PhilWeavers · The Philippine Webdesigners' Network · Weaver Spotlight

Interviewed by Jose Illenberger / Published December 4, 2007

In the year 2001, I decided to go freelance for full time because this was the year when projects were coming in. I have partnered to different design agencies around the globe. I have been doing projects from Netherlands, US, Japan, Germany, London, Spain, Portugal and some other more european countries.

Who is Drew Europeo? Tell us about yourself & your passion.

I have passion for color, random objects, details and imperfections of subjects. I'm always up for collaboration because this is where I get my energy from. Seeing the work of others, their process, and how they think allows me to improve myself.

So how did you become a web designer?

I started in web design in 1998. It was a career shift from print to web. Without any prior training, I risked myself in applying for a job in the IT industry and luckily, I got in. My boss gave me a week to study HTML.

After a year, I started doing freelance. My first gig was with ABS-CBN: I did about 70 sites for their shows. Another client pirated me... we went on to create a portal site that won us the Best Portal in the Philippine Web Awards. This was also the same year when I started to collaborate and co-found PhilWeavers and Halfproject.

In 2001, I decided to do freelance full time since this was the year when projects were coming in. I have partnered with different design agencies around the globe. I was doing projects from Netherlands, US, Japan, Germany, London, Spain, Portugal and some other more European countries.

After doing freelance for several years, somebody called me up in 2005, inviting me to join their creative team. I joined them with a contract that I will be working in the office for just 2 days a week. But the freelance thing is still on going and I have been doing both until now.

Why did you choose web design over Advertising or Fine Arts other related field?

It was a quick transition for me. It wasn't planned or anything. It's more like I just went with the flow. I have done some freelance work for agencies and I have experienced a lot of stress so it was also a choice not to be involved directly with advertising agencies on a regular basis because I liked the fact that I can handle my time and experience on my own terms being a freelancer.

Did you ever consider going high art, like becoming a full pledged painter? why or why not?

Yes I have considered that a lot of times. If only I had the luxury of time and the resources for me to go full time I would. But the thing is, we all know that you can't really raise a family just by doing these stuff. I need to have a more stable income, and that's why commercialism is a must.

When did you go freelance and how does it compare with working full time?

Like what I mentioned earlier, I started freelancing since 2001. Freelance is far more harder than maintaining a regular 9-to-6 job. The pressure is greater not just because of deadlines but also because of the pressure of maintaining a regular work flow and income. Especially in my case, I am dealing with different sorts of people, from the CEO to the account officer. When you do freelance, it's like you are a one-man team. You need to do paper work, invoicing, accounting, designing, presenting your designs to the client, defending them and doing the whole process until you complete the project.

With the regular 9-to-6 job, of course you are still undergoing the same process in terms of doing the project/s itself but you don't have think about invoices, when you are getting paid, etc. You are just waiting for the 15th and 30th days of each month and it is more stable in terms of cash flow.

But everything boils up to where you get your fulfillment and happiness. You might be stable in your 9-to-6 job but are suffering creatively or not happy with what you are doing. On the other hand, you might always worry where to get your projects and have a stable income for the whole year but you are enjoying the projects that you get and are happier doing those because creatively you are utilizing everything that you know and you can direct yourself to whatever path you want to go.

How does being a mother affect your being a freelancer? How do you cope with it?

When my kids were still young, it was harder to work because both needed undivided attention. But it's a matter of time management, I guess. I believe that kids don't really need all my time, just quality time. Same goes with my projects that once I have a concrete concept for it then that's the time I would work on it real hard. Sometimes coming up with a really good project is not based on how much time you pour into it. Sometimes you produce good quality and a good concept in just a matter of hours; other times it requires more time so it really depends on how concrete your ideas are for the project.

How's work? Is it different from way back when you started say 1998? In what way?

Anyone can see the huge improvement in this industry over the last few years. Everything is always getting better: more options, more flexibilities. As one of the older web designers, sometimes there is constant pressure to learn new things for fear of getting left behind. The learning process is never ending but I think it's all good as long as you are still open to new developments.

There are many local web design houses that came and went. How does this affect you as a Web Designer? Career wise, where are you headed and why?

Honestly, it didn't really affect me that much. I have been a freelancer for years and clients do come and go, same goes with local web design companies. What really matters are clients: the people who still need your services, no matter where they are, no matter how small or huge they are. As long as you still up for new challenges, you don't stop developing yourself and you acquire new things then I think you will be fine.

Career-wise, I do not really see myself as a forever-employee. I have said this years and years ago that I wanted to have my own studio. In fact, some thought that I already have a studio. I guess it's just a matter of fixing the documents and really setting it up, but in terms of project flow, I am happy that I am not having problems getting clients.

Where am I headed? I still don't know... I am going through a phase right now where I am questioning my being a designer. Sometimes I just want to give all up, but thinking of the experiences and the years that I have gone through make me think of not giving everything up but rather choosing a better path. I know I will get there somehow, I just need to be clear of what I really want to do with my life.

What is Grafikas all about?

Grafikas is my escape from commercialism. It is where I am being myself, a place for being purely me.

What made you start PhilWeavers? What is your version of the story?

We both felt that there was a need for this kind of community for all Filipino web designers, that's why we decided in 1999 to come up with PhilWeavers. The original vision was to make it an organization, but since it's hard to maintain that kind of group, we decided it to be an online gathering of talents where you can share your ideas, frustrations, and just about anything you are experiencing as web designer.

Does PW now live up to your dreams for it then? If you could change one thing about the way it is now, what would it be and why?

I guess yes but if I had to change something, it would be the number of members. PhilWeavers has gotten so huge that it's harder to manage now. If I were the only one running it, I would rather it be just a small group, but of hand-picked members with high quality standards in their works.

Last word of advice for your fellow web designers and for the newbies about freelancing and choosing graphic design as a way of life?

In this field, it's really hard to survive. You can learn all the techniques and tricks that are available online, but it all boils down to your personal branding and identity. Each year the number of designers is getting bigger and bigger, but if you examine carefully, the styles are almost the same. I am not saying that I am the most original out there, but I try to make my own spot, and that's how you get clients. A lot of times they will get you because they see something in you that is original and they think that you will bring something really unique to their business.