Inksurge - Illustrators / graphic designers

As my absolute inspiration for this on-line magazine, the talent here wavers far beyond the unexpected and into a league of its own. Not only with countless design master-pieces around the world, but creative geniuses at play.. with coffee as the ultimate growing source of undisputed talent. I give you.. Inksurge.

What is your latest project?

A album packaging for a pop star here, designing a series of event catalog for The Drawing Room Gallery and other upcoming fun stuff that's confidential for now hehe.

How would you describe your journey up until this point?

So far its been an exciting ride into the unknown. We tend to meet with different kinds of people along work. Sometimes it can be really tiring and demanding but the passion keeps us moving forward.

What differences are there from when you first started to now?

During our experimental take-off stage we have really a different approach on how the design should be. Both of us have different backgrounds and style before starting Inksurge but slowly it materialzed to a more solid work that you can't really determine who started or polished the design.

Your first memory of design/art?

Rex - watching my dad drafting logos for a magazine way back when I was around 6 years old. Also too much playing on our old-school Apple Computer with those double-sided discs.

Joyce -from a family of no influences in art, my first memory of it was just a sudden realization that i want to be involve with computer arts after watching too much tv programs

What is the design market in the Philippines like? Is there a high demand for your work?

The Graphic design market here unfortunately is not very well known to most of the people. Right now, its like a cult following where there is a group spreading it and a group who appreciates our service and value. We can't say there is a high demand for our work, but it is increasing.

Who or what are your inspirations/influences?

Influential artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec, Saul bass, Kubrick, Hitchcock, I.M Pei, Frank Lloyd Wright, Gaudi, Tibor Kalman, Stefan Sagmeister, Karlsonwilker.

Also includes visions and writings by Isaac Asimov and William Gibson.

What have you done to push boundaries?

Designing differently from album packaging to websites even sometimes we are doing those just for the love of it.

How has the Filipino culture influenced your work?

We like putting humor into our works on some occasions.

What misconceptions do people have of the design industry?

That we graphic designers are just like the graphic designers they knew who work at a print house. So in short, they think our creative service are of very small value. The title of being "graphic designer" here in Manila is so big that everybody who knew how to use Photoshop is a graphic designer.

How hard is the design industry to break-through? In Manila and globally?

It really takes time, talent and consistency to deliver quality works rather than quantity. In our experience, you won't get anywhere if you just sit and figure out how you're going to break-through as a designer.

How do you get noticed and how do you know what they are looking for?

We get noticed by frequently updating our website. Global design portals channels it to the internet and luckily we drive clients in. Our self-promotion collaterals at the start proved to be very effective because it widened our local network here.

What (in your experience) is the best place to explore design?

In our special world called Kaffa Ethiopia .

Most memorable moment? Greatest triumph/success?

It all happened in OFFF 04 where we have been invited to be speakers. This conference gave us a chance to meet the designers we admired, because because before we only get to exchange emails with them for years

What challenges are worth fighting for?

We really value the freedom of work whenever we want to and which client we choose, without financial considerations getting in the way. As much as possible, if it allows us, we'll remain to that.

What is one of life’s greatest lessons?

One sip at a time.
 
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to venture into the same field?

“Never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamiliar, never fail to be polite and never outstay the welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience and if it hurts, its probably working. You hope and you dream but you never believe that something is going to happen for you."

The lines above were taken from the 1997-hit novel “The Beach” by Alex Garland.

www.inksurge.com