THE Graphic Design Conference (Graphicon) 2016 slated at CAP Grand Auditorium on December 10 will focus more on the rich and intricate design of Mindanao.
Karlo James Bringas of Davao Graphic Designers Community, in a phone interview with SunStar Davao, said now is the high time to put the Mindanao designers to the center stage.
“We will highlight the Mindanao culture. We now have the first Mindanaoan president (Rodrigo Duterte), we think it is more appropriate now to put in the center the Mindanao culture,” he said.
He added this year’s inspiration for Graphicon theme is “Okir,” a geometric and flowing designs and folk motifs that can be usually found in Maranao and Muslim-influenced artwork. It can be usually found woven or printed in textiles.
“It is a symbol of power and prestige usually adorned during festivities. The Okir helps us celebrate Mindanaoan culture and showcase its beauty to a wide contemporary audience,” Bringas said.
Graphicon, the most anticipated graphic design conference in Mindanao, is set to raise the bar of graphic designing on the island-region, as it will capacitate the skills of young designers to be at par with national and international standards.
On its fifth year, the Davao Graphic Designers Community, the lead organizer of the event will bring in a total of six local and national designers and industry players to offer their expertise to Mindanao's aspiring and emerging graphic designers.
The organizer is expecting around 1,500 participants during the event, mostly from Mindanao, particularly Davao Region and Northern Mindanao.
Organizers are also expecting groups from Luzon and Visayas.
Graphicon is expected to gather not only professional graphic designers and animators but also students from different colleges and universities in Davao and the neighboring cities.
Mindanao-based speakers are Megan Palero for motion design, Paolo Ramirez for digital illustration and Janine Pring of Dreametry Creative Design Studio for creative entrepreneurship.
National speakers,on the other hand, are Daryl Feril's for drawing and illustration, Avid Liongoren's team - RocketsheepStudio animation for television works, illustrations, and animation films and Abbey Sy for typography.
Bringas said inspiring young talents to go big in their crafts is the goal of staging Graphicon annually.
For instance, Bringas said, Sy will share her journey on following her dreams and making a step forward to achieve those.
“We want to instill with the participants that one could possibly succeed in the design and graphic industry. Most of our participants are students, they are young, they are just starting out with their craft, hopefully they can be inspired on how they can bring their craft to the next level,” he said.
Asked on the present status of the design industry in Davao City, he said, the freelancers and designers’ studio are very active and doing well. Graphicon tickets are sold in Yellow Haus Coffeeshop, V. Mapa Street, Davao City at P400.
But for early birds ticket (which is only until November 15), interesting participants can buy a ticket at P300.