Graphika Manila 2011: The Conference

Graphika Manila 2011, now on its 6th year, is held at the SMX Convention Center last July 30, 2011. It's my second time to attend the conference and I'm excited to be inspired once again to this year's speakers.

Anyway, let's kick off with GM2011's opening title :D

The first speaker was couple Nico and Katwo Puertollano from 27+20 who discussed insightful topics about their projects - the overall workflow from idea to delivery.

The projects that caught my attention was their branding of Graphika Manila 2010, a documentary film for ANC about a poor Filipino family with 13 children, and the OMG Infographic - Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. lols.

Unfortunately, due to time constraints, their presentation was cut short. I know they had a few more slides to inspire us. Luckily, they made a video from the remaining slides, it's all over Facebook :) I wish more peeps could watch this because it contains ideas into the business world.

Dan Matutina came next and find his presentation wittingly funny. The first part about the turon to the dolphin game he was designing was completely hilarious! He even showed us illustrations of the RH Bill, and aBalete tree that was shot-out towards the moon, from there, different Filipino folklore creatures roamed freely XD

And yes, I play the Jackstone too XD

Anyway, Dan mentioned how taking risks is essential as a designer and boy it does show in his works and pays really well. Unfortunately, like 27+20, his presentation was cut short :( Anyway, kudos to your illustrations dude :)

The third speaker is Seph Mayol who is a designer and developer from Cebu. He makes interactive interfaces for movies, music, television shows, games, and more.

Honestly, I was expecting more creative thought, and ideas about flash but he tackled more on the Visual Design Conference he founded in Cebu. We want to know more about his creative mind.

Moving on to the next speaker is PJ Richardson from Laundry! which is a design and animation studio based in Los Angeles, California. They create eye-candy commercials, and music videos which to me has sparked a bottomless pit of inspiration :)

I like their Live Earth 2007 project, different Vevo animations, and the unreleased song of Rivers Cuomo, and Steve Aoki which I fell-in love after hearing for the first time. The beat was really catchy that I tapped my pen and left hand on my notepad, my foot did its own tapping, and also added a few head nods XD

Next was Mike Friolo who has worked as a senior designer for Nike, Inc. He is this cool dude who conceptualized, and designed Manny Pacquaio's entire gear from shoes to bags, jerseys, robe, jacket, pants, etc! Yes, Wow!

I also love his shoe designs especially the rejected ones; and how he created Pacquiao's logo and crest. The elements of the crest is admirable but his first idea of the carabao (that was rejected) as its center piece was more nicer and appropriate than the eagle 'cause I felt the eagle was too US-type rather than Philippine-type.

Moving on to the last speaker is Kevin Andrew Smith from Weta Digital which is a world leading visual effects company based in Wellington, New Zealand.

Weta Digital has created visual effects for Avatar, Lord of the Rings, King Kong, X-Men First Class, Enchanted, Gulliver's Travels, and upcoming movies such as Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn.

Kevin Smith has worked as a supervisor, compositor, rotoscope artist, texture painter and programmer at some of the world's top animation and effects studios. In his presentation, he discussed what the company is composed of, positions, and skills they have.

I just wish Kevin Smith has provided us with 30 minutes mash-up of behind-the-scenes footages aside from Avatar XD

Oh and that Physics thing gave us an epistaxis. I'll let my brothers from The Big Bang Theory solve the problem for them XD

(Left to Right: Kevin Andrew Smith (Weta Digital), PJ Richardson (Laundry!), Mike Friolo, Seph Mayol, Dan Matutina, Nico and Katwo Puertollano (27+20))

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I had fun this year, hopefully I could attend next year as well. I do expect more giveaways and that the conference could start on-time.

Oh and we want a Graphika Manila shirt as added freebies :D

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