Prabowo Opens Public Voting for 81st Indonesian Independence Day Logo

President Prabowo Subianto has decided that the official logo for the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia will be selected through a public vote. Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya announced the decision at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/6). He explained that the Ministry of Creative Economy, together with the Indonesian Graphic Designers Association (ADGI), had curated 124 logo submissions and shortlisted five finalist designs for the public to choose from via a dedicated website. “The usual practice has been to narrow the five finalists down to three, which the president would then select. However, this time, he wants the public to choose from all five finalists,” Harsya said during a press conference. He welcomed the decision as a positive precedent for expanding public participation in determining the visual identity of the Independence Day commemoration. Deputy Minister of State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro stated that the public can vote for their preferred logo design on a special website from 24 to 28 June. He noted that the five finalist designs were created by citizens from various regions, each interpreting the overarching theme of the 81st Independence Day: “A Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia”. The government has also prepared awards for 300 selected voters, including invitations to attend the annual Independence Day ceremony, souvenirs, and educational assistance. ADGI representative David Irianto explained that the submitted works came from both association members and independent designers. “The selection process began with an open call for graphic designers across Indonesia,” David said. He added that after the collection phase, a curation process took place, and the five finalists then entered a pitching stage to present their concepts to representatives from the Ministry of Creative Economy, the Ministry of State Secretariat, and the Government Communication Agency. Through this public voting mechanism, the selection of the 81st Independence Day logo becomes not only a visual design process but also a space for public participation in the independence commemoration.