‘Game of Thrones’ at Graphika Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Graphika Manila is one of the biggest creative events in the Philippines, having drawn over 10,000 design professionals and students since its inception in 2006. The one-day conference, which features the best multimedia and graphic designers from around the globe, is now in its eighth year, and this 2013, it comes with a new date and a bigger venue: Feb. 9 at the PICC.

Speakers this year include Sony Animation Studios, represented by Armand Serrano, a proudly Filipino senior visual development artist. Also headlining the event are Pixmondo, the visual effects giant behind HBO’s Game of Thrones and Martin Scorsese’s Hugo.

Tickets are now available online at www.graphikamanila.com. A conference pass costs P1,950, while a student pass costs P1,550. All attendees get an e-certificate of attendance, a conference kit, the Graphika Manila 2013 book, and other exclusive freebies.

Here’s a closer look at this year’s line-up.

Benjamin Seide VFX supervisor, Pixomondo

Pixomondo is an international visual effects company with a global network of studios in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Los Angeles, London, Shanghai, Beijing and Toronto. Pixomondo produces feature film, television and commercial visual effects.

Some of their notable works include the Martin Scorsese feature film Hugo and HBO’s Game of Thrones, among many others.

Armand SerranoVisual developer, Sony Pictures Animation

Sony Pictures Animation produces a variety of animated entertainment for audiences around the world. The studio is following its worldwide hits — the family comedy Hotel Transylvania (3D), and the 2011 hybrid live action/animated family blockbuster The Smurfs (3D).

They will be represented by our very own Armand Serrano who serves as a conceptual art director and senior visual developer in the company.

Jessica Walsh Partner, Sagmeister & Walsh

Jessica Walsh is a designer, art director, and illustrator working in New York City. She is a partner at the New York-based design studio Sagmeister & Walsh and teaches at the School of Visual Arts. Her work has won numerous design awards from the Type Director’s Club and Art Director’s Club. She has received various celebrated distinctions including Computer Art’s “Top Rising Star in Design,” an Art Director’s Club “Young Guns” award, and Print magazine’s “New Visual Artist.”

Benja Harney Paperform

Benja is self-taught paper engineer. He creates high-end pop-up books and professional paper construction for every possible application — including advertising, editorial illustration, fashion, packaging, invitations and fine art. His work is often commissioned by graphic designers and stylists for use in commercial ad campaigns and photo shoots. Some of his notable works include dressing the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney and Kylie Minogue’s Aphrodite World Tour pop-up book.

James White Signalnoise

James White is a visual artist, designer, speaker and the one-man crew behind the Signalnoise Studio in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.

His personal projects gained recognition in the industry and led him to working with Toyota, Universal Music, Nike, MTV, Google, Wired and many other clients.

Ryan Honey

Creative director and partner, Buck

Buck is a design-driven production company. They are an integrated collective of directors, producers, digital artists, graphic designers, illustrators and animators, who believe in the power of collaboration  the special alchemy that only happens when working together toward a common purpose.

Koto & Shin Devilrobots

Devilrobots is a five-man design team established in 1997 and based in Tokyo. Main works are graphics, character designs, audio-visual, web designs, toys, CD jackets, clothing, and more.

A little evil and robotic fun is their taste, and the original world of “Cute and blackness” is the effect. Symbolic character To-Fu Oyako is well known worldwide.