Khaerul Risky: Building a Design Culture Through a Design Bookstore in Semarang

6 days ago
2 min read

Khaerul Risky memegang buku favoritnya How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul sambil tersenyum di program Creator Spotlight oleh Collabox.

In the growing creative scene of Indonesia, one name stands out in promoting design literacy: Khaerul Risky, founder of Bergrafis, a design bookstore and creative space in Semarang. What started as a small initiative to make design books more accessible has now become a movement that connects designers, students, and creative thinkers through reading and discussion.

Khaerul Risky dari Bergrafis memegang mikrofon dengan gestur tangan ekspresif, menjelaskan gerakan literasi desain di Semarang di samping Jessie dari Setitik.id dan Refani dari Teliti.

From Design Student to Literacy Advocate

Khaerul Risky’s journey began from a simple frustration, the lack of quality design books in Indonesia. This inspired him to establish Bergrafis, a design bookstore that curates rare and essential books from around the world, helping young designers build both their knowledge and perspective.

“Books help us see design beyond visuals,” Risky shared during his Creator Spotlight session at Collabox Creative Hub. “They help us understand the logic, culture, and social value behind every creative work.”

Booth Bergrafis di Pindrikan Markt XIII yang menampilkan koleksi buku desain terkurasi dari seluruh dunia.

Bergrafis, More Than a Design Bookstore

More than just a bookstore, Bergrafis has evolved into a space for dialogue, exploration, and collaboration. It has hosted countless informal talks, mini-discussions, and creative gatherings for the Semarang Design People community.

Through these activities, Bergrafis has become a home for young designers and creatives to exchange ideas and grow together, proving that literacy can be a powerful tool for creative empowerment.

Seorang pengunjung melihat-lihat booth Bergrafis sambil memegang salah satu koleksi buku desainnya.

Strengthening Semarang’s Design Ecosystem

The presence of Bergrafis aligns with Collabox Creative Hub’s mission to support Semarang’s creative ecosystem. Risky’s initiative is a perfect example of how grassroots movements can nurture sustainable growth within the local creative economy.

“Semarang has a unique creative rhythm,” said Risky. “We just need more spaces that let people think, connect, and collaborate, Bergrafis was built to be one of those spaces.”

Foto close-up booth Bergrafis di sudut ruangan, dipenuhi buku desain dan poster warna-warni.

Design Bookstores as a Space for Ideas

Every corner of Bergrafis tells a story, from walls filled with posters and typography prints to shelves stocked with timeless design books like How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul.

For Risky, the design bookstore is not just a retail concept, but a cultural space where ideas can live and evolve. “If we want to build a strong creative industry,” he said, “we need a strong foundation of knowledge. Books are the fuel for that growth.”

About Creator Spotlight

Creator Spotlight is a storytelling program by Collabox Creative Hub, featuring creative talents, founders, and innovators across Semarang’s creative industries. Through these stories, Collabox aims to highlight individuals who drive change and build the creative economy in Central Java and beyond.