Designer of the week – Adguzman – Arnold de Guzman

Senior Designer in an advertising agency in Abu Dhabi, UAE

 

Name:

Arnold De Guzman

Alias / Codename:

Adguzman
Graphic Design Expertise:
Character design

Job Type:

Full-time
Senior Designer in an advertising agency in Abu Dhabi, UAE

 

Please tell us how you started out as a graphic designer. Your inspirations and perspirations.

Honestly speaking, I do not have a clear idea what I wanted to do before. I was the type of guy who just live his life, without knowing the consequences.



When I was a child, I remember I enjoy drawing cartoon characters and other random stuff I see at home. I even made my own short comics in an old school notebook, which I enjoyed working on with my brother. I was the kind of child that would draw anything that is on my mind whenever I get to hold a pen. My classmates would say I am their ‘Best in Drawing pal.’

Then teenage life hit me. I changed, I became a happy-go-lucky guy without even a single hint of what I wanted to do with my life when I get older. So during college I took up BS ECE, which my parents wanted for me. It was fine, yes. But the longer I am taking this course, the clearer I realize that this isn’t for me. There is something else I wanted to do which I am not sure of.

Term break arrived and there I was, spending my time editing videos for my cousin’s school project using Adobe After Effects. I learned that through the video tutorials I watched online. I got so used to the software that I found myself enjoying it. I remember the video I made with my brother, entitled: “Weekend of a Superhero” (you can find it in my facebook page).

I loved the feeling of hurtful eyes due to hours of editing, I loved the sense of fulfillment after I watch the final output. Then it hit me. Hard. My purpose has been with me ever since I was a child. With all those doodles and sketches at the back of my notebooks, all those orthographic drawings of different things, those monstrous sketches, I know I am an artist. I now know what I want and what I will be. I wanted to be someone who lives by his art, who pays bills, rents, and surviving by doing what I love most.

So, I enrolled and took Visual Graphic Design at the First Academy of Computer Arts (FACA) in Makati City, Philippines. I learned to operate three more design softwares, namely, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign.

I graduated in FACA and I have never been unemployed. I was able to help cover our family’s expenses. Even though I do not earn as much as the engineers do, I am happy that little by little, I am returning the favor my parents gave me, while doing the thing I love the most.

 Currently, with all thanks to God, I am working as a Senior Designer in an advertising agency in Abu Dhabi, UAE, handling a team that designs marketing materials for some of the country’s big names. In my free time, I take freelance illustration works, mostly character design, and 2D asset creation for mobile games.

 

Please share us an image of an artwork, or a design project you made that you want to talk about

I called this project Chronicles of Zenia. It is very important to me because it will be my very first personal project that (hopefully) I will get funded. It is a comics about a young boy who never knew who he was and what’s his purpose, until he met an old, stubborn, beggar.
 
I’ve been working on this for 6 months now, and hoping to finish it by the end of the year.
 
I am also about to collab with one of my friend for another comic series, called HotBots in Space Station 7. It is a sci-fi comic featuring interstellar travel, and walking war robots.
 

What is the most important lesson in graphic designing that you have learned that you would think worth sharing to others?

Umm, maybe.. USE. A. CONTRACT. I’ve been in a lot of projects in which the client runs away (I think 3 times already). lol. I trust someone really easily 😀
 
When it comes to technicality, there is no actual rule. I mean, in my experience, when designing, what’s beautiful for you may not be beautiful to your client. Some clients are not artists/designers. You have to educate them about good design. It can also serve as a sales talk to persuade them to pay you a good amount because “you know the ins and outs of the industry”.
 

What piece of advice can you give those aspiring graphic designers who want to start a career?

Even though we may not earn as much as the engineers, or doctors, or architects, still, the world need our service. Everything you see around you, there is design. Everything you see around you, there is art. It is not just about the money. It is about pursuing your passion and doing what you love.
 
As for those aspiring artists: personally, I always find my works ugly, or too bad compared to others. But I know it should never be like that. Art is subjective. We all have our own “style” We must not stress ourselves and tell ourselves that we are not good enough. Nobody is not good enough. As long as you did your best, you’re good. But of course learn to accept criticisms and with those criticisms, we can improve. 😉
 

How can we contact you, if ever someone would be in need of your service?

Anyone can contact me in my primary email: adguzman.illustration@gmail.com

Or you can drop me a line in my facebook account: fb.com/kalelarnold.

Please visit my illustration blog as well: adguzman.artstation.com | adguzman.ga and my graphic design portfolio: be.net/arnolddg

 

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