I’d like to thank everyone who organized, sponsored, and attended our first Mini Web Design Conference, last October 30. I can’t believe our fledgling group (kudos to Mae, Marie, JP, Helga, Aja, Regnard, Sarah, Kaffee!) pulled off something like it, and that there were other people who were excited about supporting the event.
It’s finally happening! Things are taking shape! And this mini conference is the first step. But first, a recap:
Lots of wasted space.
Consumer Electronics Live! 2008 was disappointing. From its buggy, uninformative Flash-based website to a sparse SMX Exhibit Hall (it wasn’t even the last day!), this was another sign that modernity in this third world country is too brittle, too shallow at this point.
Date has been moved to October 30. Same time, same place. If you want to be a speaker, let us know your topic!
We’re going to hold a mini web design conference on October 30 October 31 at the G2VC Tech Bar in Ortigas, 6:00pm—and you’re invited!
Aside from the big event we’re planning—which actually has a cool, geeky name now! see logo!—we wanted to hold a mini event that’s quick and casual.
Here are the details:
Dayo is a full-length, digitally animated film that brings to life the Philippines’ most beloved mythological creatures with a modern-day twist. Its creators, Cutting Edge Studios, invited bloggers to check out their facilities, the animation process, and a sneak peek of the movie—to be released this December as an entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival and to the rest of the world with the title “Wanderer”.
I wasn’t able to stay long as I had a meeting to attend (guess!), but the little I saw was impressive enough. The detail of the background art is absolutely stunning and is reminiscent of the Disney classics. All done in Photoshop, by the way.
I can only wonder how enough emphasis could be given to an often-overlooked part of animated films. They should definitely sell prints and turn them into downloadable wallpapers.
The hardware they’re working with are nothing to scoff at either: a glorious combo of Mac Pro and Wacom Cintiq for every workstation.
I guess the burning question here is: will it be a success?
The mere fact that these people were ambitious and industrious enough to open an animation studio and create a local film for us, the Filipino people, instead of going abroad or outsourcing their work, is a triumph in itself. But let’s not stop there. Be sure to watch it this December.
Watch the Dayo teaser trailer here. Photos after the jump:
To all the Filipino people who make websites, we would greatly appreciate it if you could answer our survey.
(With apologies to A List Apart. Will report the progress of the web design conference we’re planning—soon.)
Edit (09/25/08): Congratulations OctTwelve! Good job!
I just found out that Stellify is one of the finalists for the Best Blog Design category of the Best Blog division of the 2nd Philippine Blog Awards. I’m shocked. Even more shocked than I was last year after being a finalist in the Technology category.
I feel like the odd one out (again). Just look at this site. Then look at the other finalists:
I think I know which ones I’m rooting for and not rooting for! I do hope, however, they help out with the Philippine web design conference that we’re planning.
I’m wishing every finalist in every category the best of luck. And the best of fun, just as I had last year.
Another problem with web design aside from my previous laments is that it has always played “saling-pusa” (my indirect translation: second fiddle) to fields like print design, technology, blogging, internet marketing—at least in the Philippines. (I leave it up to you to connect the respective dots to Murder By Design, Graphika Manila, BarCamp Manila, iBlog, Philippine Blog Awards, WordCamp Philippines, SEMCON, IMMAP, and so forth.)
Maybe because web design is such a broad, confusing term that any event organizer would not know what to cover. And not everybody can be passionate about right-brain aesthetics and left-brain logic at the same time.
Still, a whimsical thread on Plurk shows that holding a Philippine web design conference may finally be a dream come true. Based on the early discussions at the planning site, we’re leaning towards something genuinely helpful to all attendees.
Shoutouts to those who attended the first impromptu planning session:
If you want to help out—please!—you can privately send your e-mail address plus your desired username.
