Pelatihan Perancangan Cover Buku sebagai Media Penguatan Kompetensi Keahlian Desain Komunikasi Visual di SMKN 1 Suak Tapeh Banyuasin - Yulius, Yosef; Halim, Bobby; Amalia, Shalyna Nadya; Ubaidillah, Muhammad (Lumbung Inovasi: Jurnal Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat, 2025)
Pelatihan perancangan cover buku ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kompetensi keahlian desain komunikasi visual (DKV) siswa SMKN 1 Suak Tapeh Banyuasin dalam menerapkan prinsip estetika dan tata letak pada media publikasi pendidikan. Permasalahan utama mitra adalah rendahnya kemampuan siswa dalam merancang cover buku yang komunikatif dan profesional akibat keterbatasan pengalaman praktik serta minimnya pemahaman terhadap elemen desain grafis digital. Kegiatan dilaksanakan dengan metode pelatihan partisipatif berbasis praktik langsung (learning by doing) yang melibatkan dosen dan mahasiswa program studi DKV sebagai fasilitator. Materi mencakup teori tipografi, komposisi, pemilihan warna, serta penggunaan perangkat lunak desain seperti Canva dan Adobe Illustrator. Hasil kegiatan menunjukkan peningkatan rata-rata 35% pada pemahaman teori dan keterampilan desain siswa. Sebanyak 85% peserta mampu menghasilkan desain cover yang estetis dan komunikatif sesuai kaidah profesional. Dampak pelatihan terlihat pada meningkatnya motivasi berkarya, kepercayaan diri, serta kemampuan bekerja kolaboratif. Selain itu, guru pendamping memperoleh manfaat berupa penguatan strategi pembelajaran berbasis proyek, sementara sekolah mendapatkan peningkatan citra sebagai lembaga vokasi yang adaptif terhadap perkembangan industri kreatif digital. Pelatihan ini mengisi kekosongan kegiatan pengembangan literasi visual terapan yang menggabungkan metode design thinking dan perangkat lunak industri kreatif dalam konteks sekolah menengah kejuruan di luar kawasan industri besar. Dengan demikian, kegiatan ini terbukti efektif dalam memperkuat kompetensi keahlian DKV dan menumbuhkan literasi visual siswa SMK. Training on Book Cover Design as a Medium for Strengthening Visual Communication Design Competencies at SMKN 1 Suak Tapeh, Banyuasin Abstract This training on book cover design aims to enhance the competencies of Visual Communication Design (VCD) students at SMKN 1 Suak Tapeh Banyuasin in applying principles of aesthetics and layout to educational publication media. The main issue faced by the partner school lies in students’ limited ability to create communicative and professional book cover designs due to a lack of practical experience and insufficient understanding of digital graphic design elements. The activity was carried out through a participatory training method based on hands-on practice (learning by doing), involving lecturers and students from the VCD program as facilitators. The materials covered typography, composition, color selection, and the use of design software such as Canva and Adobe Illustrator. The results showed an average improvement of 35% in students’ theoretical understanding and design skills. Approximately 85% of participants successfully produced aesthetic and communicative book cover designs that met professional standards. The training also increased students’ motivation, self-confidence, and ability to work collaboratively. Additionally, the accompanying teachers benefited from strengthened project-based learning strategies, while the school gained an improved image as a vocational institution adaptive to the development of the digital creative industry. This training fills the gap in applied visual literacy development activities that integrate the design thinking approach with creative industry software within the context of vocational schools located outside major industrial areas. Thus, the program proved effective in strengthening students’ VCD competencies and fostering visual literacy among vocational students.