“If upon hearing this graphic design duo’s name you envision a series of smile-inducing fanciful works of art replete with childlike wonder and memories of halcyon days spent in the embrace of the Philippine sun, then you would have captured the essence of Happy Garaje”
BluPrint Magazine on Johanna & Mark
About Happy Garaje
(the Art Duo)
Happy Garaje is a duo: Johanna Velasco and Mark Joseph Deutsch. They are artists, designers, and storytellers and have been working in partnership since 2009. Their creative work can be seen across the fields of graphic design, illustration, gallery work, production design and picture books.
They co-founded Happy Garaje Design Studio Co., a Cebu City based collective of artists and designers that create objects, spaces, and experiences where people can have the opportunity to share stories and make friends.
Happy Garaje is inspired by everyday people, heroes, monsters, hopes, dreams, and the in-between places where things are not quite what they seem.
Accolades
Communication Arts, Award of Excellence for Illustration
Society of Illustrators, Los Angeles – Gold Award (2011)
Society of Illustrators, Los Angeles – Certificate of Merit (2010, 2013, 2014)
Luerzer’s Archive 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Bluprint Magazine: 20 Outstanding Young Filipino Designers Under 40
ASEAN: commendation for contributions in Graphic Art when Cebu City received the distinction of ‘City of Culture’
Happy Garaje Design Studio Co. is the recipient of the Outstanding Institution Award from the Cebu City Government.
Semi Permanent Book 2010
Exhibition of Poster Work at Tokyo Designers Week 2008
Merit of Excellence for Digital Design – Dept. of Science & Tech (Phil.)
Adobe Digital Imaging Competition (3rd of 3000+)
Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards, Finalist
Upcoming Shows
Dream Swimming
Tubo Art Fair, Cebu
September 2023
Secret Sky
Arte Bettina, Makati
July 2024
Past Exhibition Catalogs
Paper Crown Series
2010
Press
Happy Garaje Design Studio Co. is a small design team that aims to create objects, spaces and experiences where people can have the opportunity to share stories and make friends.
We work with people from our hometown, organizations in Asia, as well as with global brands like Disney.
Founded in 2015, the studio has worked on over 1000 local design projects in Cebu and nearby. Working together with like-minded folks to start events like Duwa Children’s Festival, Cebu Art Book Fair, and the tech conference Geeks On A Beach.
For work inquiries kindly e-mail us at people (at) happygaraje (dot) com
Studio Roster (2024)
Johanna
Studio co-founder Johanna Velasco has received the Gold Award from the Society of Illustrators among many other accolades. She loves to travel with family and keeps a journal of photos on instagram.
YNA
Senior creative Karina Cuizon joined Happy Garaje Design Studio Co. in 2015. She is also the vocalist of the band School Girl Classic.
Justine
Artist and maker Justine Bacareza joined Happy Garaje Design Studio Co. in 2021. See her carve out wooden swords and paint church ceilings on her IG
Dee Dee
Typographer and graphic designer Diane Diana joined Happy Garaje Design Studio Co. in 2022. You can get a glimpse of some of her wonderful and colorful work on instagram.
Jen
Designer Jen Regidor joined Happy Garaje Design Studio Co. in 2024. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines Product Design program. She is also an amazing nail artist.