Roots

The Design Enthusiast

Avery Si

Avery Si is a UI/UX Designer in Mynt, a subsidiary of Globe Telecom, Ayala, and Ant Financial. He took up Management Information Systems in Ateneo de Manila University and was a founding member of User Experience Society--the first student-led UX organization in the Philippines that educates the next generation of design leaders. As a student, he was able take on UX and Product Design internships in Globe Telecom, Apical Design, and OnlineJobs.ph.

In this episode, we talk about building a UX organization, hustling to find internships, taking a break after graduation, working as a designer in Mynt, and so much more.

UX Society - https://www.facebook.com/UXSoc/

UX Philippines - http://uxph.org

Avery Si - https://www.facebook.com/averygsi

The UX Evangelist

Ely Apao

Ely Apao is a Customer Experience Manager at JG Summit Holdings. He founded UX Philippines, a non-profit organization that hosts the Philippines' largest community of individuals passionate about the realm of User Experience. The organization aims to help spread awareness and raise the bar for design practices all over the Philippines. Previously, he also held UX roles at companies like OLX and US Auto Parts as a UX and Product Development Manager.

In this episode, we talk about building the UX community, designing at an old and traditional company, understanding the key skills of a UX designer, and a lot more.

UX Philippines - http://uxph.org

Ely’s Social Media - https://about.me/jozzua

Microcopy Queen

Niaw De Leon

Niaw de Leon is the author of Microcopy and co-founder of Cognible, a design consultancy that helps startups, IT firms, and development teams nail the right language and interactions to make sexy apps that sell. Starting out as an enterprise web developer at  a CMMI Level 5 IT firm, she’s been a trainer, RFP writer, and product marketing manager until she found herself in the passionate embrace of interaction design and UX writing.

In this episode, we talk about learning how to negotiate, how Filipinos can become world-class thought leaders, gaining authority through creating, and so much more.

Get Niaw’s Book - Microcopy: Discover How Tiny Bits of Text Make Tasty Apps and Websites

Cognible - https://cognible.com/

Niaw’s Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/niawdeleon

Niaw’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniwd/

Google Sprint Master

Chrys Francisco

Chrys Francisco Laguitao is a Senior UX Designer at Google currently based in Zurich, Switzerland. She has designed for both consumer and enterprise products such as Google Flights, Assistant, and AdWords. Her career journey has taken her from being an IT Associate Manager in P&G in Manila, to taking up Master's in Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University abroad, and finally pursuing her aspiration of becoming a UX Designer at Google.

In this episode, we talk about looking for a graduate program in UX, getting into and working at Google, becoming a full-time working mom, and so much more.

Chrys’s Website - http://chrysfrancisco.com/

Chrys’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrysoberylfrancisco/

T-Shirt Magnate

AJ Dimarucot

AJ is a self-taught graphic designer who is known for his iconic work on t-shirts--having designed for brands like Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, to a multitude of independent brands. His work has delivered millions of dollars worth of sales all over the world. He has designed officially-licensed tees for athletes in the NFL, MLB, and the NBA, as well as for properties like Coca-Cola, Star Wars, and Marvel. From US to Japan to his hometown of Manila, his t-shirt designs are worn all over the world.

In this episode we talk about being a self-taught designer, finding AJ’s own definition of design, and being a creative entrepreneur.

AJ’s Website - http://www.ajdimarucot.com/

AJ’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ajdimarucot/

AJ’s Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ajdimarucot

The UX Consultant

Tisha Ibasco

Tisha Ibasco is the Experience Design Lead at Accenture, helping build the capability of UX in the Philippines. She leads a team of 20 designers based in Manila and Cebu. Before that, she was a Product Design Lead at Stratpoint. As an experience designer, she likes to dive deep into her projects and its uncertainties to help design thoughtful products. She puts considerable thought in understanding and modelling user and business needs to make product ideas happen.

In this episode we talk about things like taking criticism, being comfortable working in the unknown, building the skills to be empathic, and so much more. 

Tisha’’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tisha-ibasco-41463063/

Tisha’s Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/tisha.ibasco

The Originator

Dan Matutina

I caught up with Dan Matutina — a graphic designer and illustrator. He is a founding partner at Plus63 Design Co. and the Hydra Design Group. He has worked on projects for brands such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, Pinterest, Airbnb, Samsung, WIRED Magazine, Fast Co., Wallpaper*, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, Coca-Cola, Havaianas, Heineken, Uniqlo to name a few. At Plus63 Design Co., he develops graphic design identities and systems for brands.

In this episode we talk about how Dan started his design journey, building a design social enterprise, forming a diverse design group, and a lot more.

Dan Matutina’’s Website - http://twistedfork.me/

Plus63 Design Co. - http://plus63.com/

The Design Educator

Tata Yap

Tata Yap is a creative director for digital agency, Code and Theory Manila; working with clients like Doctors Without Borders (MSF.org), the World Health Organisation, C40 Cities, and the International Crisis Group. She works to teach, and teaches to work, juggling her roles with 8 years of being a lecturer of type, web and graphic design at the Ateneo de Manila University where her students are always a source of  optimism, inspiration, and energy.

We talked about learning design through fandoms, why typography is important, how we can improve design education, and so much more.

Code and Theory - https://www.codeandtheory.com/

Tata’s LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/analyn-yap-29a0a138

Tata’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tatayap/

Multidimensional CXO

Denise Haak

Denise Haak is the Chief Experience Officer at QUIDDITY, an end-to-end User Experience design and consultancy firm with clients like CebuPacific GetGo, Banco De Oro, and the Department of Trade and Industry. She was previously at Google as an Agency Business Lead and also worked as part of the inaugural team that launched the Google Philippines office. She was the Founder and Managing Director of ALT:ENGINE, and worked at the top ad agencies in the country.

In this episode we talk about how Denise got into Google, harnessing company culture, being a Chief Experience Officer, and so much more.

Quiddity’s Website - https://www.quiddity.ph/

Denise’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-haak-b98a3688/

Design Detective

Birdie Salva

I talked to Birdie Salva, the co-founder and general manager of Curiosity, a Manila-based design research agency. He currently leads user-centered research projects for companies like Globe, Sun Life Financial, and Ayala Corporation. He has been part of an industrial design startup, a brand manager for L'Oreal Philippines, and a lecturer in Ateneo de Manila University. As an avid gamer, he’s now trying his hand in game design.

In this episode, we talked about building a design research company, thinking about design consequences, creating a party game, and a lot more.

Curiosity’s Website - http://www.curiosity.ph/

Birdie’s Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/birdie

Birdie’s Game - https://www.instagram.com/hornygeist/