I create bold, nostalgic illustrations inspired by nature, animals, and emotional storytelling. For over a decade I've collaborated with brands, transforming ideas into visually inspiring imagery that resonates across cultures. I believe illustration is emotional storytelling— a way to carry joys, memories, and ideas to inspire. My work often features animals, nature, and lifestyle, reflecting my passion for both the local and global campaigns on personal collectibles.…

Ayang Cempaka

PRO

I create bold, nostalgic illustrations inspired by nature, animals, and emotional storytelling. For over a decade I've collaborated with brands, transforming ideas into visually inspiring imagery that resonates across cultures. I believe illustration is emotional storytelling— a way to carry joys, memories, and ideas to inspire. My work often features animals, nature, and lifestyle, reflecting my passion for both the local and global campaigns on personal collectibles.…

Available to hire

I create bold, nostalgic illustrations inspired by nature, animals, and emotional storytelling. For over a decade I’ve collaborated with brands, transforming ideas into visually inspiring imagery that resonates across cultures. I believe illustration is emotional storytelling— a way to carry joys, memories, and ideas to inspire. My work often features animals, nature, and lifestyle, reflecting my passion for both the local and global campaigns on personal collectibles.

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Language

Indonesian
Fluent
English
Advanced

Work Experience

Independent Illustrator at Ayang Cempaka Studio
January 1, 2007 - Present

Education

Bachelor of Architecture at Universitas Islam Indonesia
August 1, 2001 - November 1, 2004
Bachelor of Architecture at Indonesia
January 11, 2030 - March 10, 2026

Qualifications

Bachelor of architecture
August 1, 2001 - November 1, 2004
Universitas Islam Indonesia. Later transitioned into illustration and developed an international career working with brands such as Google, Penguin Random House, Lush and Huawei
Founder & Designer Cocomomo bags
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2014
Cocomomo brand (Indonesia) Founded and developed a boutique accessories brand producing leather bags, embroidered clutches, and illustrated stationery. Responsibilities included: • Designing original illustrations and product concepts • Developing patterns and visual identity • Collaborating on product development and manufacturing • Managing creative direction and brand storytelling This entrepreneurial experience later evolved into a full-time illustration career.
Independent Illustrator
January 1, 2014 - April 30, 2026
Create bold, nostalgic illustrations for publishers, brands, and lifestyle companies worldwide. Work includes editorial illustration, children’s publishing, product design, and licensing collaborations. Selected clients include Google, Penguin Random House, Lush, L’Occitane, Amazon Studios, Netflix, American Airlines, and Dior.

Industry Experience

Retail, Travel & Hospitality, Media & Entertainment, Education, Consumer Goods, Software & Internet
    uniE621 Fashionable Dog — Monthly Illustration Series
    A playful illustration series featuring fashionable dogs styled for each month of the year. The project combines bold color palettes, retro-inspired typography, and characterful dog portraits to create a joyful calendar concept. Designed with licensing in mind, the series is suitable for calendars, stationery, puzzles, and lifestyle products. illustrator designer fashiona dog…
    uniE621 Bloom Fiercely Darling!
    Hand-drawn lettering illustration created as an expressive typographic piece celebrating strength, resilience, and personal growth. The artwork explores the beauty of handwritten typography, combining fluid letterforms and bold composition to create an empowering visual message. The piece reflects a balance between illustration and lettering, designed to work as a poster, print, or editorial visual statement. Role: Hand lettering and illustration Medium: Digital hand-drawn typography illustrator…
    uniE621 Fashionable Dogs — 500 pcs puzzle
    Illustration created for a 500-piece puzzle published by Galison. The artwork features a playful collection of stylish dogs, each illustrated with distinctive personalities, outfits, and accessories. The colorful composition brings together character design and pattern-like arrangement to create an engaging puzzle experience. The project combines illustration, character design, and product storytelling for the gift and lifestyle market. Client: Galison Application: Puzzle / gift product Role: Illustrator illustrator…
    uniE621 Tropical Snakes & Ladders
    Illustrated a reimagined Snakes and Ladders game inspired by Indonesian native fauna and tropical landscapes. The artwork transforms the classic board game into a playful visual journey through Indonesia’s wildlife, featuring animals such as birds, primates, big cats, reptiles, and botanical elements drawn in a bold, colorful storytelling style. The piece was designed as a printed fabric travel game, combining illustration, product design, and educational play. This project explores how cultural and environmental storytelling can be translated into interactive products for children, families, and gift markets. Role: Illustrator and concept designer Application: Fabric game / travel product / illustrated play surface Medium: Digital illustration boardgame illustrator designer…
    uniE621 Animal Habitat - illustrated book for Ladybird
    Illustrated the children’s book “Animal Habitats”, published by Ladybird (Penguin Random House Children’s UK). The book introduces young readers to wildlife habitats around the world, exploring environments such as rainforests, mountains, rivers, and polar regions. The illustrations were designed to make complex natural ecosystems engaging and accessible for children through clear storytelling, expressive characters, and vibrant compositions. The project involved creating educational illustrations that balance accuracy with playful visual storytelling, helping young readers understand how animals adapt to different environments across the planet. This hardcover title is distributed internationally through major retailers and bookstores. illustrator designer childrenbook…
    uniE621 Illustration Packaging for Simply Nuts
    Illustrations created for the packaging of the plant-based cashew drink brand Simply Nuts. The visual concept was inspired by the African origin of the cashews, where the ingredients are sourced. The illustrations feature a vibrant jungle landscape populated with animals native to the region, creating a playful narrative that connects the product to its natural roots. Each flavor is represented through different animals and botanical elements, allowing the packaging to communicate both the product variety and the brand’s connection to nature. The artwork wraps around the carton packaging, creating a bold, immersive visual experience designed to stand out on retail shelves. The project demonstrates how storytelling illustration can bring personality and authenticity to food packaging while maintaining a cohesive visual identity across multiple product variations.…
    uniE621 Classic Panna Cotta – Illustrated Recipe
    Illustrated step-by-step recipe for a classic panna cotta dessert. The artwork combines playful characters, ingredients, and visual instructions to guide viewers through the preparation process in an engaging and easy-to-follow format. Personal project exploring food storytelling through editorial illustration. illustrator designer food recipe…
    uniE621 Amsterdam illustrated map
    A playful illustrated map celebrating the charm of Amsterdam — its canals, bicycles, historic architecture, and everyday life. Through colorful characters and small visual stories, the map invites viewers to explore the city’s landmarks while capturing the joy of wandering through Amsterdam. illustrator designer illustratedmap map amsterdam…
    paper TransJakarta Bus Illustration Project

    Large-scale illustration project created for TransJakarta, the public transportation system of Jakarta, Indonesia.

    The project involved designing a series of playful animal illustrations that were applied as full-body graphics across multiple city buses. The goal was to create a visually engaging and family-friendly experience for passengers while promoting tourism and cultural identity in the city.

    The artwork features colorful wildlife characters and nature-inspired elements that transform the buses into moving illustrations across Jakarta. The designs were installed across several buses operating on major routes in the city.

    This project demonstrates my ability to translate illustration into large-scale public design, combining storytelling, character design, and environmental graphics.

    paper Google Doodle — Sariamin Ismail 112th Birthday

    Illustration created for Google Doodle celebrating the 112th birthday of Indonesian writer Sariamin Ismail, widely recognized as the first Indonesian woman to publish a novel.

    The artwork was designed to visually represent storytelling, literature, and cultural heritage through a warm and nostalgic illustration style. The composition integrates organic elements and expressive characters to reflect Sariamin Ismail’s legacy in Indonesian literature.

    This project was published on Google’s homepage on July 31, 2021 and reached a global audience.

    Role: Guest Illustrator for Google Doodle.

    Tools used: Procreate and digital illustration techniques.