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Must buy: Smashing Book

The Smashing Book Is Released: Buy Now!

• Here it is, the brand new Smashing Book. Announced several months ago in a couple of posts, it has finally arrived. You can buy the Smashing Book right now. And in case you didn’t know, it’s available here exclusively. The book is available and can be shipped right away.

The Smashing Book is a printed book about best practices in modern Web design. The book shares technical tips and best practices on coding, usability and optimization and explores how to create successful user interfaces and apply marketing principles to increase conversion rates. It also shows how to get the most out of typography, color and branding so that you end up with intuitive and effective Web designs. And lastly, you will also get a peek behind the curtains of Smashing Magazine.

Graphika Manila 09

July 15, 2009

SM Mall of Asia Premier Cinema

The finale event of the Manila Design Week 2009, and most probably the notable. What has become (in its 4th run now) the premier annual event in the Graphic Design world here in the Philippines - Graphika Manila.

This was my first attendance since the event's inception in 2006, together with the Orange & Bronze Creative team.

What surprised me in the event itself is when I found out the fact that Aram Beheshti, all the while, is Graphika Manila's foremost inventor and big boss, who's actually a schoolmate of mine in Don Bosco during college. We soon hope Orange & Bronze Creative team would be a sponsor on next year's event!

Speakers:

Stefan Sagmeister - Sagmeister Inc. New York
Christian Alzmann - Art Director, Industrial Light and Magic
Jens Gelhaar - Creative Director, Brand New School
Ryan Vergara & Garovs Garovillo - Everywhere We Shoot
Angel Guerrero - Editor in Chief, Adobo Magazine
Pancho Esguerra, Greg Garcia, Mark Mendoza - Springboard

Orange & Bronze Creative team:

Graphic/Web Designers Edwin Lacap, Randy Paulino, Dhoris Tayag, and Mikko Clauor, with Writer Christel Amparado, and Business Analyst Clair Ching

Adobe Creative Festival Philippines 2009

July 29, 2009

Crowne Plaza, Manila Galleria

A colleague from O&B Creative, Mikko Claour and I went to the Adobe Creative Festival - Live in the Philippines. A short but really noted event.

This was actually Adobe's official launch of Creative Suite 4 (CS4) here in the Philippines. Just recently, we in the Creative team of Orange & Bronze just purchased our own sets of Adobe CS4 Design Premium, and everything they've presented in the event are included in the tutorial packages included in the bundle. Not only that, it's all available (and more) online here , so you really didn't miss anything - except the in-your-face and real time demonstration of all that's new in CS4.

Everything from Acrobat's Portfolio builder, Photoshop's ability to open and edit .3ds files, InDesign's very cool feature of exporting pages to Flash (.swf) with instant presentation transitions, Flash and Premiere's ball joint features, Dreamweaver's new anchors, Premiere's meta tagging in videos thru speech translations...and so on...

Also noted is the Adobe Production Premium bundle and its summed up list and diagram of what's what in post production process:

Integration & Output

Plan (Illustrator & Photoshop) --> Edit (Premiere) --> Motion Graphics, Compositing & Visual Effects (Aftereffects) --> Audio Editing & Mastering (Soundbooth) --> Deliver Anywhere (Flash & Encore)

Review: Alamat ng Gubat

Title: Alamat ng Gubat

Author: Bob Ong

This book was a highly recommended read of a colleague, even long before I got my hands on it. And what can I say, another brilliant idea from Bob Ong. For those who are not familiar with Bob Ong's works, he's the one responsible for such local and famous best sellers as "Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas" and "ABNKKBSNPLAko?!" among others. As expected, candid humor and unconventional story-telling are the main ingredients of the book, but the crop is its unique presentation and plot, and, undoubtedly the mocking symbolism behind every character.

What makes "Alamat ng Gubat" stand out is that it's a quick read (merely a hundred pages), packaged as a Children's Book complete with full color splash pages. The story of a young Crab/Talangka in search of the Puso ng Saging that seems to be the cure for his ailing "king" father. Along the way he basically meets different animals in the jungle which represents in essence the different aspects of the Modern Filipino...in politics, culture, habits, principles...you name it. Each encounter would mirror the Filipino character combined with humor and spontaneous off color remarks by the narrator (in which the author is really brilliant with). Behind the humor and indirect character analogies, one would immediately recognize the harsh reality of which today's Filipinos are really known for. A mockery mixed with antics, and at the end, one would think and meditate how true these fictional characters really play with their real-life counterparts. And who are they? it is you. Me. And everyone of us who calls ourselves the Filipino.

Ang kwentong pambata na pang-matanda. Ang iba't ibang uri ng kahayupan sa kagubatan ng Saging Republic.

Review: Pugad Baboy

Title: Pugad Baboy (Collected Editions - Dailies from Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Published Annually

Author: Pol Medina Jr.

I've been collecting Pugad Baboy books (collected editions) since 1994 and I have a complete collection from book 1 to 21 (the latest edition). I must say, in a sentence, the best authentic Filipino comic in the market. The humor is priceless, the art is outstanding, but the crown jewel of Pol Medina's creation is its realism and true-to-form Pinoy story-arcs and strips.

To those who do not understand the Filipino culture and identity, I recommend the Pugad Baboy title as an unofficial National Handbook of what and who the real modern Filipino is.

Not only does it visually mirrors the lively and cheerful (often times dirty) humor of Pinoys, It also represents all sectors of the stereotype Philippine society from the elite to the masses. It also showcases the great author's ability to write amazing story-arcs that reflects the Filipino heart. Trivia is also a main ingredient in the book as the readers tend to learn new things from the characters' situational strips.

It presents different sides of Phlippine community from our dirty Politics, stereotype Families, Religion, Youth, and even explores the beauty of some of our Country's real-life places thru the characters' Adventure stories.

All in all, Pol Medina is a brilliant Artist, Author, and Innovator. A true Filipino that should be admired and patronized.

Tickets to Graphika Manila 2009

Got now my ticket to Graphika Manila 2009

Our team (O&B Creative) will be a part of the event and already I could feel the anticipation from my colleagues!

startdrawing.org - The Asia Drawing Portal

http://startdrawing.org

Drawings from Asia. Drawings by Asians.

startdrawing.org - The Asia Drawing Portal

Showacasing the Art that is Asian, made by Asians. Great pieces and Artists here, ranging from Architecture, Comics, Concept Arts, Fashion, Fine Arts, Illustrations, Motion, Photography, Products / Toys.

DeviantArt Portfolio Builder

Click Here

DeviantArt finally made its online Portfolio builder for Artists of all kinds, both for their already member users and for those who are not...and it's Free.

Personally, I have been a fan and user of DeviantArt for several years now, simply for the fact that it caters all kinds of Artists globally, and is geared towards an Artist's point of view in general.

Now, they have this professional Portfolio builder available in free and premium services, for Artists to easily and elegantly showcase their work. Prior to this, there was a similar free Portfolio / Gallery that is flash-based at Fotologue.jp which I also used years before. Now DeviantArt finally made their own version of it which I personally prefer and encourage other Artists to also try.

8th Philippine Toys, Hobbies, and Collectibles Convention

http://toyconph.com/

Last June 13, 2009, my significant other Nikki and I went to the 8th Philippine Toys, Hobbies, and Collectibles Convention @ SM Megatrade Hall

And what to expect?

Cam trip and food trip - got our freebie Shawarmas by mistake, accidentally met my long lost elementary buddy, lots of ubergeeks in costumes! and yeah, got to take a pic with gud 'ol Combatron!

Photos are taken and owned by Randy Paulino

Form Function Class - 1st Philippine Web Design Conference - Event Notes

http://formfunctionclass.com

Last July 10 2009, I attended the 1st Philippine Web Design Conference (Titled: Form Function & Class) at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), together with my colleagues at O&B.

This was the first conference sponsored by the Philippine Web Designers Organization, in which by now I would encourage as much Filipino Web / Graphic Designers to be a member of.

Among things I have particularly noted from the conference; aside from Lola Techie's current popularity in the local media and YouTube (as noted by Aileen Apolo of Google), here are a couple of few notes I have managed to key-in my phone during the event:

Yes, the fact that Bad habits and how to fight them, breaking your instincts

DESIGNERS - are inclined to do things a certain way

On to THE BUSINESS OF WEB DESIGN

by Gail dela Cruz-Villanueva

Exposure - Getting the Clients:

Online Opportunities: SEO, Directories, Link ADs, Placements, Blogging, Microblogging, Social Networks, Portfolio

Offline Opportunities: Tri-Media, Sponsorships, Word of Mouth

ONLINE PORTFOLIO should always contain:

• About Page
• Resume (for Freelancers & job seekers)
• Services
• Contact Info
• Work Showcase

QUALITY vs. QUANTITY? it's actually QUALITY = QUANTITY

DEALING WITH CLIENTS:

Before the Project:

• Gather as much project details as possible
• Make proposals clear and concise
• Include a cost breakdown (stock photos are billed later)
• Prepare a Contract/ MOA

* See samples of Project Cost Breakdown

During the Project:

(!) The Customer knows best...SOMETIMES

• Usability Issues with Clients:
• Artist + Programmer + Businessman
• Compromise Approach with Clients' desires
• Added Costs Approach
• Try to understand the client's requests
• Respect client's existing brand
• Be patient with disgruntled client IT reps and Webmasters
• Don't have the rockstar / diva attitude

After the Project:

• Provide Support
• Keep communication lines always open

Next Steps:

The 3 Types of Web Practitioners

• Employee
• Freelancer
• Business Owner

...and 3 Types of Business Registrations

• Sole Proprietorship
• Partnership (General & Limited)
• Corporation

Expanding your Business

Through Outsourcing, Direct Clients, and Other Online Ventures

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And what really stuck to me, is what Luis Buenaventura II presented in his talk on Strawberries, smlieys, and sheep - That there are only 3 things that should be kept in mind for a successful design and/ or business:

Promiscuity

Simplicity

Conformity

...and one last thing, a nicely put perspective that Tweeter has indeed evolved to a micro version of the web itself.

Manila Design Week 09

August 8 - 15 2009GRAPHIC DESIGNS MOVE.
It’s all about fusion as Manila Design Week 2009 promotes collaboration of artists in a week-long lineup of events to be held in different creative hot spots throughout the Metro, with each day showcasing a different theme.

Click Here for details

http://www.maniladesignweek.com/

Manila Design Week/Public Art: Call for entries bel ragay

Team Manila Graphic Design Studio, in cooperation with Bratpack, Ayala Malls,Summit Media and Adobo Magazine would like to invite creative talents to the Manila Design Week’s (August 8-15 2009) Public Art Project. This year’s concept and mission statement for the MDW 2009 is Graphic Design moves.

Interested creatives should send an email to Clara Balaguer (clara@teammanila.com) or Des Rimando (des@teamanila.com) to get a full creative brief on the project.

Graphika Manila 2009

Saturday, August 15 2009 @ the SM Mall of Asia

http://www.graphikamanila.com

Adobe Creative Festival Philippines on 07.29.2009

http://www.adobecreativefestival.com/philippines

Register to Adobe Creative Festival - Live in the Philippines before July 23 2009 Event will take place on Wednesday, July 29 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila

Pix Digital Imaging Contest

Enter today for your chance to win! Deadline Aug. 21st, 2009. A Grand Prize Winner in each Catagory will Recieve: A Digital Camera A PhotoServe Portfolio (Value: $860) PhotoPlus International Conference Gold Expo Pass Catagories: Advertising Portraits Travel/LifeStyle Fashion/Beauty New Talent Personal Projects New! Multimedia Projects or go to www.pixdigitalimagingcontest.com

NEW! Grand Prize Winner! One Grand Prize winner will receive a FULL-PAGE AD IN PDN in the November issue detailing their technique, and listing the contact information for their photography business. NEW! Multimedia Projects including videos, video stills, and web based creations are now accepted for judging. Multimedia projects will be hosted on the winner's gallery online and stills will be included in the print gallery in the November, 2009 issue of PDN.

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Manila Comic Con 2009

http://manilacomiccon.com/

Who is Randy Paulino

I am Randy Paulino, a Filipino Graphic/ Web/ UI Designer & Artist, Political Idealist, a Writing & Photography Enthusiast, and a Businessman. A Graduate of Computer Engineering, with background in Business Development and Information Technology, working as a Graphic / Web Designer by profession. My expertise vary from Graphic Design (which includes Image Editing, Photo Manipulation, Vector Graphics), Publishing and Print materials, Illustration/Hard Drawing (penciling & inking) to Web Design (XHTML, CSS, Content Management Systems), SEO, and Web Development (PHP, MySQL). My personal and work Portfolio can be viewed in this site. I also work on Branding and Corporate-Marketing Identity. I have experiences in Business Consultancy with independent startup entrepreneurs and distributors. I also have scholastic backgrounds in Data Communications, Hardware Modular Design & Peripherals and Open-source applications.

My personal interests & influences range from modern art (comics, graphic novels), the Mob Culture (in movies and literature), and Filipino History. I also have a knack in World War II History, the Cold War era, and Political Idealism. I am also a practicing Nationalist and currently trying to conceive an ideology based on what I call and describe as " Liberal Nationalism / Absolute Centrism " (based on the political spectrum), which simply conveys to the principle "Freedom ends where morality begins" and directly eludes to the core ideal "For God and Country".

Antworks™ is my personal/ professional Creative Label that marks various media ranging from Web Design, Pop Art, Photo Manipulations, Corporate Collaterals/Prints, Graphic & Traditional Art, Vector Graphics, Digital Art, Designs & Concepts.