Last year I was the one preparing for GEMASTIK. This year, I was helping others do the same.

A few weeks ago I got invited to speak at Universitas Padjadjaran's GEMASTIK 2026 preparation by Kristal Unpad, sharing my perspective on Design Thinking for UI/UX competitions with Unpad students who are gearing up for the same stage I once stood on.

I talked about the stuff I wish someone had told me before I competed. How empathy isn't just a phase you rush through. How defining the right problem is harder and more important than building the solution. How iteration isn't failure, it's the process.

And honestly, seeing the participants engage, ask questions, and push back on ideas made the whole session feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation between people who genuinely care about their craft.