PhilWeavers · The Philippine Webdesigners' Network · Weaver Spotlight

Interviewed by Jose Illenberger / Published September 12, 2005

There are lots of words to describe The Typographik. I don't mean to say anything but it's really a multifaceted project. It's multifaceted, in a way that there's really more to it than the actual site itself. When I made F&D, I really pushed myself in terms of the process in how I make projects, the thinking, the philosophy, the art, the wordplay, etc.

Is it being easy being mayor of the small town of The Typographik?

No, I don't think it's an easy job for the mayor. I think being the mayor of the town has more to do than push pencils in a 9-to-5 job. I think, being mayor is similar to maintaining a family-like relationship between him and his townspeople. Being one means you have to see the town as you would see your house, and the people, your family.

Tell us more about who Mayor Jeff is. Talk to us as if it was election time and you are trying to get yourself re-elected.

In Fine & Dandy, the Mayor is a younger version of me, a six-year old boy with a job that to others, he seems to play quite unconventionally. The job title 'mayor' is really just a symbolism of the concept: Respect, and in F&D, he is the incarnate of this concept. This was done, I guess along with all the characters, to be in cohesion with the 'oxymoron' effect it is showing.

I don't think the mayor has given any speeches about his election, or any subject for that matter. I don't think anyone really cares. It's more about following the rules actually, going about life in the town without questioning what's what, which came with which, you know, these things.

What is a high-tech town with skyscrapers and skyways doing with a bunch of citizens trapped in a citizen Kane era?

In F&D (1938), there are no 'high-tech' skyscrapers present. Not until the town reaches its Golden / Subliminal Age (1951), where everything that reaches to the heavens is considered 'high-tech'. The project is entirely fictional but it draws ideas from living people, historical concepts, turning points, etc, so I need to put dates that would somewhat correctly 'connect' with the older website (1951). So far, it's working.

No one is trapped, they are all in the town, perfectly 'functioning' like you and I would in our daily lives.

What is The Typographik anyway?

There are lots of words to describe The Typographik. I don't mean to say anything but it's really a multifaceted project. It's multifaceted, in a way that there's really more to it than the actual site itself. When I made F&D, I really pushed myself in terms of the process in how I make projects, the thinking, the philosophy, the art, the wordplay, etc.

The Typographik is one of those projects that is really powerful enough to develop the one who is making it for the benefit of both the project and the self. I mean, I didn't really know I can draw, or I can write words for kicks or even think of a film-like story that revolves around a simple but solid concept.

When and how did u become a web designer? Did u attend any art school?

I've always wanted to design websites. Ever since I was studying in high-school, around 1998, I've always been intrigued by websites. After I graduated high-school, I studied in NIIT to get a degree in IT but due to work, I wasn't able to finish my minor subjects. I became a professional web designer, I think in 2002 when I was hired both in Ogilvy & Mather and Unitel Productions.

Art school. Funny, I've never attended any art school or art seminars for that matter but that doesn't mean I don't like or have no plans to. I think going to an art school is an advantage in the industry because art applies to a lot of things - in fact, almost everything. I'm planning to study Fine Arts or Visual Communications or Industrial Arts, hopefully when I get a scholarship because it's very expensive to study abroad.

What did u dabble on before your discovery of the Internet and Flash?

Maybe school work. : )

Was discovering Flash love at first click?

Not really. I used flash because I wanted an alternative in making websites. Before I went to NIIT, I didn't know HTML or any coding for that matter so I tried flash and I got the hang of it.

Just between you and me, or probably, the rest of the world reading this, I still don't know HTML. I know a few tags but that's just about it. I hope that didn't ruin my credibility. : D

What do you think of flashers based in the Philippines? Magagaling ba? Any advice to kapwa Filipinos just starting out with flash?

Oh yeah, I know two great flash developers: Joseph Mayol and Donald Martinez. You can compare their works with the developers at Ultra Shock, that's how good they are.

To everyone starting out with Flash, lose yourself. Just because a website doesn't have to be animation-intensive doesn't mean you'll have to settle with a static, purely HTML website. Flash is quite powerful with Cold Fusion and XML integration. Right now that a lot of optimisation has been done to Flash 8, I don't think there's a reason not to use it.

I don't really think a web designer should devote himself to a particular software or tool. In my case, I got stuck with flash because it works for me and because I have projects that require its functionalities. I'm learning some stuff because I'm afraid of being a typecast to Flash.

A lot of companies right now seek concept creators rather than producers. They spend a lot of money investing on concept research, branding campaigns, and basically ground-breaking ideas rather than formulating on the actual execution of a particular project. It doesn't really matter much if you can make beautiful things in Flash or CSS or HTML, it will always be the idea that counts.

How did u become one of the moderators for the PW Forums?

I was a forum addict back then and I also have this obsessive compulsive disorder about things so I hounded the administrators because they're a lazy bunch to clean the forums and I ended up having the position as a moderator, then later, an administrator.

The last time I checked I made about over a thousand and a half posts? I don't remember or I already lost count. That was before I got a blog though, now I rarely post in forums now I have my own place to 'mess' up. But I still run the place along with JR Ignacio and the other moderators.

Is policing non-members and weavers difficult to do?

Yeah it is. Most of the stuff we've dealt with so far is, you know, the usual flamers, controversial topics that you need to keep watch for smart-alecks and 'smart' posts.

Most of the non-members get confused about their 'membership' with PhilWeavers. Usually, they think that when you get to be a member of the forum, you're already a member of the whole Network. We had to get that straight everytime a newbie jumps aboard.

How do you feel being elevated to one of the moderators for the community itself i.e. the PhilWeavers network and not just the PW forums?

It's good, it's good. I'm good with it. I didn't know I'd be passed with that kind of task, especially in PhilWeavers. I have always been happy helping other people though sometimes, I dislike it when I get that feeling like I'm like a tool or something. : D

What are your plans as one of the new moderators?

Well, I'm really new to this game but I do have some things in my mind. I've always believed in innate creativity and I think that's one of the things that should be exercised more often throughout the network. Not just designs, but real artworks. I think it's quite possible but it's just that there is not enough time due to the fact that most of us have our own priorities. I would want to concentrate more efforts on design conferences, more awareness, what's new, what works and what doesn't. Not necessarily what's hot and what's not, that's kind of a biased way to look at things.

Anything in the works for the PW Open Forums?

Well, we're developing a campaign for the forums that gets integrated with the main site. Plus, a sort of like a free-for-all design challenge is in the works.