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