Cagayan de Oro – The second installment of the Oro Design Conference closed as a memorable success last February 15, 2020. Attended by over 200 participants, ODC brought together designers, students, and creative professionals for a day of talks and inspiration brought by 6 local and national creatives and design studios: Petra Gana and Mark Andres from And A Half Branding & Graphic Design, Chingkee Te-Motoomull, Dan Matutina from Plus63 Design Co., Jan Buragay, Joey Sendaydiego from Vox, and Marcelino Cahig from Bloop Studio.
And A Half touched on their design process, their unconventional work setup, and the things they have learned as a growing studio, and their strong relationships. They told stories of successful and gruelling work, from 2-year projects, to modular brand imagery, and internal passion projects.
Chingkee Te-Motoomull of Chingkeetea talked about how design and working with an effective designer can elevate, breathe life, and add value to an ever-evolving brand. She also talked about her personal advocacy for creativity and the arts, and how she imparts her passion by creating projects for the local community.
Dan Matutina talked about the challenges he faced as he scaled through his design journey, from his humble beginnings in Tacloban and working as a singular creative, to founding Plus63 Design Co., and now scaling up with the Hydra Design Group, highlighting the different stages and challenges he went through in his design career.
Jan Buragay shared his creative beginnings and generously shared his full illustration process. He also talked about how he curates and absorbs inspiration to develop his own unique style, and how he attracts clients that are looking for his brand of illustration.
Joey Sendaydiego chronicled his time as an editor-in-chief for his school paper, his exodus and experiences as a creative from Cagayan de Oro to Manila, and his experiences of failure and resilience. He also talked about his big break — reaching his dream of working for Vox Media (based in New York), and his working conditions as a remote creative.
Marcelino Cahig of Bloop Studio shared his journey as a full time creative in Cagayan de Oro, and his decision to plant his roots in the city. He also showed the multifaceted aspects of his work as an illustrator and traditional artist, as a motion designer, and now as an art director for Bloop Studios.
Spearheaded by the Oro Design Collective, and co-presented by Xavier University and the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts, the organizers hope that the participants left the event feeling a renewed sense of passion and inspiration for their craft as creatives. The organizers also hope that the event continues to make people move towards their dreams of pursuing their creative inclinations, and highlight the burgeoning creative insurgence in Northern Mindanao, especially in Cagayan de Oro City.
