New Design Ideas
The Journal New Design Ideas is a peer-reviewed, open-access on-line & print journal devoted to publishing research papers in all fields of design, including industrial design, visual communication design, interface design, animation and game design, architectural design, urban design, and other design related fields. It aims to provide an international forum for the exchange of ideas and findings from researchers across different cultures. We aim to be a channel for the knowledge exchange between academia and industry by identifing the results are of interest or applicable to practical design.
Haunting the Screen: Visual Strategies and Cultural Narratives in Ghost Character Design
- Published: 02-04-2026
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This study examines the evolution of ghost character design in Indonesian horror cinema over three decades, focusing on the visual strategies used to convey social narratives. Drawing on design theory and visual semiotics, the research analyzes horror films from the 1970s, 1980s and 2000s to identify shifts in design elements - such as form, color and texture - in ghost representations, reflecting cultural anxieties and collective memory. Three films - Si Manis Jembatan Ancol, Ratu Buaya Putih and Pengabdi Setan (2017) - were selected as case studies due to their distinctive ghost character designs and their significant role in the broader context of Indonesian horror cinema. The study argues that ghost design not only reflects fear but also shapes public perceptions and sensibilities toward fear.
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