Physical graffiti

This year’s Graphika Manila promises to be what’s it’s always been: just a great place to hear and see the most dynamic visual arts practitioners talk about their craft. Aram Beheshti, one of the organizers of the annual event, says that speakers include Kevin Andrew Smith from WETA Digital, a world-leading visual effects company from Wellington, New Zealand which recently won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for James Cameron’s Avatar; Mike Friolo, a senior designer at Nike, Inc. responsible for designing, among others, the Manny Pacqiuao gear, logo and crest; and Laundry!, a design and animation studio based in Los Angeles that’s worked with Wrigley’s, Nike, Virgin, The Cool Kids, Mountain Dew and various artists such as Will.I.Am and Green Day.

But the real draw (at least in this corner) would be hearing and seeing our local talent. There’s 27+20, which is an independent multi-disciplinary design agency from Quezon City, Philippines that specializes in visual communication through graphic design, photography and film for print and broadcast (http://www.2720.tv) and Cebu-based designer/developer Seph Mayol who’s created designs for clients such as Walt Disney, WWE, Universal Music Group, Ricky Martin and Paramount Pictures.

And there’s Dan Matutina, a local designer and illustrator and a co-founder of IDEALS, a social enterprise design and communications agency (www.twistedfork.me, http://www.ideals.ph). He’s also a graphic design and illustration teacher at the University of the Philippines, College of Fine Arts. He’s also a damn fine guy.

We got to talk to Dan a bit about his work and why it’s okay to do something as vulgar as having fun for a living.

YOUNG STAR: How would you describe your style?

DAN MATUTINA: My illustration style is a mix of handmade and digital, clean and dirty, old and modern aesthetics. I love mixing colors with different textures and shapes to tell a story.

How did you come to develop your style?

Developing my style was a constant experiment. I’ve always loved the clean, simple lines and shape of minimalist design, but I also like gritty textures and splatters on my illustrations and sketches. The styles are a bit contradictory, but it kind of worked eventually.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learned so far since you started?

Taking risks has big rewards.

What’s your process when you work?

I start with an idea first. If I’m happy with it I then proceed to doing preliminary sketches. After doing the sketches I put things together on the computer. I still do quite a bit of manual work, though. I scan different textures and brush strokes and then apply them on my works. I also take a lot of breaks in between: play video games, surf the net, read articles and drink coffee.

Do you listen to music when you work?

I listen to different kinds of music when I work, but I’ve been listening to a lot of electronic and “chiptune” music recently. My playlist includes music from Lali Puna, Null Sleep and Jim Guthrie. There are times when I listen to ‘90s OPM music on YouTube.

You work in different media. How do you keep your identity but still be flexible to work in these various platforms?

I love making different things on different platforms, but what’s consistent, I think, is my point of view. I have certain biases in terms of subject matter and it shows in my works.

How has the web changed graphic design?

The web made graphic design more accessible to a lot of people and it’s a good thing. A lot of people are now exposed to different designs from all over the world.

What’s the best thing about doing what you do?

Doing the thing you love.

What’s the worst thing?

Because you’re doing the thing you love, it eats up a lot of your time. I don’t know if that’s necessarily a bad thing. (Laughs)

What are you looking forward to do next?

Finishing a number of upcoming projects. They’re different from what I usually do so it’s exciting. I’m also looking forward to a long vacation. I haven’t had one in a long time.

And what should an aspiring artist keep in mind as they start their careers?

Be brave and experiment; do not be afraid to fail.

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Graphika Manila International Multimedia Design Conference will be held at SMX Convention Center, Function Rooms 1-4, SM Mall of Asia, Bay City, Pasay City. Event starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. on July 30. For more details you can call Phone: (+632) 544-1525 or check our website: http://www.graphikamanila.com.