Budiman Ong is a designer-maker based in Bali, originally from Kisaran, a small town in Sumatra, Indonesia. A passionate creator from a young age, Budiman's journey in design began at the Grays School of Art in Aberdeen, Scotland, part of Robert Gordon University, where he majored in Applied Arts.

Back in Bali, he joined John Hardy's team as Head of Lifestyle Design until 2008, when he founded Ong Cen Kuang, to focus on decorative lighting. His work, rooted in a deep appreciation for the inherent qualities of materials and craftsmanship, strives to create products that evoke emotions, turning common or unexpected materials into beautiful, sculptural pieces.

Today, Ong Cen Kuang is a renowned conceptual decorative lighting brand. Over the past 16 years, the brand has achieved international recognition, with distribution across Europe, Asia, and the USA. Its designs have been chosen by leading architecture and interior design practices and commissioned for distinguished locations, including Jacyz Hotel in Sweden, JW Marriott in the Maldives, Como Shambala resorts in Bali, and the Cabinet Meeting Room of the new Presidential Palace (IKN) in Indonesia.

In 2020, Budiman, alongside Rudi Winata and Yang Yang Hartono, co-founded Jia. Initially launched as a brand offering a collection of homewares, Jia expanded within months to establish Jia COLLECTIVE, a retail space in Canggu, Bali, presenting beautiful products from local designers. As Jia grew, the team identified the need for a larger platform to showcase creators and their work, leading to the launch of Jia CURATED - an annual, multi-day event that celebrates craft, design, and culture.

In 2024, Jia CURATED featured more than 100 brands and attracted over 6000 visitors, doubling in size this year (Bali, 14-18 August 2025). Budiman's ambition is to establish Indonesia on the global design stage. As the world's 4th most populated country, he is on a mission to support the local creative and manufacturing sector in gaining visibility and earning opportunities to grow, connecting creators and communities across the region and beyond.

He believes in the importance of a collective effort to push the boundaries of creativity and design while fostering a deeper, more inclusive dialogue within the local and global creative community.