I’ve gotten really cool stuff in the mail the past few days! First up is a 7″ and a postcard from one of my favorite friends from far away, Zet! It’s really sweet of her to do this, because it was totally unexpected.

I’m glad she included a return address because I still owe her a package from when she was in LA for school. She sent me a couple of postcards, some pinback buttons and this! I’m really the worst at mailing stuff out at first, but when I get the hang of it, I promise you, I’m the funnest.

And then today, I woke up to this! I can’t believe it—a package from Visual Editions, one of my favorite publishers. They might be a bit newer than most people in the book business—they only have four books out—but their work is amazing. It’s really a visual understanding and representation of stories and words, especially in relation to the actual, physical space where these stories “happen”.

Anyway, the contents of the package I got were wrapped in discarded spreads of what looks to be their edition of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. Because of the gorgeous neon pantone and the creamy-smooth paper, and also because I am a packrat, I’m keeping this, heh.

Inside: an advanced copy of their fourth book, Kapow! by Adam Thirlwell. I can’t believe it! I’m so excited to read it; I’ll probably put down Chad Harbach’s “The Art of Fielding” momentarily just so I can get into this right away. For more on the story, visit this VE blog post. For more photos of this truly gorgeous book, visit this other blog post.

You can pre-order the book here. I cannot recommend the quality of their products enough. If you recall, I raved about Jonathan Safran Foer’s Tree of Codes a while back.

I got a postcard from them, too. Two lovely ladies who sought to make “great looking stories.” How about that? :)

A week ago, I noticed a large number of traffic to my portfolio, http://carina-santos.com, coming from one James Templeton. At that point, he had only a splash page and a banner announcing that his site was still underconstruction, but permalinks to specific pages brought to my attention that this dude was ripping off my layout.

Lo & behold, when I checked back a few days later, his new website was up.

Which is cool and all. Except it’s pretty much an exact copy of mine:

The grids and the code were the same. The navigation was the same, it was the same even down to the colors, and the sidebar information.

Anyway, I sent him an email, explaining the situation and asking nicely for him to take it down, since it is unethical and unprofessional, given that we both work as designers. Essentially, it was a pretty darned nice email, especially after having my design, layout and code ripped off.

I waited for an entire day and didn’t receive a reply. @scrufus pointed out that he had been hotlinking to my own CSS files! The nerve! I quickly pulled down my stylesheet. Zet got a screencap and this is what his site looked like. At least for a while:

Sarie asked about the matter, and I told her that I dealt with it, but when she checked his page again, it had reverted to the old structure. He replaced the stylesheet with one that he had stolen from me, except his fonts are screwed up because the files are hosted with me.

However, his code still links to my own javascript files. You know, because he copied my code exactly.

Anyway, it’s just really disappointing and frustrating to spend hours on code and design something, and making sure it looks right, only to have it ripped off. I used Borja Fernandez’ theme, which looks like this untouched:

I had to figure out the tables, the code, the layout, the colors, and everything. It’s annoying and, quite frankly, disgusting for a middle-aged man in Tennessee to be stealing from a 23-year-old freelance designer from a third world country. It’s hard enough as it is to get jobs and sustain myself. I don’t need people stealing my work.

Anyway, that’s the story. I hope there’s something I can do about it, but so far, I have emailed him at james@jamestempleton.com and I have received no replies in return. You can help me by emailing (haha) or sharing this post. It’s so sad and I feel a little helpless, but I’m also, I think, on the way to infuriated, which is not going to be pleasant.

I am by no means an expert on the life and times of Ray and Charles Eames. All that I know about them by heart begins and ends with the iconic lounge chair and ottoman, and also the fact that they made movies. I am not an expert, and it’s a shame that I’ve only looked into their lives just now.

“Eames: The Architect and The Artist” came out on November 2011. Having only looked at this short trailer (still cannot find the film!), my heart has been roused into action. Truth be told, I’ve always wanted to be something remarkable—not in the way that people are remarkably famous or notorious of fame, really. Rather, I’ve come to realize that I wanted to be remarkable in the way that Charles and Ray Eames were. I just never quite understood how to do that.

It’s not really something you outright seek to do. I don’t think they did things so that they would be well-known, but that they became illustrious and indispensable because of the things that they did. That’s something I’ve thought about fairly frequently—how the “fame culture” today has been poisonous more than helpful—but that’s another story.

Now, I’m beginning to think that everything great begins with the relentless pursuit of solutions and beauty, without expecting the promise of success. It’s an unwavering desire to make things that make what exists better. I’ve often wondered why I don’t seem to be progressing as much as I thought I ought to, and it’s perhaps because I have been taking so many detours, big and small, but maybe it’s also because I don’t really think of what will propel the action. I do things with this tremendous pressure to have something to be good at, and not really for the purest motives of discovery and solution-making.

Another thing I admire from the Eameses is their partnership. There simply isn’t anything like it. Their lives and philosophies bled into their Venice Beach office, and it was so inspiring to see how the people they’ve worked with still light up when the Eameses come up. I can just imagine their energies being so tremendously contagious.

I was doing my Life Plan for 2012 and paused only to watch this trailer, but ended up being so encouraged by seeing how they were into so many things, were good at them, and did what they did with a genuine interest and spirit. I’m so driven to “excel” even more just because they have proven it possible, being armed with a sense of wonder and an understanding of things that work.

I think I gravitate towards the Eameses because they have imbued their work with a feeling of warmth and perhaps even love, not necessarily in their output but in their approach. They loved design, and so they were good at it. And just thinking about this, there is this weight that is lifted from me, which I got from examining the future and my 2012. My challenges are still there, of course, but it’s nice to see that it’s possible to get through them in a way that won’t destroy me.

Let’s be honest: I’ll probably have maybe 2 more posts on Hong Kong, because there are a lot of good photos, and I have an impulse to share. One thing I really wanted to post about, though, was the great type work I saw in Hong Kong Disneyland. Most of these are examples from façades and fake storefronts around Main Street, but just look at the care that went into these things.

I wouldn’t mind living in a city like this!

(OK, maybe I would mind a little, but isn’t it all so very pretty?)

Even the lightbulb packaging got great type treatment!

I also like Nick Zinner’s “Beds” series, where he took photos of beds he’s slept on when he was touring with the rest of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I suspect that this aspect of sameness-but-not is what drew me to the Roberto Chabet show in Galleria Duemila last month. There’s just something satisfyingly whole when it comes to collections and series. You see connections and similarities, and also differences.

A lot of people have also been asking me to share a few of my favorite local blogs, and I figure that this would be a good start! Here’s a list of some of the local projects and series that I enjoy quite a bit.

1. ANIK ANIK LOVE
by Mitch Mauricio • http://anikaniklove.blogspot.com/

Anik Anik Love is a series that I stumbled upon when my friend linked his other friend’s feature on the site. Mitch Mauricio goes around and photographs creatives from all walks of life and their sacred space. I’m kind of a nomad (I share a room with my sister), so I just work wherever, but it’s inspiring to see where beautiful things are made.

Right now, Mitch’s own space is featured in Real Living Magazine (October 2011). She’s a photographer, and I met her about a month or so ago. She’s really nice, on top of being quite talented. Also! Isn’t this one of the best projects? I made a few attempts at it a long time ago, but Mitch captures space in a pretty extraordinary way.

2. SPACES
by Zet Diaz • http://spaces.withstrangers.com/

Newly launched by Zet Diaz, Spaces is a look into “spaces” all over the world. Unlike Anik Anik Love, this isn’t limited to workspaces or living areas, but explores what the personal idea of “space” is.

It’s not simply a show and tell of “this is where I work,” but a telling of the story of these spaces, and what it means to these people. I think her goal is to sort of find a way to make each base in the world covered. So far, she’s gotten pretty awesome people to be a part of the project. I’m so excited for future entries—for one in particular—and this is definitely a project to watch.

3. DISPLAY
by Sarie Cruz • http://vimeo.com/sariecruz/

Sarie Cruz likes making films and looking at art. Merge these two interests together and you have a pretty genius project that I’m surprised no one I’ve heard of has been doing yet. Display is, essentially, a series of films that showcase art shows, exhibits, and events in Manila—in video form.

I document shows with pictures and words all the time, but that doesn’t quite capture the “thereness” one feels when going to an art show. Display is a step closer to that. It’s awesome because it captures part of the feeling of being there, despite the temporariness of exhibits. Because of the fleetingness of these shows, Sarie wanted to make the viewer feel somehow a part of it, despite not having been there or being far away.

There are, so far, only two up right now, but I know that she has a lot of footage she’s working on piecing together.

4. THE GRIM REPAT
by Mara Coson • http://thegrimrepat.wordpress.com/

I don’t know if you guys know this, but I had short-lived dreams of being a vlogger. If I did manage to make that work, I’d have loved it to have been like this. The Grim Repat is Mara Coson’s approach to repatriation, after being away from Manila so long. Three episodes are up now, and all are pretty fun to watch, despite the general vlog rule of “3 minutes and under.”

Part of what makes it interesting is the format. Typically, vloggers just set up their desk with a webcam and sit and talk in front of it. Sometimes, they go outside. Mara puts together videos of her day and her environment, coupling them with other tidbits and clips from films and videos. Then, there’s the good writing. I like that her videos have a theme and a point. It’s just a refreshing change, with a strong, overarching idea to back it up.

5. THE HANDY-DANDY MAP PROJECT
by Kasey Albano • http://kaseyalbano.tumblr.com/

Kasey Albano has always been one of the designers in school that I felt “had it.” The Handy Dandy Map Project is one of her design series that I love. Currently, there are about three entries, and I sincerely hope that she pursues it.

She has another series up called the 30 Day Song x Design Challenge. She is barely halfway, which excites me a lot because it means that I have more to look forward to.

Other local projects I love and enjoy:

• Missed Connections Manila
• Drunken Dispatches
• Daylight by Gabby Cantero
  

  “Cause in the daylight anywhere feels like home.” — Daylight by Matt & Kim

  Portraits on a Saturday. Why? Really, nothing. All for fun. For hanging out with friends under the sun!

I’m just naming some off the top of my head. So, if you have any series or projects, or even blogs, that are dear to your heart, please know that I would love to hear about them.

I’m working on a series right now, with Cat, which I’m hoping will take off by this month. It’s exciting, and we both love it—which is why it is puzzling as to why it’s taking so long for the both of us. We’re both busy, but it’s sort of like a passion project, so we’re pretty excited for it, too. Hope you stay tuned!

It’s been nearly a week, but my fingers still shiver at the prospect of folding over sheet metal. Not that I come across opportunities to do so very often. The last time, though, was on October 3rd (which was a Monday), for Tom Dixon‘s Flash Factory in Manila.

Held at MO_Space, the Flash Factory involves the assembly of Tom Dixon’s Etch series onsite. Visitors can observe the production of these pieces, which can be bought as soon as they are finished being assembled. In some countries though, the pieces are also available disassembled, so people can be part of the production of the goods that they buy.

Meggie

Messy table!

Goofing around with Sarie, who took some of these pictures.

It’s a pretty encouraging statement, actually. The Flash Factory introduces an approach to design and production where a person can act out all the roles needed for output to see the light of day.

In theory, strictly speaking, anyone can take care of all the steps—from the vision (design), to the production (sourcing the materials, putting everything together), to the selling and marketing. I mean, if a cretin like me can put together a pretty expensive lamp, I’m sure you can, too. Of course, not everyone is born a Tom Dixon, but I don’t think this process promises success. I think it highlights possibility. It’s proof that it can be done, and that’s good enough for me.

(He is working on a candle holder. This is a smile of lies.)

(Also a smile of lies.)

It was a humbling experience. Our work conditions were far from actual labor environments here in the Philippines. The table we were working on costs more than the total of what I made when I used to work for Lomography. Still—imagine feeling defeated because of a puny candle holder! Those were hellacious to fold. The Etch Lights were fun to make, because construction was pretty easy. We all made roughly around 4 to 5 candle holders and the numbness didn’t go away from my hands until maybe three days after. As with most difficulties, though, comes reward!

YAY! :D I bought one for myself. A little more than what I would normally pay for, for anything, but it’s the fruit! Of my labor! Plus, it’s technically designer furniture. Also, it is really, really pretty. On the upside, each purchase of Tom Dixon’s Etch range benefits autism in the Philippines.

Sarie has been taking a series of exhibit videos, and this is the first one she got around to editing. Check out the process below, and as always, there are more photographs under the cut!

Tom Dixon’s latest collection and micro movies are going to be on display in MO_Space until October 16.

MO_Space
MOS_Design Building
B2 Bonifacio High Street,
Bonifacio Global City

Open daily: 11am-8pm

(If you’re lost, this is the place that’s often misattributed as the Bo Concept Store. I think they carry Bo Concept, but they also have tons of other stuff. It’s right across Nike, and right beside Krispy Kreme, if that helps.)

First, we had to suit up! For an authentic (sort of) laborer feel.

Each pack came in a small cardboard box with flat metal sheets for each of the sides and an instruction sheet. Does not come with tools. I think I would have liked some needle-nose pliers on my side.

Coming together.

The last steps, where you piece everything together, are the hardest. But look how pretty it is when everything’s in its place.

The lamps were hung in pairs, because the set-up requires balance on the rods. Personally, I think it’s such a beautiful collection. Unfortunately, I don’t have quite the means to get anything other than a single candleholder. But who knows, maybe in the future!

These are the Glass Knobs mounted on the wall. Also very pretty, but I don’t know what kind of door I would use them for.

This is from my last Tom Dixon post, but it’s one of the pieces I’m dreaming of getting. The Copper Shade reminds me of an astronaut helmet and I would like it over my reading nook in my future house, please.

We took a self-imposed donut break, because Mo is right beside Krispy Kreme. There was also some Monopoly Deal to be had! It was my first time playing. I did not win.

Fin!

Copper Shade

Yesterday, I went to an orientation for Tom Dixon’s Flash Factory, which will happen tomorrow. Tom Dixon is a designer from the UK, and we are going to be assembling pieces from his Etch series onsite! From 11am-6pm, at mo_ in Bonifacio High Street, we’ll be making lamps. In jumpsuits!

Here is a photo of the Flash Factory in Milan:

We’ll be making these, as well as the smaller candle holders.

The crew was still setting up when we finished with the orientation.

Glass Knob

I love the strong branding identity—even their packing boxes were clearly marked.

A peak into the future! Say hello to fat me with the Mirror Ball

Bunnies! Bunnies! It must be bunnies!

Dinner was swell. Mushroom soup and half a slab of the Faking Duck from Chuck’s Deli.

Anyway, if you are so inclined, drop by the Flash Factory tomorrow, Monday. Tom Dixon will be having a small talk the same day from 3:00-5:30pm at the Intercon, for which you have to register. You can do so at TomDixonInMakati.com.

For more details, head on over to the same link as well.

Dear Reader,

If you are still around, it would (maybe) interest you to know that Nothing Spaces turned two a few days ago! I’ve been experiencing server errors for the past month and a half, so I’ve held off posting, but I am pretty sure that I’ve fixed the problem (concerned the IP address my FTP account was pointing to), so I’ll be posting pretty regularly here again.

I have a bunch of posts up my sleeve right now, I just have to get around to writing them. Some will probably be exciting! Others, not so much. In any case, I just wanted to say that NS turned two (!) and that I am not dead. A list of things I have been up to:

• Bangkok! I went with Karen, Therese, Roxy & Sarie. We stayed there a whopping 8 days, and had a great time eating and just exploring the city. Here is a photo post, in case you missed it. I would very much love to go back.
• Bohol! I went with my family to Bohol, one of the Philippines’ biggest tourist destinations. I have never been, and although our stay was quite short, I had a really great time with my folks.
• Farm Visit part 2. Went to Herbana Farms again this weekend, where we had a great frakking lunch (no joke). I brought home rosemary and lavender plants for my mom.

And so on! It’s funny, but I think I have been out of the house more times in the year I’ve been out of college, than during all four years that I was in it. I think I’ve been opening up a bit more. One of the best things I’ve learned on my Bangkok trip is that shyness is a crutch. More on that soon.

A big personal victory for me was contributing to Rogue for the month of May. I held off posting about it, because I didn’t have my physical copy yet, and then things got in the way. But here, I am announcing it now. This is one of the pieces that I made for the issue. Here is another one:

I hope you guys get a copy, because—and I don’t mean this as a pat on my own back—it’s such a great issue, touching on a wide variety of topics and it has a lot of great art by Dan Matutina.

In the meantime, I’m working on some posts (I have a lot in mind and they are a jumbled mess in my head!), and a give-away for Nothing Spaces’ second birthday. For everyone who stuck by weird server shenanigans, thank you! My traffic went way down, but I got a lot of messages telling me my blog was down and that they missed it.

Just so you know, I missed you guys, too.

Love,
Carina

For the past few months that I’ve been unemployed, I’ve been working on design odd jobs here and there, but I was also in the middle of making this portfolio. I finally had to hustle and finish making it by yesterday afternoon, because I had to send it to a publishing house in San Francisco. It’s been a sort-of secret (I’ve only told a few friends… and a few acquaintances when I run out of Small Talk Topics), but I’m trying to apply for a publishing design fellowship.

I almost actually chickened out and bailed on it, because it was so hard to concentrate on finishing the portfolio. Also, because of the compounding paranoia creeping up on me, as it is wont to do. I’m probably not good enough for this, I would think. Why would they pick me? I think that’s also why it took me so long to finish it on time. If I didn’t finish it, I would have nothing to send, and I wouldn’t have opened up this whole range of possibilities for rejection.

A lot of things helped me through it. Friends coached me on particularly hard days. Other friends cheered me up on particularly hopeless/helpless ones. Other friends’ successes motivated me to pursue my own. A lot of books, snippets, essays and words of wisdom really helped me out, but when my time was running out and I felt like I was losing this fight, I was in the middle of Norton Juster’s “The Phantom Tollbooth.” I end this post with a few quotes from the book:

• “‘You see,’ he went on, ‘it’s very much like your trying to reach Infinity. You know it’s there, but you just don’t know where—but just because you can never reach it doesn’t mean it’s not worth looking for.”
• “So many things are possible just as long as you don’t know they are impossible.”
• “It’s learning what to do with what you learn and learning why you learn things at all that matter.”
• “But you had the courage to try; and what you can do is often simply a matter of what you will do.”

I haven’t a lot more to add. I just hope that those excerpts help out someone who’s going through similar situations. I’ve been thinking about this, and right after I dropped the package of at FedEx, my mind went crazy. What if I don’t get it? But then I thought—what if I do? I’m not going to lie and say that I won’t be devastated if I don’t get picked, because I truly will be. This is something that I’ve been wanting for a while… but I feel really good that I did at least try.

And now, I’m going to wait and hope for the best.

I’d been looking for alternative books to deconstruct (much like these), because I couldn’t find any of the patterned ones I usually used anymore. So, I got this copy of The Science Year from 1967 for Php 35 (less than a dollar), and surprise, surprise—I could not do it. It’s just a really nice book. It has colored photos and a 3D-enabled page with a cellophane-y insert. I’m hoping I find another copy, because I think it would really be a great book to mount on a wall and play around with, but I love it too much right now to cut, poke, or prod it.