PINO Pod: Recent Episodes
PINO Studio
What happens when you get two Pipinos in a pod(cast)? Big questions, imaginative insights, and great conversations about design, with some life advice and personal stories sprinkled in. Hosted by Mara Javier and Rocky Alli, two of PINO Design Studio’s co-founders, PINO Pod is where we’ll explore what Filipino creativity means to us. We’ll also have other creatives join us to discuss and delve deeper into the people, processes, and nuances of design. Through these conversations, we hope to reveal what lies beyond the mysterious, elusive perception of creativity that exists today.
In this insightful episode, we delve deep into the vibrant presence of the LGBTQIA+ community within the creative industry. Our guests, Sab and Jan, share their experiences and challenges, highlighting the importance of safety and freedom of expression in fostering an inclusive environment in the workplace.
Tune in for an engaging conversation that underscores the power of diversity, the importance of acceptance, and the need for continued advocacy for LGBTQIA+ rights in the creative field.
Offset leaves or overtime pay? Companies usually offer one, and in this episode, we unpack the reasons behind employees preferring the other. Join Zeph and Shine as they discuss the factors they take into consideration when it comes to overtime benefits.
Deciding between working freelance or full-time?
Recently transitioning from freelancing to full-time studio creatives, Mila and Gabo chop up the pros, the cons, and the incomparable aspects of working freelance compared to a 9 to 5. With Mila being an art director and Gabo being a web developer, they chime in on the differences from varying vantage points and experiences.
What does it take to be a creative these days? Turns out, a whole lot of heart. On the last episode of the season, Mara and Rocky look back on their conversations over the last year with young, passionate creatives forging their own paths. They discuss the many dimensions of creativity, particularly the intersections of design, impact, and well-being, so you too can embrace your own creative journey with courage.
Rocky and Mara talk to Issa Barte, visual artist and co-founder of the youth-led nonprofit For the Future PH whose mission is to inspire action through the power of storytelling. Driven by her advocacy, Issa shares her own design process, ways to engage your creativity beyond capitalism and produce creative work with hope, vulnerability, and purpose.
Mara and Rocky discuss an essential topic among professionals in the creative industry: client relationships and boundaries. They chat about how to create value for clients — setting rates that will bring their company forward, communicating solutions and options that can benefit both sides, and applying the practices that work best for different client experiences.
Matt Lee, photographer and creative director of Cereaal Studio, shares his view of the world through the lens of his imaginative ADHD thinking. Matt, Mara and Rocky converse on how one defines ADHD, how it can be honed to one’s advantage and how people can offer support to someone who has it.
Mara and Rocky deep dive into the idea of space; physical, mental, virtual, and how these areas of life can contribute to one’s creative process. They explore what it means to take control of your space and find inspiration despite the limitations brought about by the pandemic.
Winnie Wong, the founder of The Everyday and the figure behind Penelope Pop, shares how she goes about her everyday life to Mara and Rocky. They converse about realizing the importance of each day, getting to finish what you start, and balancing commitments while finding value in what you do.
Mara and Rocky sit down and discuss the elusive concept of self doubt: how it manifests and how to approach it. They expand on how self doubt is experienced in the creative industry and how to let your inner critic fuel your craft instead of hindering it.
Addi Panadero and Trixia Dela Cruz from And A Half branding and design studio chats with Mara and Rocky about creating design impact beyond the commercial space. They share their thoughts on collaborating with brands and design studios in trying times, the bigger role of creatives in the greater scheme of things, and getting started on their social initiatives.
Mara and Rocky recall the reputable figures, films, series, and artists that make them feel proud to be Asian. They elaborate on how this wave of representation and exposure to unique, untold stories is changing the perceptions and collective consciousness of Asian artistry on a global stage.
Editorial lifestyle and commercial photographer Aya Cabauatan sits down with Mara and Rocky to talk about discovering the purpose of her own style and injecting that in her work. She also shares her experience in transitioning and adapting to remote work: learning to take on different roles, finding innovative ways to go about production, and starting her own studio as a common place for creatives to come together.
Mara and Rocky take a pause from a busy week to have an open discussion about burnout: experiencing it, realizing it and overcoming it. They break down how the pursuit of productivity and passion, without proper management, support, and self-awareness, can lead to occasional burnout.
Co-Founder of crowd favorite accessories brand HaloHalo Cara Sumabat-Limjap recounts her journey to building a business, her organic approach to design, and why authenticity is the key to success. She also gives her hot takes on current fashion trends and enlightens Mara and Rocky on the simple acts that spark ideas and let creativity flow.
International muralist and local illustration hero Jappy Agoncillo talks youth, superheroes, and business with Mara and Rocky. He shares his thoughts on how his childhood passions influenced his art style, how his career grew from selling stickers to painting large-scale murals for international brands, and how his education in law helps him navigate client servicing as a creative.
Director and cinematographer Simon Te sits down with our hosts, Mara and Rocky, to talk about film making: how defiant film ideas enhance brand creativity, how your personal perspective can elevate universally-relevant stories, and how his desire to defy the mold of Philippine advertising brought him to where he is now.
In this first episode, hosts Mara Celine Javier and Rocky Alli share the pivotal moments in their creative journeys, how they came to create PINO Design Studio, and why they are passionate about elevating Filipino creativity and design.