As designers, most of us had to deal with parting ways with clients – for whatever reasons they may be: end of contract, unreconcilable differences, etc. Most of the time we wish them well with their business and/or their precious projects that we’ve diligently worked on – which we know at the back of our minds [...]

It takes an amazing project to make the whole experience of doing it for free so rewarding and worthwhile. It also takes such an extraordinarily horrible client to make ‘getting finally paid’ such a negative experience. This year I’ve been blessed with a diverse set of clients, and I must say that majority of the projects [...]

Instead of concentrating on getting more and more clients (like how most sales people think), I’d rather spend that time developing my relationships with my current ‘Good’ clients and provide them with a more value-added service. Because as their business grows, so does their need for my services. And these are the clients who would [...]

When I started out my Design Consultancy, Ars Nova, I didn’t want it to be sales driven. Contrary to how it was back when I was still working full-time for a publishing company, now I’m favoring quality over quantity when it comes to accepting and bidding for projects. Right from the start I told myself “Since [...]

I recently purchased the game Left4Dead 2 for Mac from STEAM. I simply couldn’t resist it when I saw that it was on sale for just around six bucks! And it was a game for Mac, meaning I wouldn’t have to switch to bootcamp and play it on windows (which I have just so I [...]

What a freaking nightmare! How the hell did we end up with such an unreliable internet service provider? SkyCable pride themselves of being the country’s leading provider of the fastest broadband internet connection, well maybe they are… whenever they’re not experiencing frequent downtimes (as in the connection goes down several times a week! Give or take, [...]

I was recently ‘interviewed’ by a company from the states regarding a possible freelance opportunity to layout and design their next eBook. I particularly placed a bid on this project because they specifically mentioned that they we’re actually looking for something done professionally, ‘agency quality’ even. So it dawned to me that these are people [...]

That seems to be a plausible explanation why… ehem… THIS BLOG IS A FINALIST to the 2010 Philippine Blog Awards. Yup, it’s there. I ain’t sh*ttin’ you. I have an internet junkie’s habit of checking my email the moment I wake-up. And it was quite a pleasant surprise to receive PBA’s confirmation email that my [...]

I miss the days when I used to be more enthusiastic with software updates. It used to be something I look forward to. The thought of an impending software update used to leave me overly excited thinking about the new bells and whistles that comes with it. But now I am unfathomably reluctant to embrace [...]

This blog is officially a 2010 Philippine Blog Awards Nominee for the Best Personal Blog category. I didn’t even know that people actually read my posts. So that explains the 1000+ pageviews… Thanks to everybody who bothered sifting through my posts and actually read whatever twisted nonsense I’ve posted here. Maraming salamat sa inyo. This [...]

How time flies… I come from a generation who witnessed the conception and birth of CDs and MP3s. I can still remember when I was still in college, I never left home without my walkman. Yes… a big, chunky, yellow, waterproof Sony walkman that played my Metallica, Limp Bizkit, Family Values Tour, Pearl Jam, Red [...]

A few days ago I was sifting through my projects folder, looking for stuff I could showcase in my portfolio. What I noticed was, for the projects I’ve worked on in the last three months, I have been subconsciously having an affair with a specific typeface. Now, a lot of designers would agree that it is [...]

I recently had the blissful opportunity to sit down at a presentation about proper documentation of a project lifecycle. Surprisingly, it wasn’t as boring as I thought it would be. The speaker didn’t go the usual read-through-the-slides route. But instead zipped through most of the slides, focusing only on the points that she wanted to give emphasis [...]

PHOTO: STOCK.XCHNG It has been a really busy month. And my calendar won’t be getting any dandier for the next few weeks. Well, not until I finally take that week off next month anyway. But then I suppose I’d still be tugging my Mac along to work on some projects while on vacation.. .lame.

Be Warned: 3G iPhone + OS4 = something short of anal rape. I still remember those days when an “upgrade” is supposed to make your life easier… happier.Then a few days ago, after I popped in my iPhone to my Mac so I could sync Mudvayne and 30 seconds to Mars’ new albums, I get a message [...]

This post marks the end of my first day of work with Eli Lilly. Predictably, I’m still basking in that ‘new company’ feeling. Specially when one of the things that is particularly different is a company-encouraged balance between work and life. No rushing to beat the clock, flexible work hours, clocking out at five, and [...]

What better way to vanish the “I-hate-not-being-a-rockstar” blues than good old retail therapy. I was just actually determined to buy some DVI cables and stuff for my little ‘extended screen’ project with my MacBook, but then my wife and I chanced upon this pair of leather gems. I know that the color is a bit [...]

An article of mine got published in Motherhood Magazine (September 2009 issue). Not bad, eh?!

Because of you by Neyo – Performed by Boyce Avenue This one’s for Kaye.

  By Alvin Dela Cruz of Wild Ones Tattoo WOOT! Got a baby Koi fish tattoo last July. Small as it may be, it still took a stiff-neck inducing three hours plus to complete. Anyway, I still think it’s well worth it, can’t wait for the next one to be added to this and slowly [...]

what a mess… Finally… it’s over. This is one of the longest production periods ever. Change this, change that, hearing the classic “My client will submit materials to us soon”, talking to several ad agencies and teaching their designers how to properly use color profiles (whoever gave my direct line to them: DAMN YOU! When [...]

This is probably the best movie I’ve seen so far for 2009. It’s about a farm boy (Negishi) who studied in Tokyo to pursue his dream of leading a ‘trendy’ (yes, trendy, WTF right?) life and making ‘trendy’ pop music. But much to his dismay he ends up playing for a satanic heavy metal band. [...]

I dug up this article from Motherhood Magazine, I’m not really sure whether its from the October or November Issue, where Krishti asked me to model as the dad of the model baby Alfie. He was so freaking adorable! I didn’t even realised that we we’re shooting for about more than half an hour coz [...]

Products of having too much idle time… “Release me master” by Halik “Crimson Cravings” by Allan