2013/05/14
These are some animated GIFs I helped some of my friends create for their bridalbook.ph ads.
Lately I have been very fond of documenting movements using pictures. Here are just some favorites I would like to share with you. After Election Day, we all need to unwind somehow from all the poll updates.
2013/04/18
To all the business owners out there: Congratulations! We made it! January is for renewals, and April is for filing our taxes. April 15 was the deadline and I hope you were able to let out the biggest sigh of relief earlier this week.
I started Passionistta in 2007 and back then, my brother’s golden advice was to hire someone to help me process my documents for me. It was and still is a big help knowing I have someone I can trust to remind me of my duties as a taxpayer. I’m not fond of the little burst of heart attacks when the fees clash with money saved up for perming my hair. At least I have my agent to laugh with and to help me feel secure that I have done my obligation as a business owner. (Now I can concentrate on saving up for that long-sought-after perm.)
There is still much to learn about business. It’s a journey that I’m starting to enjoy more and more.
By the way, I’m subscribed to this awesome company called Freshbooks. Back then, my reason was a much needed “painless billing system.” It really was painless and very professionally done. Nowadays, I use Freshbooks for accounting but in non headache inducing manner- where I just input my data and boom- various helpful reports about where my money is going. They also do time tracking among many, many others. If I were to add an advice to my brother’s golden rule of hiring a filing agent, getting Freshbooks would be it.
2013/04/11
One of my recent works is this graphic for BCR‘s t-shirt line. When I finished this, it was only then that I realized how I have always fantasized about working on some apparel. Now that dream is a reality. I would like to push it further and maybe release my own line. Oh the possibilities!
2013/04/04
One of the best things a graphic designer can have is a good printing company. I’ve been working with GA Printing for years now and I always trust the quality of their printed goods. It is one thing to have your work printed, and another to have it printed in such high quality. I swear, the latter only gives the best feeling in the world.
When I stopped by their office, they gave me a personalized notebook as part of their holiday tradition of giving partners a little token of appreciation. Ah, their best notebook yet! It has blank pages and is beautifully bound to perfection. I use this notebook for my drawing exercises.
I appreciate their kindness and how they make me love my work even more. The simple thought of having an enduring partnership with another company who loves what they do makes me a very happy graphic designer.
2013/02/10
To my wonderful clients, thank you for trusting me this past year. I’m very thankful that I have inspiring individuals as bosses and as family at the same time.
Let’s continue to create beautiful experiences.
I’m still full from all the tikoy (rice cake). I always look forward to the Chinese New Year, not because I’m Chinese, but there’s something about it that makes me feel refreshed. Probably the fact that it’s not one week after Christmas. Haha.
By the way, here’s an interesting article about Kiong hee huat tsay by Michael Tan. Very informative. :)
2013/01/24
Last week’s Getting Married Bridal Fair had me busy. Some of my clients had their own special needs for those three days. Dino Lara Photography needed their flyers, which we printed with GA Printing in just a day. Oh if I could hug the flyers, I would! And then Ian Cruz Films wanted a new look for their flyers and their CD sleeves. I’m happy they decided to die-cut our flyer. All turned out amazing.
It’s always good to have copies of the actual materials so I can study how my designs translate when printed. Honestly, seeing them on the computer versus holding them in real life is something that cannot be compared. Kind of like how a virtual hug will never compare to the experience of a real one.
Seeing these inspires me so much. To know that what I create adds value to other people’s passions makes me fluffy inside.
And to add some more giddy feeling, another client of mine, Matus Jewellery, has won the top booker award for jewelry at the bridal fair. Matus is like family to me and words cannot express how lucky I am to have known them for years and years. They were actually my very first client. I think my soul is tied to the wedding industry forever. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
2013/01/24
The fast pace of December and January is almost over. These are the times when I moonlight the most, and I’m grateful for that.
So, how’s your 2013 so far?
Mine has been amazing with projects all lined up with people I love working with. Everything is going to be awesome. I know it.
Let me share one of the passages from an essay I love to read over and over:
“High be his heart, faithful his will, clear his sight, that he may in good earnest be doctrine, society, law, to himself; that a simple purpose may be to him as strong as iron necessity is to others!” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
2012/12/09
I have had Moleskine planners for two years and I have been very spoiled when it comes to pure perfection. Next year, however, I’m willing to try something new.
One day while I was cleaning my closet, I found this one cute planner that I got from Korea. I thought I gave away all of them. Maybe this one was really meant for me.
While it is the cutest planner in the world, it has blank monthly calendars. The horror of putting each date free hand dawned on me. I had to deal with the imperfection of my own penmanship with some mistakes here and there. Case in point, 24 became 14 + 10. To be honest, I panicked for one second and then in a clever way of saving my ass I added + 10. I looked at my masterpiece (or lackthereof) and laughed for a good minute. Actually, it felt really good.
Now the planner is uniquely mine and has a funny story to go with it. But that’s the icing on the cake. I gained the ability to laugh at my own mistakes.
The font inspiration was Indifference. I chose this hollow font design so I can shade dates with different colors according to significance. I went ahead and put the 2013 Philippine holidays in and also the full moon dates because I’m such an astronomy geek.
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