A message from the future

Undisputedly, this country is home to a lot of talented artists. So what better way to celebrate this gift than to gather them in one extraordinary design extravaganza.

The 1st Manila Design Week, spearheaded by Team Manila, highlights the art scene today and a peek into its future -- as seen through the eyes of top graphic designers, up-and-coming artists, and art aficionados.

Team Manila’s dynamic duo Mon Punzalan and Jowee Alviar say Manila Design Week aims not only to bring Philippine graphic design into the mainstream but also to establish the Philippines as a major hub of graphic design and creativity in the region, if not the world.

“We want to provide a forum for Pinoy artists where they can show their talents, and likewise, who want to go from local to international recognition,” says Jowee.

YOUTH FUTURE

To acknowledge that wealth of talent in young designers, Manila Design Week presented a student art exhibit-cum-contest where over a hundred original artworks in the form of shirt designs were showcased to different schools from all over the metro.

Themed “Message from the Future,” the event gave students the chance to voice out their ideas on what the future holds.

Narisse Gepilano won the grand prize for her work “Youth Future.” Other winners included Remster Bautista of Cosmopoint International Institute of Technology, Chelseah Ngo of De La Salle University, and Paolo Roa of Shift Design School.

The winning shirt designs will be produced by Team Manila to be sold at the various Team Manila and Bratpack stores. “The student-artists are a growing community. But they are still doing it on their own through blogs and websites, and we want the schools to be more involved in honing the talents of these kids,” says Jowee.

Contest winner Remster Bautista draws the future as a balance between technology and nature. “Yung crescent moon ang pinaka perfect shape sa akin na sa tingin ko nagpapakita ng balance,” explains the 16-year-old Computer Graphics student of his artwork.

Art and Graphic Design student Paolo Roa’s work “Freedom of Expression” wants to express that “everybody is an artist, and all they have to do is explore the artist in them.”

ARTISTS UNITE!

The Manila Design Week is also all about fusion, promoting collaboration of artists from different fields and everything and anything graphic design using all media – from print and publication design to web and motion graphics, photography, advertising and fashion.

Art aficionados were also treated to a generous serving of all sorts of eye candy in the different creative hotspots throughout the metro courtesy of graphic design houses Electrolychee, PSP, 2720 and Wee Will Doodle, music artist-art director Caliph8 and KST visiting US street artist Ron English. Along with the exhibits and activities were dialogues and seminars for aspiring graphic designers.