MANILA, PHILIPPINES – In an ideal world, creativity cannot be locked down or caged. But in this time of a global crisis, some local creatives have undoubtedly found that isn’t quite true. In a recent webinar sponsored by ASUS ProArt StudioBook Series and Microsoft, and co-presented by adobo magazine, speakers were asked to share their own experience with keeping their creativity going despite the quarantine.
In the webinar entitled “Time to Empower Your Creativity? Webinar to Empower Creatives,” Bella Jaeger, founder of New Age Digital moderated a panel of industry experts, featuring photographer and executive editor of Grid Magazine Paco Guerrero, veteran TVC director Sid Maderazo from Sidekick, and designer and illustrator of Plus 63 Design Co. Raxenne Maniquiz.
Each speaker shared the path they took on their respective creative journeys. While Maniquiz graduated with a degree in Advertising from UST, she didn’t get formal training in illustration; Maderazo didn’t go to film school yet just found success in directing commercials; and Guerrero used to do street photography as he explored the medium.
All three agreed that it’s important to find a mentor to help find one’s own style as Guerrero noted that “mentorship is really an exchange of ideas, but what’s important is that exchange of knowledge from an older to a younger generation.” Maniquiz noted that having noted designer Dan Matutina as a mentor really helped her as he pushed her own ideas to be better and figured out how to approach things in design and pricing of her services. Maderazo said that mentorship is always a plus and that filmmakers should take on an apprenticeship program if they can.
Asked about memorable clients they’ve had, Guerrero stated he has had a lot of them, and not just because it was the biggest paycheck but rather because he learned from the experience. For Maniquiz, the most important thing was for clients to see her work and that’s easier to do now with platforms like Instagram.
When she started working with Singaporean fashion brand Charles & Keith, Maniquiz noted that “the work you put out is the kind of work you attract,” and that designers should curate their own portfolios depending on possible clients.
In a career that began in the early 2000s, Maderazo has had many memorable clients ranging from his first work for an ABS-CBN brand to the memorable “Beat Game” campaign for Coca-Cola in 2004 that gained popularity in a pre-social media world. He adds “a reel is important but it’s more important to have discipline, the attitude towards work. It’s easy to self-promote now. The quality of work is most important.”
The speakers also spoke on the ease with which a creative person can get formal training now as Maderazo cited YouTube Academy and Masterclass as resources. “Everything can be learned online, just put time into that craft to be a better person,” he said.
Pointing out how education can be on the pricy side, Maniquiz also spoke on the benefits of learning through YouTube and added: “If you work really hard and show what you can do, the network will recognize you.”
Guerrero shared that he took up photography in college but didn’t finish because didn’t see the value in the actual degree itself. “The one thing I received in university is a vocabulary to critique and receive critique on my work.”
Watch the full webinar here
