"Sakuting" for SA Creatives, Love Your Culture (AAPI Month), 2023

I was invited by SA Creatives to create a graphic for an event they were holding as part of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage month. It was a huge honor, and I was very excited to be approached! I drew on my Filipino roots and love of cultural dance to create the digital flyer used for the event.

I was provided a mood board for the event so that I could develop the graphic with a clear vision. The board emphasized bright, vibrant colors, and a painterly feel. The board also showcased images of traditional clothing from different Asian cultures.

I debated two options heavily. I could take a a very inclusive approach that attempted to highlight as many Asian and Pacific Islander cultures as possible (which is very difficult to do!). However, I would be limited by the knowledge I had and the research I could do in a limited amount of time. With a longer timeline and time to consult with others, this may have been a viable option. The turnaround for this graphic was only a few days though, so I turned to an alternative approach, that aligned with the intention of the event.

I decided to highlight my culture and something that I saw as an important facet of my identity and exploration of my roots. Cultural dance! As part of my college experience, I began to explore more of what it meant for me to be half-Filipino, primarily through cultural dance and research into literature and media (see: In the Gloaming Hour).

I selected a vibrant palette that aligned partially with the organization hosting the event, but also would evoke some of the tropical aspects of the Philippines. Additionally, I selected a cultural dance that I love seeing performed. The dance depicted is known as “Sakuting.” It is a dance that evokes the energy of a fight between two groups of people, and utilizes arnis sticks. Originating from the Ilocano region of the country, sakuting was traditionally performed by only men, but in modern times is performed by all genders. The illustration also depicts the anahaw leaf, which is the national plant of the Philippines, and a pattern that utilizes triangles, which is commonly seen in some traditional tattoos. I chose to finalize the image with some textural overlays in order to give the image a more tangible feeling, since it would only be shared digitally.

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Role: Graphic Designer, Illustrator | Software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator