Dan Matutina is an illustrator / designer from the Philippines. He's one of the founders of Ideals – a social design agency that creates design and communications materials for cause driven organizations. His illustration and design works usually combine the retro and the modern, simple shapes & forms with a bit of grit. In his free time he does a lot of other stuff: like bending forks into bracelets, making web experiments, lecturing graphic design in the University of the Philippines, and playing World of Warcraft. He loves design, science & technology.

How would you describe your personal style?
My personal style is a mix of simple lines, shapes, textures and lively acidic colors with stories & ideas at the heart of it.

When you were a child, did you want to become an illustrator?
I've been drawing on the walls of our house when I was a kid. I love drawing. I didn't know that people could really have a career out of illustrating, but yeah, as a kid I've always wanted to draw.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
I'm inspired by the things around me, from the books and magazines I read, to amazing works of people online, and from people I usually hang out with.

Could you describe your working process?
I usually start doodling with pencil and paper. After I make my sketches, I then proceed to creating my illustrations on the computer.
After reading the brief, I do some research, take time out to explore what's outside the studio, start brainstorming, and then sketch on my idea book. I always bring an idea book with me. It’s easy to jot down and draw ideas when you have one. If for some reason I don’t have it with me, I type the ideas on my phone or do quick sketches on it.

What would be the ideal working setup for you?
My current work setup at the Ideals studio is great, but I think a bigger studio space would be better. A bungalow with lots of open spaces and big windows would be ideal.

What do you love the most about your life as an illustrator?
I like that fact that I'm doing what i love and my schedule is flexible. I manage a social design studio with my friends. We do design and communications for cause driven organizations, it's a fun job. I also do a lot of illustration work on my own, it's a nice complement to design.

If you had to do something totally different for living, what would it be?
Science was my first love. If I wasn't designing & illustrating, I think I'd work in tech or chemistry.

What kind of music do you listen while working?
I listen to all sorts of music. But I'm recently into chiptune & electronic. My current work playlist includes music from Null Sleep, Pixelh8, M83 & Lali Puna.

If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?
Stockholm or Barcelona.

Who are you all-time favorite artists?
Bruno Munari, Pieter Bruegel the Elder and H.R. Ocampo (a Filipino artist).

Who has been the most inspiring non-artistic person for you?
My parents.

What is the most bizarre dream you ever had?
I was a superhero in one of my dreams. That was really weird. And I was fighting zombies... I shouldn't have shared that, no? Haha.

If you could meet any great name from known human history, who would it be?
I would love to brainstorm with Bruno Munari.

Thank you!