What May Had Been

And so... what I had been doing last May was quite random.

I attended two seminars about Learning Adobe Illustrator and The Process in Setting up a Website via Phoenix-One Knowledge Institute at Paseo de Roxas.  You can visit their Facebook page here if you are interested in learning Visual Communication, WebDesign and more.

Also did some small booth design. Concepts.

Materials and Cost Estimate Meme

Just want to share this week's design experience.  The gruesome materials and cost estimates.

It is an aspect in interior design where the designer sources out the materials to be used in the design and how much it will cost.  Of course, this is only an estimate.  The actual cost may vary.

As much that this is one of the heaviest work of being an interior designer, this is a knowledge-packed activity which can bring the designer's vision into fruition and also a step higher to the journey in the design field.

I had enjoyed doing the cost estimate for the condo project I am doing right now.  :)

And after almost a week of doing so, I came with this meme conclusion.

Of course, I still had fun along the way.

Building and Design Materials: Piedra China

The Chinese Granite Cobblestone, or popularly known as "PIEDRA CHINA" here in the Philippines, are commonly used as pave stones for garages and entry roads for houses that require the aged look.

The name "PIEDRA CHINA" implies Stone from China.

I first encountered this natural material when I was part of an ancestral house restoration project. It was a 1940's house with a mix of Art Nouveau and Art Deco design style situated within the Malacanang Compound.


There was an abundance of these stones, that we thought of re-using them.  (At first I thought the piedra chinas are only cement slabs cut to random tile size patterns).

As we were hauling it, to be rearranged, the contractor in-charge to restore all the wood works told me that these 'stones', were shipped from China.  These where volcanic stones used as a ballast for Chinese ships and galleons.  When a ship reach the Philippines,they will buy silver to be imported at China.  The piedra china will be unloaded, making the silver items now the ballast of the ship as they return to China.  The piedra chinas will be then used as pave stones, and as a construction material at that time.

The piedra china's color ranges from grey. rustic browns, and toned purple.  It has an amazing visual character that we can be reminded of the "ancestral' or "bahay na bato" look.  These stones age from 300 - 400 years, or even more!  This is a perfect material to be used for that ancestral look, Mediterranean, or any style that requires the rustic charm look!

Interior Design Exhibit (Part 3) - Actual Exhibit

Tadah!

(Read Part 1 here and read Part II here)


Rockwell Land organized these exhibit to give the unit owners of The Grove opportunities to source out for interior designers and furniture suppliers.

The theme is  Secrets to Style Your Home: 100% Rockwell An Interior Design and Home Fair

It was a first time experience for my part in representing our company's services.

MANILA FAME March 2012 - Philippines

Manila FAME was founded in 1983 by by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and is one of the longest running trade shows in the Asia-Pacific.

Since its founding, the show has been featuring the latest creation and design trends in furniture and furnishings, holiday and gifts and fashion. Through the years, Manila FAME has been nurturing Philippine creative manufacturers and producers and continues to promote them in the global market.

It is the only event in the Philippines approved by the Union des Foires Internationales (UFI), a Paris-based association of trade fair organizers.

Interior Design Exhibition (Part 2) - Finishes

Well, well... okay two weeks lag.  Here's the update of the ID exhibit coming up by the end of March:

Read the Part 1 here.

The team finally decided on what to put in the exhibit.  It's as simple as a discussion area, which is practically used to any other spaces aside from residential.

[3D Rendering] Practice Mode

[3D Rendering] Via I.I.A.

1. Table design using a frame less glass with wood carving shelf underneath in metal legs.

Quick Design Proposal for an Accounting Department Office

[3D Rendering] Via W.D.R.-D.S.

TRAJECTORIES

I attended a seminar today hosted by the University of the Philippines Interior Design Alumni Association.

If this is their first ever UPIDAA Design Sharing, this is my first ever solid ID seminar I attended to after I graduated... well, as far as I could remember.

The lecture series is entitled "Trajectories:  An exploration."

Construction, Architectural and Interior Design Humor

Just compiled. Enjoy. 

Having a hard time to choose?

Interior Design Exhibit Booth (Part 1) - CONCEPTS

I've been working as an interior designer for some time now, but when a new was project handed to me and my colleagues about designing a 6 sq. meters interior design exhibit booth - I screamed to my self, "Wow!  It would be just like the college days! and  ...uh-oh... what did I do during college days?"

I virtually forgot.  So it was like starting from scratch.

So before I forget about this 'same old brand new' experience.  I think I should jot down points in setting up and Interior Design Business Exhibit.  Here are my experiences for the first two days:

Meeting with the clouds

This morning I went to visit a site where two bathroom renovations is called for. 

The house is of a Mediterranean concept.  It was built twelve years ago but if you should see it now, it is very well maintained.  The existing interior design of these bathrooms as I put it into the client’s words has 'just got tiring to look at.'  I couldn't agree more.

Two things I learned from today’s meeting.

Definition of Interior Design

"Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities that are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects. Interior design is a multifaceted profession that includes conceptual development, liaising with the stakeholders of a project and the management and execution of the design." - Wikipedia

TRUE THAT!

For me, Interior Design is a mixture of art and science.  It is putting the freedom of fantasy into a substantial reality.  It is being able to bring a dream into an awake state - to something very tangible and very functional and valuable.  It's bringing the heart of the wholeness in the construction world.  The aspects in the field of interior design touch the closest relationship to the user.  From the floor surface that one walks to, to the cushion one sits upon, even to the daintiest spoon, or the aura we feel when we close our eyes – the interior designer can put it all into cohesion.

LICENSED!

Finally got my license in being an Interior Designer!


After years of practicing ID as a junior designer, 


I think I finally deserve this one.