Dave Yu Warsanta
Shared Table
Hello! I’m Dave Yu Warsanta, an international student from Surabaya, Indonesia. Living overseas has shaped my interest in social design and user experience, as it made me more aware of how people adapt and navigate different environments.
User experience design has become one of my passions because it allows me to explore how people interact with the world in subtle and meaningful ways. I enjoy observing everyday behaviours and translating those moments into thoughtful design possibilities.
Through my work, I focus on people’s stories and lived experiences. I’m interested in how small decisions, routines, and situations influence the way people think and feel in their daily lives.
I am especially drawn to the process behind design. For me, the journey of observing, testing, learning, and refining is just as valuable as the final outcome. I see experimentation as a way to better understand people and approach design with more care and intention.
Beyond design, I enjoy music production and playing instruments such as piano, guitar, and drums as a way to unwind and escape from reality.
Shared Table
This project focuses on familiar items such as rice, chili, garlic, and soy sauce, the project highlights how the same ingredients can be interpreted in different ways depending on cultural background, personal habits, and everyday constraints. For some residents, food is closely tied to memory, family, and identity. For others, it is approached more practically, shaped by affordability and routine.
The research was conducted through direct observation during communal meals, as well as interviews with residents who live within the rental blocks. These conversations revealed a range of relationships with food, from emotional and nostalgic connections to simple and functional approaches. One key insight is that food does not carry the same meaning for everyone, even within the same community.
In response, the project proposes Shared Table, a participatory installation that invites residents to engage with a set of everyday ingredients and express how they would use them. Participants are asked to select ingredients and respond to prompts such as what they would cook, who they would cook for, or what feels missing. Rather than focusing on cooking or consumption, the activity centres on interpretation, allowing differences to become visible and shareable.
By creating a low-pressure environment where participation can take different forms, including observing, choosing, or reflecting, the project supports a more inclusive form of engagement. The outcome is not a physical product, but a shift in awareness. Through small moments of recognition, residents are able to see how others live, think, and relate to food. In doing so, Shared Table contributes to a deeper sense of understanding and belonging within the community.