From the inside

My editor, took me to shoot a presscon of a property developer. It was held inside the Burj al Arab. I'm sure you already know this - but for those who don't, the Burj is the only 7-star hotel on planet Earth. So imagine my excitement when I learned that I'll be able to see the inside.

On the entrance the Burj looks like a pregnant alligator. I don't mean anything bad by it, actually I think it looks jaw-droppingly cute. I salute the people who designed this iconic structure - not that my salute means anything. It already is world-known. National Geographic even featured it on Megastructures. So everybody just bow down and chant "We are not worthy."

Enough of the talking. Here's a few shots.


The bridge to the main entrance


The view when you look up



The helipad - taken from the Al Falak ballroom on the 27th floor.

To web or not to web

That is the question. I got hired just a few days ago by a magazine company here in Dubai. That's right - I'm working again. It must have been the wallpapers hehe...

I work in an area called Technology and Media Freezone in a place called Dubai Media City. Its a place designated by the government for media companies in Dubai to build their offices. Pretty neat place if I might say. You get tha creative buzz in the place knowing that most of the people working there are in the field of media, that's print, radio, and television. And if you climb a highrise building you get to see Burj al Arab and the Palm Jumeirah island.

I work all day laying out magazines. Its big adjustment since I was a web designer before and I work all day creating websites. It seems all I get these days are adjustment :-)

I ask myself why am I laying out magazines again. After a career shift form print to web, now its back to print again. Bilbo, was this what you had in mind when you wrote There and Back Again?

Its not that I am not grateful for this job. I am. I am really amazed at how everything worked out and I appreciate the people that helped me. I mean it is not easy to get a good job here in this place. You see having this magazine job means I am putting my web career on hold, the career I really want to pursue. I am confused but I just have this vibe that it is where I should be now. Still there is a nagging feeling in my mind that I might be making a mistake.

Hot Rock Cafe Thailand

A few days ago I finished re-designing the Hot Rock Cafe site.

Hot Rock cafe is in Chang Rai, Thailand near Mae Fah Luang University, a university established by the queen of the country. Hotrock offers free English language tutorials and in the process sharing the Good News to the students. I’ve been hearing lots of good news from the crew there. The Thai youth, from what I hear, loves anything Western; listening to music, watching movies and learning the English language. So let’s pray that this will be an open door for the Gospel.

If you happen to visit Chiang Rai, that’s in the northern part of thailand, please drop by the cafe. Its on the highway to Burma. The staff is friendly and Thai students hanging out there would really love to interact with you.

That’s it! Rock on!!!

P.S.
Hot Rock is included in my portfolio at Litratista.net.

Simple

For 2008 I want to give my Pinoy Pan de Sal a facelift but still maintain the minimalist feel. It seems I've become a fan of simple.

I used to work in a broadcasting company and there was a VP there who was involved with several commercials from major companies. Remember FPJ endorsing San Miguel beer? Needless to say this guy's got credentials. His motto is "Less is more." So everytime I present a design to him he always strips it down to the barest essential, "katay" as they say in advertising agencies. I used to get angry at him for doing this. Kinakatay nya lagi yung layout ko. But now, sir, peace na tayo hehe!

I used to think that designers who create minimalistic artworks do not have the creative juice they need at that time to produce works of art. As the years go by I have learned that it takes a certain amount of self-restraint to design minimalistic works. There is so much you can do in a layout but it takes maturity to combine simple elements to produce an effective minimalistic design.

Leonardo da Vinci, one of the masters during the Renaissance age said "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." I will not dare go against a master.