awareness and knowledge of adolescents about food waste in Indonesia.
Keywords: Digital Comic, Food Waste, Teenager
1 INTRODUCTION
The lack of awareness of the Indonesian people toward food wastage earns Indonesia second
place in the world as the country with the most food waste, as reported in 2016 by The Economist
Intelligent Unit (EIU) with the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition Foundation (BCFN).Therefore,
knowledge about food waste needs to be given to the people of Indonesia, especially teenagers so
as to have a better impact in the long term. Adolescents tend to be influenced by the environment
outside the supervision of parents and school, so it would be better if insights about food waste are
also presented practically in daily activities.
Indonesia has a fan of comics since the 1930s. It started with comic strips published in newspapers
and magazines. Comics in Indonesia then evolved into a Japanese style influenced by popular
Indonesian publisher Elex Media Komputindo when they produced translated Japanese comics
(manga) around the 2000s (Aditya & Apsari 2019). The community’s interest in comics grew in
both readership and artistry, creating a large hobby and profession all over the country. As a big
entertainment category in Indonesia, comics have the potential to share messages about food waste.
Currently, comic reading activities have been upgraded to digital media, including scanned comic
book sites and webcomics. The website Webtoon.com is one of the most popular webcomic sites
in Indonesia, with 60 million users worldwide. Through digital comics on the Webtoon website,
information can be easily reached by teenagers.
2 RESEARCH METHODS
Comics contain the alignment of images that are deliberately arranged to convey messages and
create aesthetic products to the reader (McCloud 1993). In starting the comic concepts and writing
storylines, comic creators must pay attention to the limits that media has, from how far comics can
visually narrate the story to how deep the message can be reached (Einser 2000). Comics also have
a good communication effect, as can be seen from the combination of images and text, so messages
from comics can be conveyed and presented more optimally (Lesmana et al. 2015). Comics have
DOI 10.1201/9781003193241-6
31
Wulandari et al (eds)
© 2021 The Author(s), ISBN 978-1-032-04451-4
Digital comic design of food waste for teens
S. Hidayat & D.E. Heryadi
Telkom University, Bandung, Indonesia
ABSTRACT: Indonesia is the second biggest contributor to food waste in the world. This unstable
issue is a severe problem facing Indonesia, and the younger generation must acknowledge the impact
of food wastage to attain a better future. This study is based on data acquired from questionnaires,
interviews, and literature reviews. The research method is qualitative, supported by theories relating
to the design. The media that matches the results of the data is digital comics for teens who need
to know about food waste. This digital comic media was published via the internet and received
positive responses from the readers. The media-designed results are considered able to increase
awareness and knowledge of adolescents about food waste in Indonesia.
Keywords: Digital Comic, Food Waste, Teenager
1 INTRODUCTION
The lack of awareness of the Indonesian people toward food wastage earns Indonesia second
place in the world as the country with the most food waste, as reported in 2016 by The Economist
Intelligent Unit (EIU) with the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition Foundation (BCFN).Therefore,
knowledge about food waste needs to be given to the people of Indonesia, especially teenagers so
as to have a better impact in the long term. Adolescents tend to be influenced by the environment
outside the supervision of parents and school, so it would be better if insights about food waste are
also presented practically in daily activities.
Indonesia has a fan of comics since the 1930s. It started with comic strips published in newspapers
and magazines. Comics in Indonesia then evolved into a Japanese style influenced by popular
Indonesian publisher Elex Media Komputindo when they produced translated Japanese comics
(manga) around the 2000s (Aditya & Apsari 2019). The community’s interest in comics grew in
both readership and artistry, creating a large hobby and profession all over the country. As a big
entertainment category in Indonesia, comics have the potential to share messages about food waste.
Currently, comic reading activities have been upgraded to digital media, including scanned comic
book sites and webcomics. The website Webtoon.com is one of the most popular webcomic sites
in Indonesia, with 60 million users worldwide. Through digital comics on the Webtoon website,
information can be easily reached by teenagers.
2 RESEARCH METHODS
Comics contain the alignment of images that are deliberately arranged to convey messages and
create aesthetic products to the reader (McCloud 1993). In starting the comic concepts and writing
storylines, comic creators must pay attention to the limits that media has, from how far comics can
visually narrate the story to how deep the message can be reached (Einser 2000). Comics also have
a good communication effect, as can be seen from the combination of images and text, so messages
from comics can be conveyed and presented more optimally (Lesmana et al. 2015). Comics have
DOI 10.1201/9781003193241-6
31