brandie tan

Was commissioned by Real Living magazine to shoot the pad of ad agency creative director Brandie Tan. Luckily, he was able to squeeze us in his schedule right before he moved to Malaysia. :)


When we entered his unit, I was immediately drawn to his colorful bikes aptly named CMYK and RGB. They were custom-made by Ave Maldea, a local bicycle maker. Brandie's shelves contain a growing collection of Boba Fett toys. He is also an avid collector of Nike Air Max 90 sneakers --- he has 35 pairs! He also owns 2 cats, one was too shy to have his picture taken.


Photos as seen in the March 2012 issue of Real Living.

A Tibor Kalman vinyl Legal Paper paperweight

Brandie Tan

(Makati City, Philippines)

Occupation: Executive Creative Director at an advertising agency

Website: brandietan.blogspot.com

Favorite toy as a child: G.I. Joe collection

Favorite toy now: Bobafett collection

Turn-ons: Things that look good. Ads that look good. And good looking people.

Turn-offs: Badly produced ads. Very cluttered ads - specially billboards on EDSA and print ads on magazines and newspapers.

What are 5 things that inspire you right now?

1. There's this twitter feed called Minimalist Living

2. This blog called jjjound.com

3. Getting to work with very talented creatives

4. Knowing that it's possible to do ads people will love and talk about

5. A blank sheet of paper

Who are your influences?

Tibor Kalman was a big influence on how I art direct and think. He called it Undesign.

Dave Ferrer, Manny del Rosario, and David Guerrero (original team at BBDO Guerrero) had a big influence on how I make ads.

Top 5 movies:

Star Wars episodes 4, 5, and 6 (Pwede bang top 3 movies lang?)

Oh, two more... Back to the Future 1 and 2.

Top 5 books:

1. Generation X by Gouglas Coupland

2. Nuromancer by William Gibson

3. Hey Whipple Squeeze This by Luke Sullivan

4. Tibor (The book about Tibor Kalman's life and work)

5. Death: The High Cost of Living by Neil Gaiman and Chris Bachalo

Music you listen to: Air or whatever my friends give me a copy of and movie OSTs (at least naka-mix na)

5 Favorite websites:

jjjound.com

bestadsontv.com

commarts.com

prollyisnotprobably.com

hypebeast.com

When you're not busy with work, what do you do in your free time? Sleep. Ride around the city. Read. Catch up with friends. Run. Drink. Sleep.

If you were to choose a different job, what would it be? I'd possibly be a waiter at a beach side cafe in the south of France. (Parang sagot sa "Who do you think you'd be in another life?")

If you can have any super power, what would it be? Teleporation. Bamph!

What is the biggest problem of the world right now? The biggest problem of the world right now is thinking about the problems of the world.

What do you think is the solution? Try not to think so much.

What's the most important life lesson you've learned so far? "The less you own, the more you own."

Ironic that is blog is about things. I read the quote after you took photos of my place.

Most inspiring statement/moment (heard/said/read): If you're going to do anything, do it with style - An Autobot

jason moss

He is a visual artist, educator, and mountaineer. His studio is a playground for his artistic imagination and a treasure trove of interesting books. Take a peek at the creative space of Jason Moss! :)

Jason Moss

(Quezon City, Philippines)

Occupation: Visual Artist / Part-time college instructor

Favorite toy as a child: Lego

Favorite toy now: I don't collect toys anymore

Turn-ons: Educators

Turn-offs: Elitists

What are 5 things that inspire you right now? Impurities of the skin, colors that I do not use, old cinema clips, listening to a stranger's random conversation, nature

Top 5 movies: Spirited Away, Legend of 1900, Star Wars series, Back to the Future series, Burton's Batman

Top 3 books: Lynne Truss' Talk to the Hand, What's What, and Grey's Anatomy

Music you listen to: Anything, but lately mostly punk rock

5 Favorite websites: Lance Armstrong's, BBC, Bored Panda, Ted.com, Accuweather

When you're not busy with work, what do you do in your free time? I go diving or trek mountains, or just travel to eat

If you were to choose a different job, what would it be? Urban Planner

If you can have any super power, what would it be? Teleportation

What is the biggest problem of the world right now? Poverty

What do you think is the solution? Expose the greedy

What's the most important life lesson you've learned so far? Never be in a hurry.

Most inspiring statement/moment (heard/said/read): Everything you can imagine is real. - Picasso

diego mapa

Musician Diego Mapa's (Pedicab, Monsterbot, Cambio, and now Tarsius) creative space can be found at the spacious attic of their house. He loves collecting vinyl records, indie magazines, and is a thrift shop fan boy. Take a peek inside Diego's creative playground. :)

Diego Mapa

(Quezon City, Philippines)

Occupation: Musician, Music Arranger, and Associate Web Manager of www.artisteconnect.com

Website: online music arranger reel - www.wix.com/diegomapa/home

                 tumblr - diegomapa.tumblr.com

Favorite toy as a child: GI Joes and Tranformers but I lost them all.

Favorite toy now: My laptop

Turn-ons: vintage anything, gear, clothes, records, toys, memorabilia, furniture, video games, etc.

Turn-offs: rude, conceited people, and war freaks

What are 5 things that inspire you right now? successful art projects, or business ventures from my friends that I like, Pinoy rare grooves or records, history books from World War II, toys old and new, and found furniture

Who are your influences? in music, my favorites are The Beatles, Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Zombies, Cornelius, Beck, The Cure, Joy Division, New Order, The Faint, Fugazi, Pixies, Nirvana, Giorgio Moroder, Telex, Kraftwerk, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Buddy Rich, Sergio Mendez, Joao and Astrud Gilberto, J Dilla, Madlib, DJ Shadow, Eraserheads, VST, Hotdog, Cinderella, and the list goes on...

Top 5 movies: The Godfather, Goodfellas, Ninth Gate, Inception, Norweigan Wood, Sukiyaki Western Jango

Top 5 books: Lust for Life, Last nite a DJ saved my life, Brave New World, Sin City books, and The Watchmen

Music you listen to: if currently listening to - Rotary Connection, Jazzanova mixtapes, Pet Projects: Brian Wilson Productions, The Drums - Portamento,  M83 - Hurry Up We're Dreaming, and The Pains of being pure at heart - Belong

5 Favorite websites: indabamusic.com, artisteconnect.com, insound.com, turntablelab.com, stonesthrow.com

When you're not busy with work, what do you do in your free time? I bike, hang out with my kids, watch DVDs, or rummage my favorite thrift stores

If you were to choose a different job, what would it be? I can imagine myself being a chef, a flight attendant, working front desk of a hotel, working in a t-shirt company, or a nurse or a care giver

If you can have any super power, what would it be? X-ray vision, invisibility, the ability to crawl on walls, I can spit spiderwebs with my hands but still fly, and I also have cool gadgets, a billionaire with super intelligence. So I'm like Batman, Superman, and Spiderman in one --- that can be invisible. Kinda redundant huh?

What is the biggest problem of the world right now? corruption, violence, racism, and greed

What do you think is the solution? Peace and let them have what they want, anyway someday they will implode here on Earth or in the afterlife. I'm for what Gandhi, Buddha, or what Jesus would say.

What's the most important life lesson you've learned so far? God, family, and friends are the greatest remedy to spiritual and physical hunger and loneliness.

Most inspiring statement/moment (heard/said/read): currently, "You can't achieve anything just by sitting around." - William S. Burroughs, Interzone