PRESENT: HOW DOES FILIPINO IDENTITY AFFECT THEIR APPROACH TO DESIGN?

Jo pauses. “It’s a conscious decision for me to label and present myself as Filipino, especially when presenting abroad or giving talks. But in my personal practice, it’s not something I try to incorporate. I feel like whatever I do, it’s always gonna be ‘Filipino design’ because a Filipino made it.”

Jena shares the same sentiment. “Being Filipino is like a question mark to me because I’m a creative who’s Filipina and everything I make is Filipino. Do we have a caricature of Filipino culture?” Inspired by everything, Jena believes that all it takes is to observe. “There’s so much you can gather from. Doon ko mas na-appreciate ‘yung craft found in the country. Habang nasa labas ako, I immerse myself kasi ang daming inspiration.”

“I think it just affected my personality as a whole which, in turn, affects my art,” Ram answers after pondering for a minute. “Not like overt Filipino visual themes but what I care about has its roots in me being Filipino and an immigrant. It affects my worldview in a way that I have to be politically minded. Also, Filipinos are funny. So I feel like I get my humor from them.”

For Jas, being Filipino gives her hope. “Whenever I get into the Filipino art community on Twitter, I discover how much more fun we are. We’re so expressive. Seeing these designers, they have different perspectives, and I feel so lucky I can connect with that.”

Graphic design has been long interwoven in the country’s cultural fabric. Meet four Filipinos dedicating their lives to the craft.