We recently connected with WILDY RIFTIAN and have shared our conversation below.

WILDY, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I’ve always considered myself a risk-taker. Growth comes from stepping into discomfort, and I believe some of the best things in life happen when you take a leap.

I’m from Indonesia, where art wasn’t widely seen as a stable career. Choosing to move to Seoul, South Korea, right after high school was a huge gamble. I knew I would have to delay my graduation by two years to complete the Korean language program, putting me behind my peers back home. Still, I went for it, betting that mastering the language and immersing myself in a country with a strong design industry would open bigger doors. However, the reality was even tougher than I expected. The grammar, structure, and vocabulary felt completely foreign, but I doubled down, studying 8–9 hours a day and forcing myself to adapt.

Getting into university was just the beginning. Walking into my first semester as the only foreigner in a room full of native speakers was intimidating. Every lecture, project, and critique was a test of whether I could keep up. I pushed harder, used every opportunity to practice Korean, and made sure I could match or exceed my classmates.

After graduating, I stayed in Seoul for several years as a graphic designer and product photographer. Eventually, I craved new challenges, so I quit my stable job, left Korea after nine years, and moved to the United States to study animation at SCAD.

It was a daunting shift, but within 10 months, I landed an internship at Black Math in Boston as a designer and animator. Looking back, every risk and sacrifice reshaped my career, and I’m grateful I took them.

WILDY, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Wildy Riftian, a multidisciplinary visual artist and designer from Indonesia, currently pursuing my M.A. in Animation at SCAD Savannah. I consider myself a “jack of all trades”. My creative experience spans photography, graphic design, illustration, branding, motion, and 3D animation. I love blending different mediums to explore new ways of storytelling.
I began in graphic design and illustration, but later fell in love with animation and motion design for their ability to merge storytelling, visuals, and technical craft. Living in Indonesia, Seoul, and now the U.S. has shaped my appreciation for diverse cultures and aesthetics. As a proud Indonesian, I’m passionate about representing my culture, often underrepresented globally, through my work.

This vision is reflected in projects like Flavors of Indonesia: An Illustrated Cookbook, which celebrates the country’s culinary diversity through vibrant illustrations, simplified recipes, and a retro warung-inspired design, and Unity in Diversity: 2024 Illustrated Calendar, which showcases Indonesian culture and heritage through monthly depictions of traditional celebrations.

In recent years, I’ve focused on 3D motion graphics, website design, and conceptual work — projects that spark curiosity, communicate ideas, and evoke emotion. I wanted to expand my design skills into more web-based and forward-thinking mediums, such as interactive websites and 3D animation, exploring new ways to create impactful and memorable experiences.

One of my proudest works is my portfolio website, created with my long-time friend, Agnes Andreyana, a talented website designer. We built the site around the concept of an “archive” — a curated, tangible collection inspired by the aesthetics of folders, papers, and keychains, with a structured grid and interactive elements that feel like flipping through a creative workspace.

The reception was beyond expectations — the site won Framer’s Best Visual Design Award, was recently nominated for the Awwwards Website Awards, and has been featured in over 25 design-curated platforms and articles worldwide. Within its first month, it reached more than 68,000 page views.”

Ultimately, my goal is to create fresh, culturally resonant, and impactful work while constantly pushing creative boundaries, just as I did when I moved across continents to pursue my craft. You can explore my portfolio at www.wildyriftian.com.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist or creative is seeing my work make an impact — whether it inspires someone, sparks a new idea, or resonates with them emotionally. Art and design can be very subjective, but when someone truly connects with what I’ve made and appreciates the effort behind it, it’s one of the best feelings in the world.

There’s a deep sense of fulfillment in knowing that others recognize the thought, intention, and hard work behind my process. It’s even more meaningful when my work motivates them to create something of their own.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Throughout my creative journey, my biggest goal has been to keep growing in my craft and become truly excellent at what I do, while inspiring other aspiring artists along the way. Recently, I’ve discovered a passion for teaching, which led me to work as a peer mentor at SCAD, helping students with their coursework.

I’ve learned that teaching is just as rewarding for the teacher as it is for the student. It pushes me to revisit the material and deepen my understanding. Hearing a student say they felt supported and that our session helped them solve a problem means a lot to me. It motivates me to keep refining my skills as an artist and as someone who can help others grow in their own creative paths.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wildyriftian.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildyriftian/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wildy-riftian/
• Other: Behance : https://www.behance.net/wildyriftian