PERANCANGAN ANIMASI SEBAGAI MEDIA PROMOSI PROGRAM STUDI DESAIN KOMUNIKASI VISUAL (DKV) DI UNIVERSITAS NUSA PUTRA UNTUK MENINGKATKAN MINAT SISWA SEKOLAH MENENGAH

The Visual Communication Design (DKV) Program at Nusa Putra University has undertaken various efforts to introduce its program to prospective students. However, the current promotional strategies are considered not fully aligned with the latest trends. One increasingly popular trend is the use of animation as a promotional medium, which is regarded as capable of capturing audience attention through creative visuals and emotional narratives. This study aims to explore the use of animation as an effective promotional medium to increase the interest of high school students in the DKV Program at Nusa Putra University. The research and design process applied the design thinking approach to understand the needs of the target audience and design relevant solutions. Research methods included interviews, questionnaires, and literature studies to collect data and develop an animation-based promotional strategy. The analysis revealed that most high school students in Sukabumi are already familiar with the DKV Program. However, a more engaging and creative promotional approach is needed to boost interest among prospective students. The testing results showed that the animation "MELANGKAH" successfully captured the audience's attention through its appealing visuals, comprehensible narrative, and strong emotional connection. The effective audio elements further enhanced message delivery and ensured seamless synchronization between visual and audio components. Overall, this animation has proven to be an innovative and relevant promotional medium that effectively increases interest in the DKV Program at Nusa Putra University. Keywords: Animation, Design Thinking, Promotional Media, Nusa Putra University, Visual Communication Design