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wrap up: promising designers under 30

Before we completely jump to other topics, here is our first batch of ‘promising designers under 30’ :

Vito Selma (27) furniture designer

Ericsson Manansala (22) jewelry designer

Vikki Rodriguez (24) furniture & home accessory designer

Paula Rodriguez (23) furniture & home accessory designer

Rossy Yabut (25) interior designer

Dan Matutina (28) graphic designer & illustrator

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And yep, that’s correct. This is just the FIRST batch! Because we got a late reply from a couple of designers and, at the same time, stumbled upon some new young creative individuals, we decided to have another run of this series in the middle of the year. We’re happy to hear from some of our readers that they find the series very inspiring. Hopefully, we’ll come across some more good designers and artists, and maybe turn this series into an annual thing! Why not? df

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promising designers under 30: dan matutina

lunarize cover + dan matutina

I’ve learned a lot from Dan Matutina when he was our lecturer for our Hypermedia class in college. He’s taught me about the beauty of simplicity. And you see it in his works. He uses simple and streamlined shapes with rich color and texture. His prints, especially, would look great displayed in any interior.

As Creative Director of Ideals, lecturer at UP Diliman and founder of Plus63.net, you’d think Dan has enough on his plate but he’s constantly looking for more things to do to promote Filipino creativity. I’m sure we’ll hear so much more of Dan in the coming years. {Thanks Dan!} -lilli

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Name: Dan Matutina

Age: 28

Location: Katipunan, Quezon City

Occupation: Designer/Illustrator, Creative Director (for Ideals), Lecturer

Website: http://twistedfork.me

Design School: UP College of Fine Arts, Visual Communication

Design style: A healthy mix of contradictions — dirty & clean, rough & smooth, vintage & futurist.

Design highs (achievements/recognitions/milestones): Being featured in design magazines abroad, Rogue Magazine’s Top Illustrators List, starting my own design studio, winning Cut&Paste at the Manila Design Week, exhibiting works here & abroad.

where the wild things are illustration for terrible yellow eyes collection

poolgarize

How did you get into graphic design and illustration? I’ve been doodling when I was young. I got into design when I was in college.

What is your favorite among all the designs you’ve done so far? My recent favorites are: The branding I made for Delirium, the illustration for Lunarize, the Maroons branding and web design.

Do you believe in designer’s block? What do you do to counter that? Yea, getting a creative block is part of every creative person’s life. When it hits me, I just relax, drink coffee, read a book, surf the net, play video games or travel.

delirium branding

rebrand maroons logo + website

What is your go-to design reference for inspiration? Design & Creative blogs. There are a lot of really nice resources online. I  go to Grain Edit, Under Consideration’s Brand New, Design Assembly for a good design read, The Fox is Black (formerly Kitsune Noir), Reform Revolution, It’s Nice That & But Does it Float.

If you were not a designer, what would you rather be? I guess I’ll be in the Science or Tech field. I love Science.

What are your non-design hobbies and interests? Travel, Playing Video Games (on the PC/Mac, Nintendo DS, Phone & Xbox), Watching Movies, Reading Books, Coffee.

gust poster + 1on1poster

making motions illustration for popular mechanics

pirates <3 ninja pattern

What do you love most about being in the creative field? It’s a happy place to be in. The work is challenging & fulfilling at the same time. And I get to do what I love doing.

What is your dream project? A dream project for me is to work with the government. Why? Because if it’s good, it can affect a lot of people and change their lives for the better (hopefully). I think it’s about time the government learn to be open to (good) design. Design is problem solving, there are a lot of things design can do to help the government.

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{Photos courtesy of Dan Matutina. To see more of his works, visit his website here.}

promising designers under 30: rossy yabut

Correct me if I’m wrong, but for the longest time, interior design has been dominated by the ‘more senior’ designers and architects. Thankfully, younger professionals, armed with their fresh and more adventurous design point of views, are slowly making a name for themselves. One of them is 25-year-old interior designer Rossy Yabut, the person behind the colorful world of Heima.

I still remember the first time we literally bumped into her in their store in Cubao X more than a year ago. And we’re glad to see that apart from the growing popularity of her furniture designs for Heima, Rossy is also creating her own quirky and colorful niche in the design industry through the happy spaces that she creates. {Thanks Rossy!} -ardel

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Name: Rossy Anne Yabut

Age: 25

Location: Makati

Occupation: Interior Designer/Creative Director of Heima/Heim Interiors

Website: www.heimastore.com, www.heiminteriors.com

Design School: University of Santo Tomas

Design style: Fun, quirky, whimsical and innovative

Design highs (achievements/recognitions/milestones): 8th placer in the 2007 Interior Design Board Exam

How did you get into interior design?: It is my love and passion. It has always been my dream to develop my own designs.

What is your favorite among all the projects that you have done so far?: Heima, my home and lifestyle store.

Do you believe in designer’s block? What do you do to counter that?: Yes! I believe as a designer your emotions always affect your output. When this happens, I always do something that will cheer me up–dinner with friends and traveling.

What is your go-to design reference for inspiration?: Travels

If you were not an interior designer, what would you rather be?: I would be an architect or a graphic designer

What are your non-design hobbies and interests?: Listening to indie bands, watching movies and film photography

What do you love most about being in the creative field?: The fact of having the power to improve  everything around me in terms of design. The joy of being surrounded with beautiful things.

What do you consider the most challenging part of your work?: Dealing with different types of people from the workers to your client. You need to be a very good project manager to have a successful project. It is always a learning process.

What is your dream project?: To design a line of furniture and/or a Boutique Hotel that will be recognized internationally.

(Photos courtesy of Rossy Yabut)

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Previous: Paula Rodriguez

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promising designers under 30: paula rodriguez

Paula Rodriguez is the younger half of the two Rodriguez sisters. While Vikki likes cuts and corners in her ‘edgy’ designs, Paula is more into curves and curls, rendering her pieces with a more romantic character. Can’t wait to see what they’ll be presenting in the upcoming Cebu Next 2011 exhibit! {thanks paula} -ardel

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Name: Paula Rodriguez
Age: 23
Website: www.accessoriainc.com
Location: Cebu City, Philippines
Occupation: Furniture Designer, Home Accessory Designer
Design School: Academy of Art University, San Francisco

Design style: Although most of my pieces have been named feminine more than anything else, one constant aspect that I do like keeping in each design is HIGHLIGHTING— either a material, a craft or a concept.

When it comes to my design process, I prefer not to categorize my designs in a certain style. I make it a point to be open-minded about different ways to approach and improve a design.

Shellf

Amadeus

Design highs (achievements/recognitions/milestones): SFIC for Singapore Furniture Design Award 2010 Top 15 in the Young Designer’s category. This was my first and most difficult competition where I represented the Philippines.

What is your favorite among all the designs you’ve done so far?: My favorite and most memorable piece is SHELLF- it is my first design when I professionally started in Furniture back in 2009. It always takes me back to pitching this bold idea of “super-sizing” a nautilus shell and being called the “crazy-designer” for it.

Looking back at this particular design will always keep me feeling young (whether I’m under 30 or 40 or 50 ☺).

Do you believe in designer’s block? What do you do to counter that?: In my case, I encounter designer’s overspill. Sometimes I find myself seeing too many designs and eventually become lost in all the ideas. What I do is simply just take a break, have some coffee and then those concepts that stick are the ones I work on.

Gaia console table

What is your go-to design reference for inspiration (book, website, magazine, place)?: Indie sites like Lushlee, decor8blog , Daydreamlily are only a few of my favorites. They are filled with the kind of art that speaks to me.

If you were not a designer, what would you rather be?: Right now, I would love to have my own indie site similar to the sites I mentioned. The stories and the different kinds of creativity they cover are all so interesting.

What are your non-design hobbies and interests?: My hobbies change from time to time. One of them is “copy-cooking” dishes I can’t get my hands on here in Cebu. So right now, I have been cooking L&L Hawaiian Bbq or Panda Express type meals. On a day-off, I like to relax at home, play the piano or head to the beach or play some badminton.

Ringo collection

Cebu Next 2010

What do you love most about being in the creative field?: I love that this job NEEDS me to do things some people don’t normally do for work like traveling or sketching and painting. Best thing about it is that it can never be a desk job.

What is your dream project?: A project where I can show and work with designers like Patricia Urquiola or Paola Lenti

(Photos courtesy of Paula Rodriguez)

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Previous: Vikki Rodriguez

Next: Rossy Yabut

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promising designers under 30: vikki rodriguez

vikki with ent tables + amoeba

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During our visit to Cebu Next last year, we had the pleasure of meeting some of the best furniture designers in Cebu. Two of which were the Rodriguez sisters, Vikki and Paula, of Accessoria Inc., who were introduced to us by Vito. In spite of being sisters and having similar exposure to the design industry, Vikki and Paula have different design expressions that set them apart from each other.

Being a graduate of Interior Architecture and Design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Vikki doesn’t design a furniture or accessory “for design’s sake” alone. She designs with an awareness of the possible interior settings in which her pieces would eventually go. Her designs reflect her youthful age of 24, through their unexpected silhouettes and playful details. {thanks vikki!} -ardel

Name: Vikki Rodriguez
Age: 24
Website: www.accessoriainc.com
Location: Cebu
Occupation: Design and Marketing
Design School: Academy of Art University San Francisco CA

Design style: Nothing traditional. I like things that are edgy…figuratively and literally speaking. By literally I mean I like edges. I likes cuts and corners.

serra tables

chip bowls

Design highs: None yet! Working on that.

What is your favorite among all the designs you’ve done so far?: “Ent” table

Do you believe in designer’s block? What do you do to counter that?: I get designer’s block! There are just some days that my brain is on hibernation. Haha I counter it by doing other things not work related. Go on Youtube or Tumblr, talk to people, or if I could I would grab a drink and just relax.

What is your go-to design reference for inspiration?: I like looking at Wallpaper and Interior Design magazine to check out the trends, but for inspiration I look at a lot of random books and websites. Most of them are not even furniture related. You’ll never know where you can get inspiration.

If you were not a designer, what would you rather be?: Toy designer or a Patissier.
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What are your non-design hobbies and interests?: Baking and playing tennis.
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What do you love most about being in the creative field?: I love how I could be playful in our jobs. We’re encouraged to get hands on. I also love that a routine isn’t a must.
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What is your dream project?: Work and design something with the Walt Disney Imagineers.

(Photos courtesy of Vikki Rodriguez)

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Previous: Eric Manansala

Next: Paula Rodriguez

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promising designers under 30: ericson manansala

calden leaf neckpiece + eric

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As Ardel mentioned in a previous post, this month we’re doing a Promising Designers Under 30 list as we say goodbye to our youthful 20s later this month. This is also our way of giving recognition to young Filipino designers who have made a name for themselves in their respective fields of design.

Next on our list is Ericson Manansala, who has been making waves in the Philippine jewelry industry. I know Design Folder is mostly about interior design, furniture design, architecture and visual arts. So, why are we suddenly featuring jewelries in an interior design blog? While most of you would consider jewelry design to fall under fashion, we can’t help but look at Eric’s designs as real art pieces–the type that you would mount and display in an interior–because of their bold and sculptural form.

I first met Eric in UP Diliman, where we were both Fine Arts students. But we only really got to talk after college and I can say that he is one of the most passionate people I’ve ever met. His love for his craft is evident in every piece he has made. -Lilli

Name: Ericson Manansala

Age: 22

Location: Pampanga

Occupation: Jewelry and Accessories Designer

Design School: University of the Philippines-Diliman, College of Fine Arts

Design style: Actually my style is very random, i try to put every idea into reality as much as i can. But i like creating the romantic yet edgy kinds of pieces. I’m also more of the avant garde than the minimalist type of designer.  I love paying attention on details.

eclipse neckpiece

cicada neckpiece

angels & demons neckpiece

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Design highs (achievements/recognitions/milestones):

When I won as a grand winner at the 2007-2008 Guild of the Philippine Jewellers’ Jewelry design competition, and again at the non-traditional category at the 2009-2010 Guild of the Philippine Jewellers’ Jewelry design competition. I’ve also won three categories at the Meycauayan Jewelry industry associations’ Philippine Jewelry design competition from 2007 to 2010.

How did you get into designing jewelry?

Although I’ve been loving crafts and design ever since i was a kid, it wasn’t until I accidentally saw this poster on jewelry design which I thought at first was a painting competition that i decided to try out jewelry design, I was on my 3rd year in college then.

divine oliwen and naga neckpieces

fusion ring

‘pag puti ng uwak, pag itim ng tagak’ neckpiece

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What is your favorite among all the designs you’ve done so far?

I have three faves on the fine jewelry designs i have, and at least two on the accessories i have made… Sulutang Goma Bangle. Fusion Ring, the Pagputi ng Uwak-pagitim ng Tagak neckpiece. The Atlas neckpiece and the Divine Oliwen neckpiece for the accessories.. Actually I also like the Naga, Cicada and the Natilleto.

Do you believe in designer’s block? What do you do to counter that?

Somehow yeah, some days better than the others for me, like everyone else. It just so happens that I’m a designer. The actual test is besting out oneself — trying to achieve designs as good or better ones. If there are days where i feel like on low on creative juice, I take a break.. have coffee, watch a movie.. walk and walk and walk.. look around or sometimes, lie down and even sleep.

pallanto and atlas neckpieces

sulutang goma bangle

valier neckpiece and vinerosa neckpiece

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What is your go-to design reference for inspiration?

I usually get to come up with ideas when I’m travelling, on a bus, or jeep… there is something about traveling two hours on bus, where I’m able to think very critical on designs, I have a lot of designs that were “marinated” when I’m riding a bus on my way home. I also look and read through books, magazines, the internet…  about fashion, nature, architecture. I’m sad that there will be no more new alexander mcqueen masterpieces in the future…

If you were not a designer, what would you rather be?

Hmm I don’t know. Hahaha. I really have no idea where i might be or what i might be doing if I’m not a designer.

What are your non-design hobbies and interests?

I love movies and music. Somehow I see to it that I’m able to see at least one movie a week at the movie house.

What do you love most about being in the creative field?

I love it when I’m able to put an idea to reality, and when people get to look at your pieces as beautiful as you do or even more.. and just to be able to create and add something beautiful to the world that was not there ’til I was able to do it..

What is your dream project?

I want to be able to do my own fine jewelry collection.. and be able to create a brand. Here and everywhere else haha.

{Photos courtesy of Ericson Manansala. Visit his facebook page here to see more of his works.}

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Previous: Vito Selma

promising designers under 30: vito selma + geo table

Art, design, and science are three different fields. Art is more focused on form and concept. Design, on top of form and concept, would have an additional element of functionality. Science, like what was thought to us in elementary, is about the systematic organization and discovery knowledge.

It’s interesting to note that Vito Selma’s Geo Table, after being nominated for the 2008 Mugna awards, winning the 2010 Cebu Next Best Contemporary Design Award, and recently, winning the Industrial Design award for the 2010 DOST National Invention Contest for its string art-inspired design using wood dowel rods, gets recognized for all three categories! The reason behind DOST’s recognition of the Geo Table, apart from maximizing wood as a furniture material, is its creative demonstration of wood’s strength and possible limitations, using those thin and seemingly flimsy dowel rods as a material for a table’s base.

“I used the wooden waste and off-cuts from the other wooden furniture that we are producing. I feel that all of us must have an environmental responsibility and I thought of doing it through my designs.

Mathematical calculations were used in constructing the lines and the different pieces of the table. When viewed from different sides, the Geo Table never acquires the same look, thus it looks different, depending on the angle where it is seen.”

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Way to go Vito! We didn’t know you’re also a (nerd) scientist… haha, just kidding!

At 27, he has been to many places, tried so many things, and achieved so much. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s our first pick for our Designers Under 30 list!

What’s that list all about? For January, as Lilli and I say goodbye to our 20s later this month, we’re giving recognition to the young designers who, before reaching 30, have already been so successful in their respective creative fields. It’s our way of saying, “Haaay, kainggit!” Hahaha!

So, for those of you who missed that post on Vito Selma’s profile, you can find it here. -ardel

* photos via vitoselma.com

Next: Ericson Manansala

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profile: kenneth cobonpue

Who doesn’t know Kenneth Cobonpue? He’s like the Manny Pacquiao of the Philippine furniture industry!

In college, I first came to know about Kenneth as part of Movement 8–a world-renowned group of eight Filipino furniture designers who elevated the image of indigenous materials and gave modern furniture a new face. But, I guess, for a lot of people, he would be the Filipino designer whose works are in the house of Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie (the most famous being his Voyage bed) , and in the casino set of the movie Ocean’s 13.

Kenneth is a Cebu-based designer who studied industrial design at the Pratt Institute in New York. After a series of further studies and apprenticeships abroad, he returned to Cebu in 1996 and started to manage the family’s furniture company, Interior Crafts of the Islands Inc.

Now, Kenneth is known for his organic and often biomorphic designs. By exploring the properties of indigenous materials such as buri, abaca, rattan, and bamboo, he’s able to come up with forms that are unexpected. Apart from exploring the natural materials themselves, Kenneth goes back to nature where he often finds his design inspirations.

[Photo above: Noodle Collection (top) and Retaso dining table (bottom)]

During our trip to Cebu, we were able to squeeze in a quick visit to Kenneth’s Hive. Paolo and Karmel of Kenneth Cobonpue (the brand) toured us around the showroom, explaining the concept behind the displayed pieces. With the sculptural appearance of Kenneth’s works, the showroom looks more like an art gallery.

Aside from looking pretty and interesting, his furniture pieces are amazingly comfortable. Karmel explained to us that a furniture could take upto a year in the making to perfect the form, details, workmanship and, most especially, their ergonomics. Come to think of it, what’s the use of an incredibly beautiful furniture if it’s not comfortable, right?

[Photo above: Pebble tables and the Tilt Chair, which was featured in the set of CSI Miami.]

[Photo above: Matilda outdoor chair]

Now, for some of his recent works, he also turns to people, places, and things as springboard for new ideas. For example, his Pigalle collection is inspired by Pigalle, the red district in Paris, while the Manolo collection is inspired by Manolo Blahnik shoes. For his latest collection displayed in the recent CebuNext Exhibit, the pieces are inspired by the graceful and interlinked details of knits, crochet, and macrame.

[Photo above: Kenneth Cobonpue's booth, CebuNext 2010.]

Check out the rest of the photos of the showroom below. The showroom is located at 3A Gen. Maxilom Ave., Cebu City. To know more about Kenneth Cobonpue and his furniture collection visit his website here and his Facebook fan page here.

*profile picture (top right) via Kenneth Cobonpue

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profile: vito selma

Age doesn’t matter, especially when you’re actively pursuing a dream. At 26 years old,  Vito Selma has already made a mark for himself. Vito is a young furniture designer from Cebu. The df team first met him October of last year during Manila FAME’s exhibit. His designs got us really curious about him, to say the least.

We were actually looking forward to see his booth during our visit to the CebuNext exhibit. And, as expected, his collection of furniture and accessories are equally impressive. In fact, he bagged two Mugna Awards: Citation for Material Innovation for the Wrinkle Floor Lamp (below top), and Citation for Contemporary Furniture for the Geo Coffee Table (below bottom).

As I have mentioned before, Vito capitalizes on his creative impulse and whimsical ideas to come up with interesting, fun and partially quirky designs. His award-winning Geo Coffee Table and his Un-Deux-Trois Collection (below) were the results of a three-dimensional play of string art (my favorite project in elementary math!). For his Wrinkle Floor Lamp (above top), Vito wanted to introduce the idea of a “collaborative design” with his clients. The lamp is purchased/delivered with the flat layers of fine wire mesh sheets. It’s then up to the client to crumple it up whichever way he/she wants.

[Image via mocoloco]

Vito has a rich design background from which he has developed his design identity. His family’s firm (Stonesets) is one of the noted furniture companies in Cebu speciallizing in classical/period style furniture, so the industry is nothing new to him. In spite of this, he’s still very eager to learn and to develop his talent through formal and informal education.

“I took Interior Architecture major in furniture design in the Academy of Arts University in San Francisco. Although I had a year and a half left to my degree, I decided to stop. I felt like the course was geared towards architecture and not furniture as they initially promoted. I came back home and decided to work for the company to gain hands on experience instead. From then until now (2007-2010) I worked as the design director in the company and focused on contemporary furniture as the company was a classical manufacturing firm. In the past four years as well, I have had three internships at different times in Johannesburg, South Africa with George de Haast (interior designer to Nelson Mandela, other prominent South African figures and Middle East royalties). It is in this internship where I learned most about aesthetics and the beauty of all things natural,” Vito shares.

”A few weeks ago, I got confirmation from my dream school, Scuola Politecnica Di Design in Milano. I am admitted to the Master Course in Industrial Design. Technically, I get to skip college and head to the masters! It is the same school that I was admitted to learn and intern under the Campana Brothers, but the Italian embassy declined my application,” he continues.

At a young age, Vito has made several achievements in his career. His furniture have made it to the homes of prominent personalities such as Nelson Mandela (most of Mandela’s furniture pieces are from his company), Penny Stein (publicist of Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, etc.), and royalties (read: prince and princesses) from the Middle East and Southeast Asia. He and his works have also graced several glossies locally and internationally like in India (Better Interiors, Living Etc Magazine, Enhance Magazine), South Africa (Habitat Magazine), Brazil (Docol Magazine), and China (Furniture & Interior Design). On top of that, Vito was nominated for Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines in 2009. Whew!

But all work and no play makes [Vito] a dull boy. And a dull boy he’s not! What keeps him busy apart from designing beautiful furniture? Here’s a rundown:

1) Photography. “I recently had a solo exhibit/fundraiser last March 3 where all proceeds of the photo exhibit went to the orphanage of children who are orphaned from parents with aids in South Africa, Johannesburg.”

2) “Extreme” sports. While in South Africa, Vito tried the “Big 3″ all in one afternoon: Skydiving, Quad biking and Sandboarding with Desert Explorers.

3) Traveling. He wouldn’t call himself a wanderlust if not for his love for traveling!

As for future goals, Vito says, “… just KEEP ON KEEPING ON. Finish my masters and see what comes next.”

To know more about Vito Selma, his designs, and his daily musings, visit his website here and his blogs here and here. His designs are available in Manila at Kish in LRI Plaza. [Thank you so much Vito!]

*Photos courtesy of Vito Selma