Who?

Happy Garaje is a little art and design studio from the island of Cebu, Philippines. The studio was founded in the year 2009 by former childhood neighbors and fellow artists Johanna Velasco  and Mark Deutsch.

From 2014, the studio’s roster has grown to include the following:

  1. Ryan Anin (long-time collaborator)
  2. Karina Cuizon (former intern)

Happy Garaje splits time between doing self-initiated studio projects and collaborative work with clients. Self-initiated studio projects include

  1. making toys
  2. making picture books
  3. organizing little events where people can come together and rediscover the joys of play and good conversation
  4. running Y.I.P. or the Young Illustrators Program
  5. making art
  6. various other stuff (miscellaneous)
  7. The studio’s clientelle include
    a. The Abaca Group
    b. Disney Asia
    c. Raffles Singapore
    d. 500 Startups
    e. Electronic Arts
    f. Adobe
    g. and other brands, non-profits and individuals from across the world.

The Society of Illustrators in Los Angeles has given them the Gold Award – its highest honor for work in professional illustration. The advertising index Luerzer’s Archive in Europe has included them in the list of 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Their work has been featured in notable publications such as Semi-Permanent, Australia, BluPrint magazine, among others.

Happy Garaje is inspired by everyday people, heroes, monsters, by the things that all of us hope for and the things that we fear. Dreams, joys, madness, and the things that we love.

 

“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: 20 Outstanding Young Filipino Designers Under 40

 

ACCOLADES

  • 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’
  • Semi Permanent Book 2010, Vol. 2
  • 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 (Judged by Neil Gaiman)

WHAT WE DO FOR CLIENTS

Branding & Creative Direction
Art Direction
Illustration
Writing

Ui/Ux Design
Graphic Design
Animation
Sculpture & Installation

SELECTED CLIENT LIST

Disney

Electronic Arts

The Four Seasons Hotel in Marrakesh

Raffles Praslin Seychelles

Raffles Residences Makati

Kingdom Hotel Investments

Moevenpick Hotel Ghana

Mead Johnson (USA)

Bank of the Philippine Islands

Ayala Land

Asian Institute of Management

Titay’s Liloan

The Dolphin Browser

Geeks on a Beach

Cebu Literary Festival

HG & The City: Projects Involving the Community

FOLK FICTION

Co-founded an outfit that organizes events and promotes activities centered around storytelling, writing and art in Cebu City.

BARRIO PELIGRO

We publish comic books, illustrated material, short stories and toys that is inspired by life and lore in the islands.

THE LAND OF FLYING PEOPLE

Our lifestyle brand: creating products that celebrate friendship, travel and imagination.

GEEKS ON A BEACH

Creative direction for an annual conference on startups, technology and design. Organized by TechTalks.ph.

WEEKEND BARISTA CLUB

A community project aimed at encouraging people to drink better coffee. Offers artisan brewing workshops and access to specialty beans.