Graphika Manila 2025 - Entry for March 4, 2025

Just a quick update—I’ve found a few local printing services that offer high-quality stickers at affordable prices. I’m already in talks with one of them and excited to see how the results turn out. I’ve also ordered a custom silk screen mesh to experiment with a few blanks and create prototypes featuring our main designs.

After attending this year’s Graphika Manila, I’ve also been toying with the idea of starting a studio or collective with some friends—something independent from the F.B.D. brand.

Here are a few key takeaways I got from the conference:

• "You may not know what you're doing, but don't forget to acknowledge that you're doing your best in whatever situation you find yourself in."

This really stuck with me. It was shared by CMYKA (Myka Arnado), a designer from Cebu who got her start entering online art contests in the early 2000s—specifically one held by Deftones. Her signature Grungy, Brutalismic style eventually led her to collaborate not just with Deftones, but also with big names like Linkin Park, Green Day, Crossfade, and Nike via ambassador Awich (Akiko).

• "Just have fun and find your niche."

This came from local talent Raco Ruiz. He emphasized that while finding your niche can take time, that shouldn’t discourage you. Enjoy what you do, and keep going. Patience and joy go a long way.

• "And if you ever find success, don’t let it hinder your progress."

From Joshua Davis, an American designer and technologist. He warned that success can sometimes lead to stagnation. Motivation doesn’t just appear—it finds you while you're already working.

I also want to give a quick shoutout to a few other artists who stood out to me with their unique styles:

• Ardhira Putra – Known for his 80s Japanese City Pop-style 3D animations.

• Danae Gosset – A 3D artist who paints over her animations with traditional media. She’s worked with the late Mac Miller.

• Marcel Ziul & Lucho Suarez – Incredible motion graphic artists who recently worked with Riot Games on Valorant. Marcel is the visionary, often drawing from personal trauma and male vulnerability in his work, and Lucho is his best friend and creative partner who helps bring those ideas to life.

There’s so much more I could share—I feel like I’ve only just scratched the surface of their journeys as creatives. But their stories definitely left a mark on me, and as I looked around, I could see they touched many others too. In telling and hearing these stories, we help carry them forward—they become a part of us, immortalized as some of the greatest artists of their generation.

And of course, a mountain of gratitude for my supervisors for the invitation and opportunity to experience this annual event once more. 

Thank you for reading,
Owner