MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Keeping the spirit of creative expression alive, streetwear brand Vans Philippines featured the creative duo Bad Student to talk about their creative process, and worked on a locally customized print for the brand.
In several funky prints of the design studio, the Vans Old Skool takes front and center. The classic black-and-white sneaker plays well into their vibrant, retro color scheme as it’s superimposed on playful, warped iterations of another one of Vans’ classic patterns — the checkerboard — creating layered optical illusions in the background.
The rise of riso art
Originally, the riso machine was known for its low-cost and high-speed efficient printing, commonly used to print flyers, brochures, and even test papers in massive volumes. Today, Bad Student and other DIY artists have repurposed the risograph to introduce a new, niche artform.
Bad Student is the only full color risograph press in the Philippines and was created to support the DIY art and publishing community. The brainchild of Founders Pau and Dyam, who are also best friends in and out of the studio, Bad Student is a constant collaboration of creative ideas between the artistic tandem to produce new designs for risograph print.
Their artform is nothing like the modern-day graphics typically designed in a digital space. Rather, Bad Student created their art through a risograph. They take advantage of the duplicator’s ability to print in vibrant yet limited colors while also appreciating the unavoidable, organic color fade-outs and errors. From a DIY artist’s perspective, this can fondly be seen as a signature look that only comes from a risograph.
Too cool for school
While bad students in general don’t often get a good rap in school, Pau and Dyam take on a different philosophy of the derogatory term. “In order to be good at something, you have to be bad at it first,” shared Pau. “It’s the desire na mapunta ka sa moment na matuto ka… Bad Student for life, meaning student ka ng buhay forever, pero nobody starts out a good student.” (“In order to be good at something, you have to be bad at it first,” says Pau. “It’s the desire of wanting to reach that moment of learning…Bad Student for life, meaning you’re a student of life forever, but nobody starts out a good student.”)
Fresh prints, new perspective
This collaboration highlights Vans’ aim to support and empower all forms of creative expression. For Pau and Dyam, their mission is to keep the traditional art form of riso print alive.
The unique execution of risograph printing, which gives Bad Student’s designs its honest, gritty, and vintage feel, is what matches perfectly with any pair of Vans’ Core Classics — they’re an ideal staple for endless style choices, proving that classics can be cool.
For more information, please visit Vans Philippines on Instagram.
